Port of Alaska

The Port of Alaska is the main cargo port of Southcentral Alaska, on the Anchorage side of Knik Arm in Cook Inlet. Operations began in September 1961, and the port handles 74 percent of the waterborne freight entering the state through Southcentral ports.[1]

Role

The port handles 74 percent of all waterborne freight entering Alaska through Southcentral ports, 95 percent of refined petroleum products and all of the jet fuel for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and about two thirds of the jet fuel for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Matson and Totem Ocean Trailer Express serve Anchorage with four to five ships a week from Tacoma, Washington, and ships from Japan and Korea call frequently.[1]

History

Operations began in 1961 with a single berth and over 38,000 tons in the first year. In 1964 it was the only port in Southcentral Alaska to survive the Good Friday earthquake. Tonnage peaked at more than 5 million tons in 2005, and the port marked 50 years of service in 2011. In 2017 it was renamed from Port of Anchorage to Port of Alaska and a seven-year modernisation project began.[1]

Volumes and land

Annual cargo was 4,704,374 tons in 2020, down from the 2005 peak. An adjoining 128.96-acre industrial park has about 80.87 acres under long-term lease, and two major carriers occupy most of the 31 acres used for staging marine cargo.[1]

FAQs

When did the port open? September 1961.

What share of freight does it handle? 74 percent of waterborne freight entering through Southcentral ports.

What happened in 1964? It was the only Southcentral port to survive the Good Friday earthquake.

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Port of Alaska

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue