What Inter-Island Ferry Authority does

Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) is a political subdivision of the State of Alaska that operates scheduled passenger and vehicle ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. Established in 1994 with revenue operations commencing in 2002, IFA runs daily year-round sailings across the 36-mile Clarence Strait route, employing fewer than 40 staff across operations facilities in Hollis and a finance office in Craig. The ferry serves as the principal marine link for POW Island residents, businesses, and visitors in the absence of road connectivity between the island and the mainland.

IFA's core asset base consists of two U.S. Coast Guard-certified vessels — the M/V Stikine (primary service vessel) and the M/V Prince of Wales (backup) — operating on a fixed daily schedule with multiple round trips. Capacity covers passengers, vehicles, and freight, including a dedicated fish box transport service serving the regional seafood industry. Reservation infrastructure is delivered through the third-party booking platform FareHarbor, with online fare calculation, group and promotional pricing, and a tiered membership program (Annual Individual/Family, Seasonal, Business) supporting recurring ridership.

Revenue is generated through per-transaction fares — passengers ($25–$60), vehicles ($116.50–$197 by length), and fish boxes ($20) — supplemented by membership subscriptions and promotional discounts. Strategic partnerships with Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), SEARHC (regional health corporation), Taquan Air, and tribal entities such as the Organized Village of Kasaan support mutual scheduling, route redundancy, and community ridership. The 2024 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award reflects service-level recognition rather than financial scale.

Name

Inter-Island Ferry Authority

Legal name

Inter-Island Ferry Authority

Website

https://interislandferry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inter-Island Ferry Authority is a political subdivision of the State of Alaska operating daily year-round passenger, vehicle, and freight ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis on Prince of Wales Island, serving residents, businesses, and visitors with two vessels across Clarence Strait.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Ferry Services

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity) (TLAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Publicly Operated Ferry Authorities (Municipal/Regional) (TLAFALAK), Island & Archipelago Ferry Services (THAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry service
• Vehicle ferry transport
• Marine transportation
• Island ferry operations
• Public ferry authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Craig

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fares: One-way passenger tickets sold to adults, seniors, children, and infants traveling between Ketchikan and Hollis
2. Vehicle Fares: Vehicle transport fees based on vehicle length categories (15ft to 25ft), required for passengers traveling with cars, trucks, or other vehicles
3. Fish Box Transport: Fees charged for transporting fish boxes, coolers, and totes at $20 per container, not counted toward passenger baggage limits
4. Membership Programs: Annual, seasonal (1-3 months), and business membership programs offering discounted passenger and vehicle fares, free fish box benefits, and simplified booking for frequent travelers
5. Promotional Discounts: School and youth group discounts for non-profit organizations, disability discounts for eligible passengers, and seasonal Driver Goes Free promotions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Inter-Island Ferry Authority operates a daily year-round ferry service connecting Prince of Wales Island (Hollis) with Ketchikan, Alaska, across a 36-mile, 3-hour crossing of Clarence Strait. The service transports passengers and vehicles (up to 25 feet in length) aboard two U.S. Coast Guard-regulated vessels, the primary M/V Stikine and the backup M/V Prince of Wales, and is complemented by annual, seasonal, and business membership programs offering discounted fares.

Product overview

The Inter-Island Ferry Authority operates a unified ferry service connecting Prince of Wales Island to Southeast Alaska via daily crossings between Hollis and Ketchikan. The core offering consists of two vessels—the primary M/V Stikine and backup M/V Prince of Wales—providing passenger and vehicle transport across a 3-hour route. The service is complemented by membership programs (Annual, Seasonal, and Business tiers) offering fare discounts, and onboard amenities including the OUR T.E.A.M. Café. Booking is facilitated through FareHarbor's embedded reservation system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-hour scenic crossing between Hollis and Ketchikan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA maintains a strong working relationship with the Alaska Marine Highway System. IFA provides coverage for the Metlakatla-Ketchikan route when the M/V Lituya is unavailable. When needed, AMHS has supported IFA operations to maintain service on the Southern Route. Both services share terminal space in Ketchikan for seamless passenger transfers.
• SEARHC (SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner advertising on IFA platform, promoting healthcare transportation services for residents traveling to medical appointments. Messaging emphasizes that distance cannot prevent necessary care.
• Organized Village of KasaanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHaida cultural tourism partner offering guided tours through historic Whale House and Totem Trail Park. IFA platform promotes their cultural experiences to ferry passengers.
• Taquan AirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAviation partner providing connecting flight services to Southeast Alaska communities. Promoted on IFA connections page as alternative travel option to reach the region.
• Prince of Wales Island Alaska MarathonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual marathon event promoting athletic tourism to Prince of Wales Island. IFA platform highlights the event to encourage visitor travel to the island.
• Arts in the CoveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit arts organization in Coffman Cove hosting community events including 4th of July celebration, Arts in the Cove Festival, and Holiday Bazaar. Partnered with IFA to promote cultural tourism.
• Alaska Power & TelephoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee-owned utility company serving Alaskan communities. Advertising partner on IFA Explore POW page.
• Madison Lumber & HardwareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal building supply retailer in Craig, Alaska. Advertising partner on IFA platform for Explore POW section.
• DBI (Alaska Business Insurance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlaska-based insurance provider serving Craig, Ketchikan, and Juneau. Advertising partner on IFA website.
• Whaletail PharmacyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal pharmacy on Prince of Wales Island. Advertising partner promoting local services to ferry passengers.
• FareHarborcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline booking and reservation platform powering ferry ticket sales, calendar availability, and membership program signups. FareHarbor handles payment processing and booking management for IFA.
• Southeast Marine SurveyorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarine surveying company serving Pacific Northwest from Ketchikan, Alaska. Accredited marine surveyor with commercial fishing, marine construction experience. Listed as Explore POW partner.
• PeaceHealth Medical Group - KetchikanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare provider in Ketchikan. Explore POW partner advertising on IFA platform for medical travel services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• BC Ferries: Large-scale Canadian coastal ferry operator serving the Pacific Northwest and Inside Passage; operates scheduled vehicle/passenger ferries on routes similar in function to IFA but at much greater scale and route breadth.
• Washington State Ferries: Largest US ferry system operating scheduled interisland passenger and vehicle service in the Salish Sea; comparable in service model (publicly operated, scheduled crossings, vehicle transport) but vastly larger network.

Direct peers

• Northland Ferries: Alaska-based ferry operator running scheduled Southeast Alaska routes including Whittier and Cordova service; closest geographic/traffic peer to IFA at comparable small-scale operations.
• Casco Bay Lines: Small public ferry operator providing daily passenger service between Portland, Maine and the Casco Bay islands; matches IFA's niche operations: small fleet, daily scheduled lifeline crossings, year-round service to island communities.
• Alaska Marine Highway System: State-run ferry network providing Southeast Alaska passenger and vehicle service; same operating geography, same customer base (POW residents, Ketchikan passengers), and an existing mutual backup arrangement with IFA makes it the closest direct comparable.
• Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority: Public authority operating scheduled passenger and vehicle ferries between Cape Cod and offshore islands; same model of essential lifeline transportation with vehicle priority, multi-vessel fleet, and membership-style repeat traveler programs.
• Victoria Clipper / Black Ball Line: Pacific Northwest passenger ferry/clipper operator running Seattle-Victoria service; comparable as a smaller-scale, scheduled passenger ferry with tourism-oriented positioning and similar Pacific Northwest operating environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InterIslandFerry
• Instagraminstagram.com/interislandferry
• Xx.com/ifaferry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inter-island-ferry-authority

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inter-Island Ferry Authority