Erik Hill | Port of Alaska
CONSTRUCTION
P
Spring Dredging Manson’s ship-sized vacuum keeps the Port of Alaska open for operations By Danny Kreilkamp
10 | June 2021
ut simply, dredging is the excavation of unwanted materials from a marine environment. But this simple procedure is key to facilitating a variety of more complex processes. From building new docks to maintaining existing ones, dredging is a crucial piece to maritime success. And for the Port of Alaska, it’s no different.
‘A Complete and Total Dance’ The Port of Alaska is a critical piece of infrastructure not only for the state it serves but also in terms of national security. Recognized as a US Commercial Strategic Seaport by the Department of Defense, it’s the only tsunamiproof, inbound cargo port in all of Southcentral. In 2020 alone, the Port handled more than 4.5 million tons of fuel and cargo. And as Anchorage’s only designated foreign trade zone, it sees its share of traffic. The Port welcomes everything from fuel tankers to 100-plus passenger cruise ships, facilitating the steady flow of the state’s most important products. Coordinating the flow of this traffic is “a complete and total dance”
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
