Given Alaska’s geographical challenges—limited road access, no rail connections to the lower 48 states, the state relies heavily on maritime transport. “90% of the freight that comes into Alaska comes in on the water. Half of that crosses our docks here in Anchorage, and half of what crosses our docks, continues on to destinations along the road and rail system that touch about 85% of the state population,” says Port Director Steve Ribuffo. Unlike many ports operating under independent port authorities, the Don Young Port of Alaska is uniquely governed as a department of the Municipality of Anchorage, reporting directly to the Anchorage Assembly and the mayor. So, beyond its commercial function, the port has earned designation as a commercial strategic seaport by the Department of Defense. It also plays a key role in military deployments and disaster response initiatives, working closely with FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. “We have a mission directly responsible to the army for their deployments and redeployments of troops and equipment in… and we have a responsibility to the State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as FEMA, to be part of any disaster response and recovery plans for major disaster responses that might occur in the State, whether they be manmade or natural,” Ribuffo explains. Having considered the potential for future natural disasters, port leadership fully acknowledges the urgency of aging infrastructure and seismic vulnerability. As a solution, the Don Yong Port of Alaska has embarked on a transformational initiative: the Port of Alaska Modernization Program. While the last significant infrastructure addition was a petroleum dock in the mid-1970s, decades of accelerated low-water corrosion have severely degraded the port’s wharf piles, requiring a complete overhaul. 146 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03
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