Alaska Marine Highway System Launches WiFi Pilot Program on MV Columbia

The project also supports AMHS’s broader vision to enhance the passenger experience and attract more travelers to the system. Future phases will expand WiFi access across the fleet, starting with MV Aurora and MV LeConte, using recently secured federal funding.

Adding WiFi required overcoming significant technical and logistical challenges. AMHS collaborated with a cross-functional team of marine engineers, IT specialists, and project managers, alongside contractors and other state employees. The advent of low-Earth orbit satellite technology, such as Starlink, solved long-standing issues with traditional satellite connectivity in Alaska’s mountainous Inside Passage. Unlike older systems, Starlink’s direct, vertical satellite positioning avoids signal interference caused by terrain.

However, distributing secure wireless access throughout the steel-constructed Columbia posed hurdles. The project required running thousands of feet of cable, strategically placing thirty-seven access points during the vessel’s overhaul in the Ketchikan shipyard. The team’s detailed planning and execution ensured robust coverage for both passengers and crew.

“We’re thrilled to see this project come to life,” says Chryssa King, from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities IT Project Management Office. “This is just the beginning. With federal funding now in hand, we’re working to replicate this model across the fleet, bringing modern connectivity to all our vessels and enhancing the travel experience for everyone on the Alaska Marine Highway.”