Alaska Dispatch News
By: Annie Zak

After a two-week delay, Tote Maritime Alaska’s cargo ship the North Star has finally set sail from Tacoma, bound for Anchorage.

The company said in a press release on Friday that the ship successfully completed sea trials before departing at 7 a.m. Friday morning, and is scheduled to arrive in Anchorage on Monday.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.adn.com/article/20160129/cargo-ship-sets-sail-alaska-after-delay

Alaska Public Media
By: Zachariah Hughes

Last week’s stalled food delivery, which left many grocery store shelves bare, followed by Sunday’s 7.1 earthquake has left many people wondering how prepared Alaska is for an emergency. And more importantly, how vulnerable are we in these situations? On this week’s Alaska Edition, we discuss emergency preparedness in the state.

View Full Story Here:
http://www.alaskapublic.org/2016/01/29/emergency-preparedness-in-alaska/

Alaska Dispatch News
By: Annie Zak

A Tote Maritime Alaska ship that was supposed to depart from Tacoma for Anchorage nearly two weeks ago won’t return to service as anticipated on Wednesday.

The North Star, one of the company’s two cargo ships that runs regularly on the Tacoma-to-Anchorage route, did not leave Washington state as scheduled on Jan. 14 after a mechanical issue was discovered.

A company official said last week that repairs were expected to be completed early this week. The North Star’s next voyage was scheduled for Jan. 27, but now that date has been pushed back again to an unspecified time.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.adn.com/article/20160126/delay-continues-alaska-bound-cargo-ship

The Maritime Executive
By: MarEx

A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southern Alaska early on Sunday, and its effects were felt for hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The quake struck at 1:30 AM, at the foot of a mountain chain just west of Cook Inlet, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The Fairbanks-based Alaska Earthquake Center reported a series of aftershocks reaching magnitudes of up to 4.7.

At the Port of Anchorage, officials say that the shaking didn't cause any significant damage, but it raised concerns about the ability of aging docks to withstand a more serious quake.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/earthquake-shakes-port-of-anchorage

KTUU News
By: Patrick Enslow

While security camera footage at the Port of Anchorage shows lots of shaking, port officials are saying that the infrastructure suffered minimal damage according to preliminary inspection.

But the 7.1 magnitude earthquake has still raised concerns over what could have happened to the port under different circumstances. Port director Steve Ribuffo says the port was lucky.

"Had that epicenter been closer to Anchorage, I don’t think we would be sitting here talking about it today, if we were even able to stand here and talk," Ribuffo said. "It is a point of fact that the conditions of these pilings supporting this dock is very bad."

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/powerful-earthquake-leaves-anchorage-port-officials-concerned/37637678

KTVA Alaska
By: Eric Ruble

ANCHORAGE – Mayor Ethan Berkowitz is asking the Anchorage Assembly to approve funding to pay for a new lobbyist in Juneau.

For $70,000, consultant Jim Lottsfeldt would join existing lobbyist Wendy Chamberlain in an effort to convince lawmakers to fund an improvement project for the Port of Anchorage.

Officials at the 55-year-old port say the facility is long overdue for renovations. The municipality is asking for $290 million from the state to help fund the project.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.ktva.com/berkowitz-wants-muni-to-hire-lobbyist-to-push-port-renovations-in-juneau-551/

Alaska Dispatch News
By: Devin Kelly

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz wants to hire two new lobbyists -- one focusing on the Port of Anchorage, the other on the city’s electric utility -- to influence Alaska legislators during this year’s session in Juneau.

According to documents submitted to the Anchorage Assembly this week, Berkowitz is seeking a $65,000 lobbying contract with veteran political strategist and consultant Jim Lottsfeldt to work on behalf of the city and the port.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.adn.com/article/20160120/mayor-berkowitz-seeks-ramp-anchorages-lobbying-presence-juneau

Alaska Journal of Commerce
By: Elwood Brehmer

Subcontractors are still potentially liable for work done years ago on the disastrous Port of Anchorage expansion project, according to a federal court ruling.

U.S. District Court of Alaska Judge Sharon Gleason ruled Jan. 13 that Quality Asphalt Paving Inc. and MKB Constructors, its working partner on the Anchorage port project in the late 2000s, are still subject to a lawsuit filed by the Municipality of Anchorage because the city never knowingly reconciled with the companies.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.alaskajournal.com/2016-01-20/judge-keeps-subcontractors-port-lawsuit#.VsUvLvIrJjF

Alaska Dispatch News
By: Devin Kelly

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said Thursday he has one main request of the state Legislature this session – adding $290 million for the city’s unfinished Port of Anchorage modernization program to a statewide bond package.

In a presentation to a bipartisan group of legislators from the Anchorage area, Berkowitz said that in the state’s fiscal climate, he’s making the port the city’s sole priority in the upcoming legislative session in Juneau. The total cost for improvements has been estimated at more than a half-billion dollars.

The port was also a top priority of former Mayor Dan Sullivan's administration. Efforts to revamp the aging hub have been underway since 2003, but the expansion has been troubled, with two lawsuits over the design, construction and management of the project. Berkowitz and other city officials say the state has a big interest in the port — about 85 percent of Alaskans are served by products that come through it.

Read Full Story Here:
http://www.adn.com/article/20160107/port-anchorage-main-focus-berkowitzs-legislative-program

A local petroleum company will bring a brand new product to Anchorage this year. Delta Western, Inc. broke ground on their new refined petroleum storage facility at the Port of Anchorage on April 30th, 2015. The first product to be offered will be methanol which will be used on the North Slope Oil fields

As pictured, Delta Western President Kirk Payne, Port Director Steve Ribuffo, and Assembly Enterprise Committee Chair Tim Steele dug the first shovel of dirt. Also present were Assembly Chair Dick Traini, Municipal Manager George Vakalis, business partners and staff.

"This is an exciting day for Delta Western. After years of planning and permitting applications, we've officially broke ground. We're ready to get to work. By Fall of this year we'll be prepared to receive methanol," said President Kirk Payne.

Anchorage Port Director Steve Ribuffo added "It's wonderful to see the Alaska business community investing in the Port of Anchorage, especially when they had the choice to go anywhere they wanted. We're thrilled to lease this space to Delta Western and we welcome their new operation. We've worked well together for many years now, and we look forward to continued growth and success."

Delta Western is the leading independent distributor of petroleum products and lubricants in Alaska and has been serving Alaskans since 1985. A household name to many in rural communities, Delta Western distributes its products from fuel terminals placed throughout the Aleutians, Pribilofs, Bristol Bay, Western Alaska and Southeast Alaska.

The Port of Anchorage is a landlord port with over twenty customers including Delta Western, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, and Horizon Lines. The Port is located at the northern end of Cook Inlet in Southcentral Alaska. The facility accommodates three dry cargo berths and two petroleum handling facilities. It serves as Alaska's regional hub.

Press Contact:

Name and title: Kirk Payne, President, Delta Western
E-mail address: Kirkp@DeltaWestern.com
Phone number: 907- 265-3810