KTVA News
By: Dave Leval

Earlier this week, Port of Alaska director Steve Ribuffo updated Sen. Lisa Murkowski on the damage to one of the transit yards, a portion of which collapsed during the earthquake.

"If it all slides, and goes this way, and hits all those corroded piles, we will lose this building," Ribuffo said, as there's more damage to see.

Murkowski joined Sen. Dan Sullivan on Monday night, as the group went to the north end of the port.

"This portion over here was supposed to be structurally sound enough to stay in use, that's why when you see the cracks out here, we're getting a little concerned about just how stable is the whole thing," Ribuffo said.

Read the full story here:
https://www.ktva.com/story/39608913/repairs-underway-to-earthquake-damaged-port-of-alaska

MarineLink
By: Joseph Keefe

5,000 HP workhorse to enter Alaska service this month.

The Bering Wind, a powerful Dolphin Class tugboat, is being transferred from the Foss fleet in Long Beach, California to Cook Inlet Tug & Barge in Anchorage. The tug, formerly known as the Campbell Foss, is scheduled to begin service in Anchorage this month.

The vessel was renamed in October of this year and is scheduled to enter service in Alaska in approximately November 15, 2018.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.marinelink.com/news/foss-redeploys-hybrid-harbor-tug-443183

KTUU News
By Rebecca Palsha

The Port of Alaska handles more than 3.5 million tons of food, building supplies, just about everything that comes into the state. It is also designated as a strategic seaport for the Department of Defense.

But, it is old and rusted and expected to be unusable in the next 10 years.

If something were to happen to it, it would also be devastating. It would take less than a week to see the shelves at supermarkets empty out.

On a recent port tour, a spokesperson for the port pointed out rust and holes within the structures of the port.

"You don't have to be an engineer to look at it and go, 'Ha, I don't think it's supposed to do that.' " Jim Jager, the Port External Affairs Director said.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Can-the-Port-of-Alaska-withstand-an-earthquake-497084141.html

KTVA Channel 11 News
By: Joe Vigil

It was unexpected and unwanted for the Port of Alaska in Anchorage. The port just got hit with steel tariffs from the Trump administration. This as the port moves forward with an estimated billion-dollar port modernization project.

Port officials say they purchased some steel pilings that will be inserted into other pilings that are corroded. Those pilings support the docks. Port officials say the contractor notified them that it was being billed by U.S. Customs an extra $500,000 in steel tariffs. Port leaders say they ordered the parts before tariffs went into place.

Port staff were expected to meet with Municipality of Anchorage staff members and attorneys on Thursday to discuss the tariffs "and see if there's anything we can, any recourse we might have to mitigate this in whole or in part," said Port Director Steve Ribuffo.

Ribuffo says it's too early to tell if the cost of the project would increase due to the tariffs.

Meanwhile, the port continues searching for ways to finance the massive billion dollar project. Port External Affairs Director Jim Jager says the port currently has only $56 million in available funds for the modernization.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.ktva.com/story/39088672/port-of-alaska-hit-with-steel-tariffs

KTUU News
By: Rebecca Palsha

On a recent Friday afternoon, a large bright pink and red container ship was docked at the Port of Alaska. In just a few hours, it would begin its long journey back to Asia after leaving behind its haul.

The Port — renamed the Port of Alaska from of the Port of Anchorage in October — is vital to the state. It handles more than 3.5 million tons of food, building supplies and all things that make life enjoyable and workable for Alaskans. It is also designated as a strategic seaport for the Department of Defense.

But what port officials want Alaskans to know is that the port is aging out of relevance quickly, perhaps to the point of obsolescence in the next 10 years. The question now is can port officials secure money needed to rebuild or replace key port infrastructure before major problems emerge?

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/An-old-port-covered-corrosion-and-and-too-small-for-modern-ships-makes-a-pitch-to-Alaskans-for-money---492989311.html

Anchorage Daily News
By: Annie Zak, Tegan Hanlon

Alaska's candidates for governor kept it relatively low-key at a one-hour forum Monday in Anchorage where they discussed their plans for crime, oil, the Permanent Fund and more.
There were no vicious attacks at the event, hosted by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center. No harsh words. No jabs thrown.
All four gubernatorial candidates arrived in suits: former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, incumbent Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, and Libertarian William "Billy" Toien.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.adn.com/politics/2018/09/10/candidates-for-alaska-governor-talk-crime-budget-gap-and-oil-in-anchorage-forum/

Alaska Journal of Commerce
By: Elwood Brehmer

Federal Claims Court Judge Edward Damich didn’t take long to rule that the U.S. Maritime Administration must produce a previously proprietary report on the failings of the former Port of Anchorage Intermodal Expansion Project.

Damich ruled Aug. 23, just two days after arguments on the matter, that a root cause analysis engineering report done in 2012 by the international consulting and management firm AECOM will become part of the court record in the Municipality of Anchorage’s lawsuit against the federal agency commonly known as MARAD.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.alaskajournal.com/2018-08-28/marad-ordered-hand-over-port-study#.W4b0_OhKjtV

Alaska Public Media
By Zachariah Hughes

The U.S. military is looking for new ways to expand its presence in Arctic waters. Last week saw the first ever Arctic Maritime Symposium to be hosted by Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. The three-day event brought together senior military officials, academics and civilian leaders to discuss what shifting geopolitics and a changing environment could mean for the nation’s military presence in Alaska.

One of the main reasons the U.S. needs a better understanding of the Arctic is Russia’s expanding presence in the region and interest in the Northern Sea Route, according to Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander for NORAD and defense assets throughout North America.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2018/08/21/new-symposium-brings-militarys-attention-to-the-arctic/

KTVA News
By Chris Klint

A U.S. Navy destroyer is visiting Anchorage this week, as part of an event being held on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson highlighting changes in the Arctic.

The USS Momsen, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer homeported in Everett, Wash., was tied up at the Port of Alaska Wednesday. Port director Steve Ribuffo said the Momsen docked at about 7:30 a.m.

Officials with the Alaskan Command said the Momsen and its crew of about 280 were in port for the next two days as part of the three-day Arctic Maritime Symposium wrapping up Thursday. A logo for the event features a quote from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis: “The U.S. must ensure that our adversaries do not dominate the Arctic region.”

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.ktva.com/story/38893039/destroyer-stops-in-anchorage-during-arctic-symposium

KTVA News
By Scott Gross

For the first time since 2015, a Navy Destroyer made it's way to the Port of Alaska.

"Right now, we know that the environment is changing," Director for Operations for Alaska Command Col. Mark Schmidt said. "What that means to us? We don't know. We want to understand and get after what capabilities and requirements are needed in this changing environment."

To do that, Alaska Command is hosting the first ever Arctic Maritime Symposium at JBER and the Port of Alaska. The event is designed to bring together senior military leaders to discuss strategic challenges in maritime operations in the Arctic.

"General Wilsbach specifically designed this to get the right minds and leaders here," Col. Schmidt said. "It's to get after the challenges and opportunities. We have Admiral Samuel Locklear here talked about his view from strategic points with leaders from the Navy and Coast Guard."

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.ktva.com/story/38895043/inside-the-gates-uss-momsen-ports-in-anchorage