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             The State of Alaska released its winter ferry schedule on Friday, and there will be some significant changes to service to and from Kodiak because the ferry Tustumena will be out of service for nearly six months.

            In the meantime, as Marine Highway spokesman Jeremy Woodrow in Juneau explains, the ferry Kennicott will try to pick up the slack by making twice-weekly visits to Kodiak.

-- (Ferry 1                   25 sec              "For instance, let's look at ... come back again until the 31^st.")

            In the past when the Kennicott filled in on the Kodiak - Homer run, service was two-weeks on, two-weeks off.

            Woodrow said the reason for the Tustumena's absence will be for scheduled maintenance in dry dock:

-- (Ferry 2                   17 sec              "This is a fairly major ... large overhaul like this.")

            Since the Kennicott is significantly larger than the Tustumena, service to Port Lions and the two villages added this summer - Ouzinkie and Old Harbor - will not be possible.

-- (Ferry 3                   20 sec              "You know it was one of those things ... came back on line.")

            Other than that, Woodrow says there aren't any other significant changes in the winter schedule:

-- (Ferry 4                   13 sec              "For the most part, especially for ... plan for from year to year.")

            You can find a link to the ferry's winter schedule here.

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