Passenger Port Expansions: Improving tourist experience, easing local congestion.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: TOURISM

Two years after the pandemic began, tourism is slowly beginning to get back on track. Major cruise lines scheduled 78 voyages with nine ships in 2021, a decrease from more than 500 voyages in 2019 but an improvement over 2020's zero. Thanks to Congressional action allowing cruises to Alaska to bypass Canadian ports, bookings opened in June. In case passengers feel hesitant boarding a ship amid the simmering pandemic, ports of call are going out of their way to make them feel welcome. Juneau's well-developed waterfront is hardly finished adding cruise ship amenities, and as cruises returned this summer, August saw new expansions in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Hoonah.

The first cruise ship arrived at the new two-berth Mill at Ward Cove, which is located seven miles north of Ketchikan. Built on the site of the former Ketchikan Pulp Mill, which closed in 1997, construction is ongoing, as the project was slowed by the pandemic.

The $50 million renovation, which includes a welcome center and passenger transport facility, is being developed by the Ward Cove Group, which partnered with Fairbanksbased tourism operator Godspeed, Inc. Norwegian Cruises Line also invested in the dock project in exchange for priority use of its berths.

After Phase I, which includes refurbishing the Ketchikan Pulp Mill--featuring a re-creation of the Tongass National Forest inside--Phases II and III will include more retail, food, tourism, and entertainment opportunities.

Sitka

August saw completion of the first phase of the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal Dock, which not only provides more tourist amenities but enables larger ships to dock at the berth. The dock's majority owner is Halibut Point Marine Services, a Sitka family-owned business, with financing support and minority ownership by Royal Caribbean Group and Ceres Terminals (a Nashvillebased port management firm).

"Previously, we were able to dock one ship up to 980 feet--the old Panamax size--as well as one smaller ship up to 600 feet on a double-sided berth," explains Chris McGraw, owner and manager of Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. "We extended the pier so that we can now accommodate two of the neo-Panamax ships, which are approximately 1,150 feet, one on each side."

In conjunction with the dock extension, upland development included the expansion of passenger facilities. "We previously had an 8,000-square-foot passenger terminal where we would stage shuttles into downtown Sitka," says McGraw. "We have since constructed 30,000 more square feet of space in multiple buildings, which includes retail space, food and beverage options, and tour and passenger staging areas."

These expanded berthing facilities...