Fishing Sector Sees Issues with Haulout

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Category: News

Created on Wednesday, 18 December 2024 15:09

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    “The city and contractors believe they will have (the haulout) completed by the March 30 target,” White told the Sentinel today.
    In the last month the city has received the required permits for in-water work, and the contractor has started driving piles, with four of the six planned sets already driven, White said. Contractors have placed fill along the shoreline, and are gearing up to place the concrete panels for the haulout piers. The motorized boatlift is under construction in the Lower 48.
    White reported that many of those attending the two-hour board meeting Tuesday wanted to ask questions or voice concerns about the request for qualifications process for selecting an operator for the haulout. The city issued the request in July, seeking offers from qualified operators of the facility, which is a critical piece of public infrastructure in a fishing community.
    White said that Highmark Marine Fabricators of Kodiak, “the one entity (that) demonstrated the required qualifications of the RFQ,” has been selected for further negotiations. Highmark runs the haulout and boatyard in Kodiak, a busy fishing port.
    White said the board is working on a scope of services, including hauling and moving vessels.
    “With approval of scope of services the city and borough will be providing a scope of work that provides more details of services, and eventually pricing for those services,” he told the Sentinel today. Once the scope is complete and approved by the board, Highmark will be allowed to submit a bid to provide the services, with the core part of the bid being the fee structure for haulout operations, he explained.
    White estimated about a dozen members of the public testified at the meeting, expressing concerns about the prices the company might charge for haulout services, and also questioning whether any outside vendor should be selected.
    White said the industrial park is scheduling a special meeting for the community to talk with Highmark representatives about what marine services currently are available in Sitka, and where gaps in services exist.
    “I envision the haulout to be really successful and provide all kinds of business opportunities for the community,” he told the Sentinel. “When voters voted to spend $8.2 million (from the Sitka permanent fund), the thought was this would not only support the local fleet but provide an economic engine for the community.”
    The last publicly available haulout was taken out of service when it was displaced in 2022 by the deep water cruise ship dock on Halibut Point Road.

Bulk Water Update
    In other business at the Tuesday GPIP meeting, the board heard a presentation from Arctic Blue Waters Alaska representative Fred Paley, and agreed to a conceptual drawing for a bulk water loading plan. They agreed Paley needs to provide a detailed plan, as required in his water purchase agreement.
    The company plans to export water from Blue Lake with large tanker ships, but so far has not shipped any water. The company has paid about $10,000 to maintain the current contract, and Paley told the board Tuesday that Arctic Blue intends to exercise its first right of refusal to acquire rights to more water. Potentially this might produce another $350,000 for the city.
    “The city and borough has now raised over $1.5 million through various water contracts over the last 15 years,” White said today.
    The board in other business approved an advisory budget for its 2026 fiscal year, which White said is a work in progress. The board also agreed to schedule regular meetings, similar to what any city board or commission does. The meetings will now be 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, in Harrigan Centennial Hall.