Prince Rupert Pushes to Restore Ferry Link with Alaska After Years of Suspension

Officials from Prince Rupert are renewing efforts to bring back the cross-border ferry service that once connected the northern B.C. port city with Alaska.

The Alaska Marine Highway System route to Prince Rupert was cancelled in 2019 after U.S. authorities imposed a requirement that Canadian law enforcement be present at the terminal to protect American customs officers conducting passport and contraband inspections. Canada was unable to meet that condition at the time, leading to the service being suspended.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond says that issue has since been resolved, and discussions with Alaskan officials have been ongoing for several years.

“We've been in conversations with Alaska for the last number of years,” Pond said. “Just trying to find ways to overcome some of the obstacles that resulted in the cancellation. That ferry, for so many years, was a feeder to both Alaska and to British Columbia.”

A vital regional link

Before it was discontinued, the ferry carried approximately 7,000 passengers and 4,500 vehicles annually, serving as an important transportation corridor for tourism, trade and cultural exchange.

Beyond its economic value, Pond emphasized the ferry’s role in connecting communities divided by the international border — particularly Haida and Tsimshian communities with deep historical and cultural ties on both sides.

He cited a recent example involving participants from Metlakatla, Alaska, who travelled to Prince Rupert for the All-Native Basketball Tournament.

“They had to fly all the way to Seattle, rent vans, and drive all the way up here,” Pond said. “They’re just 90 miles to the north. It’s almost insanity.”

For many residents, the route was more than a travel convenience — it was a practical and symbolic bridge between neighbouring communities.

Economic and health-care collaboration

Recent discussions between Prince Rupert’s delegation and Alaska State Sen. Bert Stedman focused on potential mutual benefits, including tourism growth, trade opportunities and improved access to services such as health care.

Pond said the city has a “strong interest” in pursuing a viable path forward and believes momentum is building.

The next step, he said, is arranging a high-level meeting between the Government of British Columbia and Alaskan officials to move the proposal forward at a government-to-government level.

Looking ahead

While no timeline has been set for a potential restoration of service, local leaders say the case for revival remains strong.

“Cultural and economic benefits, and just plain good friendship,” Pond said. “All good reasons to put this back in place.”

For Prince Rupert, the ferry’s return would represent not only improved transportation access — but the re-establishment of a long-standing cross-border connection that many in the region say is overdue.