Rebuilding the Chilkat
Donation protected
This page is to help fund the rebuilding of the MV Chilkat. here is the cool history behind this vessel!
On April 18, 1957 the MV Chilkat began daily service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. On January 3, 1959 Alaska became the 49th state, making MV Chilkat the first state-owned ferry. The first Alaska Legislature meeting in 1959 approved the Alaska Ferry Transportation Act. That same year, voters approved bond issues totaling $18 million to expand the ferry fleet. These bonds enabled the state to commission four new vessels and build docks throughout Southeast Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula. In 1963 the Chilkat was shifted from Southeast Alaska to Prince William Sound where she ran between Valdez and Cordova. After the earthquake in March 1964 she began running between Valdez and Whittier. In 1969, with the arrival of the newly built E. L. BARTLETT, the Chilkat returned to Southeast to operate between Juneau and Hoonah. In 1977 she was in service between Ketchikan, Hollis and Metlakatla. In 1988 the ship was sold to private interests.
as of October of 2020 the MV Chilkat ended up in our hands. It sat at Lovrics Sea-Craft Shipyard. where it was undergoing a transformation into a landing craft to be involved in Alaskan Fisheries. In middle of the transformation the owner had a heart attack and passed away. From there it sat at Lovrics Shipyard where it turned from a good quality ship, into rust bucket from sitting for five years.
Fast forward to today. we are a few family members who picked up the ship as a project to do, we decided to continue the transformation into a landing craft. We have may ideas in mind but those don't matter without funding. The ship could be used for possible tendering, cargo transportation, passenger transportation, or even a bed and breakfast as another way of relaxing transportation. after doing some research on the ship we found a group forum where people throughout the years were wondering where the ship had went. After seeing how many people loved the Sea craft, we figured we would reach out to the public. Any donations help to get this awesome piece of history back on the water!
On April 18, 1957 the MV Chilkat began daily service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. On January 3, 1959 Alaska became the 49th state, making MV Chilkat the first state-owned ferry. The first Alaska Legislature meeting in 1959 approved the Alaska Ferry Transportation Act. That same year, voters approved bond issues totaling $18 million to expand the ferry fleet. These bonds enabled the state to commission four new vessels and build docks throughout Southeast Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula. In 1963 the Chilkat was shifted from Southeast Alaska to Prince William Sound where she ran between Valdez and Cordova. After the earthquake in March 1964 she began running between Valdez and Whittier. In 1969, with the arrival of the newly built E. L. BARTLETT, the Chilkat returned to Southeast to operate between Juneau and Hoonah. In 1977 she was in service between Ketchikan, Hollis and Metlakatla. In 1988 the ship was sold to private interests.
as of October of 2020 the MV Chilkat ended up in our hands. It sat at Lovrics Sea-Craft Shipyard. where it was undergoing a transformation into a landing craft to be involved in Alaskan Fisheries. In middle of the transformation the owner had a heart attack and passed away. From there it sat at Lovrics Shipyard where it turned from a good quality ship, into rust bucket from sitting for five years.
Fast forward to today. we are a few family members who picked up the ship as a project to do, we decided to continue the transformation into a landing craft. We have may ideas in mind but those don't matter without funding. The ship could be used for possible tendering, cargo transportation, passenger transportation, or even a bed and breakfast as another way of relaxing transportation. after doing some research on the ship we found a group forum where people throughout the years were wondering where the ship had went. After seeing how many people loved the Sea craft, we figured we would reach out to the public. Any donations help to get this awesome piece of history back on the water!
Organizer
Keagan Beck
Organizer
Port Townsend, WA
