Photo courtesy of Michael Penn

Engine troubles forced the Matanuska out of service in late January, leaving Wrangell without any ferries until the Columbia came out of winter layup and went back to work mid-April. The state was unable to substitute another ferry for the Matanuska because all of the fleet was either in winter layup, out for repairs, or held out of service to save money. Mechanics Brian Lindgern, left, and Mike Strang, of Vigor Alaska, worked on one of the Matanuska's engines as it was tied up in Juneau on Jan. 31.