Malaspina will have new life as museum, employee housing and classroom

After 56 years of service in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet and almost three years tied up at a Ketchikan dock, unused and in need of costly repairs, the Malaspina is headed to another career as a privately owned floating museum and employee housing.

Plans also call for using the ship as a classroom for maritime industry jobs.

The state last week accepted $128,250 for the 408-foot-long passenger and vehicle ferry from the recently formed Ketchikan company M/V Malaspina.

The company is a subsidiary of Ward Cove Dock Group, owned by John Binkley, of Fairbanks, and the Spokely family, of...