The Seward
Company, public-private project formed to revive the port, is working with
Turnagain, Port of Tomorrow, Alaska Railroad and Royal Caribbean Group to
replace the outdated pier and completely modernize the cruise infrastructure.
Initially funded by the U.S. Congress in 1914, the
Port of Seward secured freight and passenger transfers from the Gulf of Alaska
to Fairbanks. Since its
update in 1965, the port has welcomed millions of travelers, thousands of cargo
vessels, and moved tons of ore with minimal improvements.
The port is showing its age. As the H-piles supporting the dock continue to
deteriorate, the dock and passenger terminal do not meet today’s cruise
industry operational or safety standards and, as the PND Engineering 2023 study
demonstrates, the port is on borrowed time.
After removing the current fixed dock, a new 100
feet wide and 748 feet long floating pier will welcome the largest cruise
vessels coming to Alaska. Designed to rise and lower with Alaska’s extreme
tides while mooring ships along both sides, the floating structure also
elevates the Port of Seward to Alaska’s most desired and functional cruise
berth. The modernization of the dock includes a portable shore-power system.
The grand opening is
scheduled to take place in Spring 2026