Alaska pier struck by Alaska State 9,000 tonne ferry
There were red faces when a
ferry missed its berth as it came into harbour and crashed into buildings at a
fishing dock. Alaska States Ferry’s 9,000 tonne ferry left extensive damage to
the jetty and a second floor office, but itself suffered only minor abrasions.
Nobody was hurt in the
incident which took place as Matanuska, with 60 passengers aboard, arrived in
Petersburg. A fishing boat is reported to have forced the ferry to take drastic
avoiding action as it was approaching its berth, forcing it to overshoot.
Extra strong tides then
caught the ferry as it made a 180-degree turn, causing the 400ft long vessel to
t-bone the Ocean Beauty Seafood dock.