Travel on the Alaska Inter-Island Ferry Authority to access the recreational opportunities found on Prince of Wales Island and surrounding communities.
What is the IFA? – Independent travelers exploring southeast Alaska have an additional means of accessing many of the State’s smaller island communities available to them called the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. Communities in southern southeast Alaska formed the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) in 1997. The alliance developed among communities surrounding Prince of Wales Island seeking to improve the transportation services available to them. The IFA is a public corporation established under the Alaska Port Authority Act. Member communities include Craig, Klawock, Thorne Bay, Coffman, Wrangell and Petersburg.
The Vessels – The M/V Prince of Wales and M/V Stikine are basically identical. They are 198 feet in length, 51 feet wide, powered by twin 1500 horsepower engines, and can reach speeds of 15 knots. The US Coast Guard certifies the ferry to safety carry 170 passengers and 30 vehicles. Amenities include food service, observation lounge, reading room, and play area for families with children.
Prince of Wales Island – IFA routes center on providing access to Prince of Wales Island or POW in the jargon of local residents. Prince of Wales Island is third largest in the United, following only Kodiak and Hawaii islands in size. Located in the Tongass National Forest, the Island is 2,231 square miles of temperate rain forest and contains 1,100 miles of maintained roads that allow traveler access to its many rivers, lakes, and coastal inlets. The region has remarkable hunting, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing opportunities. There are even prospects on the island for the neophyte caver or geologist.
The Routes – IFA service is provided by two vessels. Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington built the M/V Prince of Wales and M/V Stikine especially for the ferry authority. A map of the routes is available as a PDF. POW communities served by the ferry to Hollis and Coffman Cove are Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Naukati, and Whale Pass. There are two routes in service, the southern and northern:
- Southern Route – Service between Ketchikan and Hollis is provided by the M/V Prince of Wales. Ketchikan is the primary gateway for visitors traveling into southeast Alaska. Transportation options to Ketchikan include jet service from Alaska Airlines, ferry service with the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), and of course, thousands arrive each year via cruise ship. Hollis is the southern ferry terminal for POW, providing access to the Island road system for both IFA and AMHS ferries.
- Northern Route – Summer service between Wrangell, Coffman Cove, and Petersburg is provided by the M/V Stikine. The is ferry is named after the trans-boundary Stikine River that runs from near Wrangell Island to above Telegraph Creek, British Columbia. The Stikine region was made famous in part because the great naturist, John Muir, who spent substantial time in the area. The ferry route shuttles between the three southeast communites. Wrangell is located on Wrangell Island, Petersburg is on Mitkoff Island and Coffman Cove is on Prince of Wales Island.
The IFA presents the independent traveler with a great way to access Prince of Wales Island. There are countless opportunities for mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and boating. Using the IFA ferries will provide access the many unique communities of southern southeast Alaska.
Copyright © 2008 by Alan Sorum – First published at http://boatingsailing.suite101.com on 2 January 2006.
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[...] ferries. The communities of Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Coffman Cove have established the Alaska Interisland Ferry Authority to provide service in southern Southeast Alaska. Ferry travel is perfect for independent travelers [...]