3/19/20 The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Announces New Boarding Process to Avoid Disruptions in Service.

Travelers to be observed for symptoms of COVID-19 before boarding.

(KETCHIKAN, Alaska) – The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is required to immediately report any illness of persons on board our vessels to the U.S. Coast Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new boarding process has been put in place to avoid disruptions to service or a situation involving passengers quarantined aboard ship.

Travelers will be observed by AMHS staff during the ticketing and boarding process. If a traveler exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or other flu-like illnesses, they will not be allowed to board and will receive a full refund. AMHS is allowing customers to cancel any existing reservations without fees or penalties from now through April 8, 2020.

The health and well-being of passengers and crew is a top priority for AMHS. In response to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we are following federal government guidance to clean and disinfect our ships and terminals. Additional details are available in our March 18, 2020, press release.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 239 airports, 10 ferries serving 35 communities, more than 5,600 miles of highway and 776 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

http://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2020/PR20-0020.shtml