The Malaspina sits docked In this May 17, 2012 photo. (Photo by Gillfoto/Wikimedia Commons)
The Malaspina sits docked In this May 17, 2012 photo. (Photo by Gillfoto/Wikimedia Commons)

Crew shortages continue to plague the Alaska Marine Highway, the ferry system’s director told a gathering of Southeast officials last week.

“Our biggest shortage is in the engineering department,” where the 54 ship engineers on the payroll as of Jan. 26 were far short of the 81 needed for full staffing, Craig Tornga told a gathering of community, business and…