and water jets. Fairweather was under repair until early July 2006, when she returned to service with three new engines, four new reduction gears, and four new drive shafts. There were also significant labor difficulties early in her career. Fairweather's speed markedly changed her staffing needs from those of traditional ferries. The slower, traditional ships in the Alaska Marine Highway System had multiple crews covering multiple shifts, while Fairweather could complete her run and return home on the same day using a single shift. Bargaining with the Inlandboatman's Union, the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, and the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots broke down and Fairweather was idled in January 2005. An agreement between the state and the unions was finally reached in March 2005 and the ferry resumed service.Fairweather's routing changed over the years to provide more or less service to various Southeast Alaska ports. As a general matter, she sailed less in the winter when early darkness made avoiding floating logs that would jam the water jets difficult, and when travel in Southeast Alaska reached a low point. One thing that did not change was trouble with her engines. On October 1, 2008 she began an engine overhaul project that was funded with $5 million of federal capital improvement funds. The project was substantially delayed for lack of replacement parts. Only about 150 of these engines were ever manufactured and the only 8 in the state of Alaska were aboard Fairweather and Chenega. By the time the needed parts were ordered and could be delivered, Fairweather's return to service was delayed until July 2009. In 2010 the state sued Derecktor and MTU for unspecified damages related to the ongoing engine problems. In March 2013, a month before the suit was to go to trial, an agreement was reached between the state and MTU. The engine manufacturer agreed to replace the ship's engines and offered a number of maintenance-related options on the new engines. Pursuant to this agreement, in 2014 Fairweather was repowered, replacing the four original MTU 16V595 engines with the current MTU 20V 4000 M73L engines. During the winter of 2018-2019 Fairweather operated in Prince William Sound between Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier. In April 2019, the ship sailed to Ward Cove, near Ketchikan, and was idled. Retirement from Alaskan serviceFairweather and the Alaska Marine Highway System in general have always been subsidized by the State of