Anchorage Daily News
Opinion

After the terrible devastation COVID-19 wreaked on Alaska’s economy the past year, the one area where Alaska’s elected officials at all levels and of all political parties should reach agreement is getting our economy back on track.

The pandemic has killed more than 300 Alaskans and infected nearly 70,000 more, cost thousands of our fellow citizens their jobs, pushed many into poverty and bankrupted scores of small homegrown businesses.

Thankfully, the new administration of President Joe Biden has stepped forward with a comprehensive “Build Back Better” plan to create jobs and invest in America’s infrastructure – roads, bridges, water and sewer – after too many years of neglect. While disagreement about some of the details is expected, our political leaders should unify behind the notion that these facilities sorely need repair and creating millions of American jobs to fix them is exactly what our economy needs now.

Alaska stands to benefit enormously from this historic investment, if we focus on the right priorities. We welcome federal dollars to improve our roads, bridges, housing and sanitation systems, especially in rural Alaska. Major investments in two areas are vital for our state’s long-term prosperity. The first is rebuilding the Port of Alaska, through which most of the state’s fuel and goods are shipped.

Second is expanding internet broadband across rural Alaska, essential for public health and future jobs.

Read full story here:
https://www.adn.com/opinions/2021/05/11/support-the-american-jobs-act-for-alaska-jobs/

By: Elwood Brehmer
Alaska Journal of Commerce

A trial is set to commence nearly seven years after Anchorage sued the U.S. Maritime Administration for its role in the botched expansion of the city’s port but there is still a long way between now and a final ruling.

The Federal Claims Court trial, being held via videoconference, began Feb. 16, at 6 a.m. Alaska time.

Assistant Municipal Attorney Bob Owens said that the participants in the two- to three-week trial will be scattered across the country.

Attorneys for the municipality will attempt to complete their arguments that the federal agency owes the city upwards of $320 million for its role in the port construction project that started way back in 2003 and was deemed a failure in 2012.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.alaskajournal.com/2021-02-15/city-vs-marad-port-trial-set-begin

Marine Log
By: Marine Log Staff

Manson Construction Company, Seattle, Wash., has been awarded a $9,847,000 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging in the Port of Alaska. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received.

Work will be performed in Anchorage, with an estimated completion date of January 26, 2022.

Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $9,847,000 were obligated at the time of the award.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, is the contracting activity.

View Full Article Here:
https://www.marinelog.com/news/usace-awards-manson-9-8-million-alaska-dredging-contract/

KTVA News
By: Scott Gross

During the summer, looking out into the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, red and white dredge hard at work may be seen.

"We've dredged at the Port of Anchorage for probably about over 40 years," operations branch chief for the Alaska district, Julie Anderson, said. "The purpose of the project is to keep the entrance, the turning area and the terminals where the ships come up to the docks, to an authorized depth of minus 35 feet."

In a July 6 press release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an estimated 2,400 to 2,600 cargo containers arrive at the port each week to keep stores supplied with consumer goods throughout the Interior and Southcentral Alaska.

The ever-flowing current builds underwater shoals, much like sand bars, in the Cook Inlet which create depths that ships are not able to navigate in. The dredge chews away at the shoals allowing traffic to continue in the port.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.ktva.com/story/42342891/dredging-in-the-port-of-alaska-helps-keep-store-shelves-stocked

Arctic Warrior
By Rachel Napolitan USACE Alaska District

All summer long, a crimson and white boat moves back and forth through the waters near the Port of Alaska collecting silt, sand and gravel off the seafloor to allow vessels to navigate the harbor in Anchorage. The boat is a dredging vessel called the Westport, operated by Manson Construction of Seattle, Wash., which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District contracted to maintain the mooring areas for the past three years.

An estimated 2,400 to 2,600 cargo containers arrive at the port each week to keep stores supplied with consumer goods throughout the Interior and Southcentral Alaska, said Julie Anderson, operations branch chief for the Alaska District.

"We all want our stuff, so it is important that we provide an environment in which shippers can be on time," Anderson said.

Read full story Here:
https://www.frontiersman.com/arctic-warrior/army-corps-continues-legacy-of-dredging-at-port-of-alaska/article_c23e82a4-bfc7-11ea-937a-532058e070a2.html

By: Elwood Brehmer
Alaska Journal of Commerce

A federal judge denied the U.S. Maritime Administration’s motion for judgment in Anchorage’s lawsuit against the agency over more than $300 million in failed construction at the city’s port done more than a decade ago.

U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Edward J. Damich rejected the Maritime Administration’s arguments that memorandums of understanding signed in 2003 and 2011 outlining the city’s and agency’s roles in the Port of Anchorage Intermodal Expansion Project were cooperative, and therefore not binding agreements.

Agency attorneys argued that the MOUs were more ceremonial in nature and did not make the government responsible for the project.

The Anchorage port was renamed the Port of Alaska by city officials in 2017.

Ready Full Story Here:
https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-05-27/lawsuit-against-marad-may-proceed

KTVA News
By: Dave Leval

There's a lot of hammering at the Port of Alaska, as crews work on the dock that will house the new Petroleum and Cement Terminal.

"What we're seeing behind us is the ability for to move petroleum and cement as we rebuild the state, as we build into the future," said Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.

The structure will replace Petroleum Oil Lubricants Terminal 1, which opened in 1965. It's now severely corroded and suffered significant structural damage during the November 2018 earthquake, according to the muni.

"It is a sign too that Anchorage is a resilient place, that we are coming back from an earthquake, we're moving through a pandemic," Berkowitz said. "We're going to make sure that this terminal is going to be here for a generation and another generation after that."

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.ktva.com/story/42133054/work-continues-on-new-terminal-at-port-of-alaska

Anchorage Daily News
By: Marc Lester

Many of the Alaska’s most popular musical artists performed Tuesday at the Ship Creek small-boat launch, though no large crowd gathered to see them.

Videos captured there will become the AK4AK virtual music festival, which will debut online starting at 6 p.m. May 1.

Organizers, including Showdown Productions and Anchorage Assembly member Christopher Constant, say the event was inspired by the sacrifices Alaskans made to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases and to thank shipping and port workers who keep food and supplies coming into the state.

For musicians it was a welcome chance to play since the coronavirus shutdown has kept them apart and canceled their gigs, even if few people were there other than the production crew. Electronic instruments weren’t amplified on site. They played only into the recorded mix.

James Glaves, keyboardist for popular Anchorage rock band Medium Build, said it was the first time he had played with his bandmates since their last live performance in mid-February.

View full story here:
https://www.adn.com/arts/music/2020/04/29/with-big-audiences-impossible-some-of-alaskas-most-popular-performers-record-a-virtual-music-fest/

KTVA News
By: Samantha Davenport

After hosting a successful livestream last month, Showdown Alaska is partnering with Anchorage Assembly member Christopher Constant to bring Alaskans together — social distancing style.

AK4AK, a virtual music festival, will raise money for the Food Bank of Alaska. The festival will take place May 1 from 6-10 p.m.

Performers include Blackwater Railroad Co., Medium Build, H3, DJ Spencer Lee, Emma Hill, Ava Earl, Jaybird Parkhurst and other local artists.

Hellen Payares and Raymond Flores are co-owners of Showdown Alaska, an independent concert production team. They have brought up a list of talent to Alaska, including Waka Flocka Flame, Diplo and Grieves.

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.ktva.com/story/42047153/virtual-music-festival-hopes-to-connect-alaskans-during-coronavirus-crisis

American Shipper
By: Chris Gillis 

A COVID-19 infection that shut down Customs and Border Protection’s office at the port on Thursday will not impact cargo operations, the agency said.

The Port of Alaska at Anchorage serves as a lifeline for many Alaskan residents that benefit from scheduled container loads of groceries and other consumer products from the Lower 48 states.

While public nerves in the state were rattled by supply concerns when Alaska’s governor on March 27 issued a “shelter-in-place” order to stave off personal transmissions of COVID-19, the state’s port authority and ocean carriers calling on Anchorage insisted that ships loaded with containers will continue to arrive on schedule.

Bal Dreyfus, Matson’s senior vice president for Alaska, said on March 28 that “‘shelter at home’ and intrastate travel restrictions issued for residents of Alaska do not affect our operations, as Matson and the services that support our operations are considered ‘essential businesses’ supporting critical transportation infrastructure.”

Read Full Story Here:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ocean-cargo-continues-to-flow-to-the-port-of-anchorage