: NEW MEMBER PROFILE
APP Port Member
Port of Valdez
I
t is with great pleasure that the Association of Pacific Ports welcomes the Port of Valdez, Alaska, as our newest Port Member. With a diverse and active waterfront that includes such notables as the terminus for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the largest Pink Salmon hatchery in the world, and (prior to the COVID-19 anomaly) the fastest growing cruise ship destination on the North American West Coast, Ports & Harbors Director Jeremy Talbott, and Port Operations Manager Jenessa Ables, were able to provide an overall update on current operations as well as ongoing plans to manage growth through an impressive Waterfront Master Plan.
Background
While the history of Valdez’s development can be traced as far back as the 18th century with English, Spanish and ultimately Russian explorers, it was the late 19th century and the advent of the Gold Rush that established this entry point of Prince William Sound as the American access route for explorers and prospectors who sought first gold, then other minerals such as copper and silver. Fast forward through cyclical booms 46 — PACIFIC PORTS — January 2021
While the history of Valdez’s development can be traced as far back as the 18th century with English, Spanish and ultimately Russian explorers, it was the late 19th century and the advent of the Gold Rush that established this entry point of Prince William Sound... and busts to the 1970s and the approval of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline that we start to see Valdez’s modern maritime development start to take shape. Over the last 30 years, noting the growth and development of the Alaska Marine Highway System, Richardson Highway, and the Valdez Pioneer Field Airport, Valdez has experienced steady and progressive growth. The Valdez Container Terminal, opened in 1982, has become a hub for heavy-lift projects, the commercial fishery, munitions imports for the entire State of Alaska, and support for the oil and gas industry for spill response logistics, inspections, and small repairs.
Current operations
Talbott joined the Port of Valdez in 2014 after a maritime career in Washington State that included
Assis-tant Harbormaster for the Port of Friday Harbor as well as Battalion Chief for the Friday Harbor Fire Department, and subsequently the Marine Response Coordinator for San Juan Island EMS (Paramedic, Flight MEDVAC, Marine Ambulance Captain), an area that encompasses 134 islands, as well as a Sworn Reserve Deputy for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. At the Port of Valdez, he was promoted to Ports & Harbor Director in January 2017. Ables started with the Port in 2012 as an administrative assistant before obtaining her Masters, International Logistics, and becoming the Port Operations Manager. Under their leadership, the Port has invested in expansion and modernization initiatives, provided increased economic opportunities for local businesses, and put in place plans that prioritize a series
