Alaska ferry has steel defects in engine room, officials say

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) – An Alaska Marine Highway System ferry will not depart in May as scheduled.

The Ketchikan Daily News reported Saturday that the Tustumena ferry was found with extensive steel defects in its engine room. The Alaska Marine Highway System is working with the U.S. Coast Guard on a repair plan to make the 53-year-old vessel safe again.

“The steel is tested for thickness, and when they go through and there are sections where it’s rusted or pitted and the steel is not of the desired thickness anymore, then it’s considered wasted steel and it has to be replaced,” said Alaska De...