Strategic Implementation of Cruise Facility Improvements in Ketchikan, Alaska

The cruise industry in Southeast Alaska has helped to augment traditional resource-based economies such as the fishing and timber industries. During the cruise season, Ketchikan with a population of 8,000, has an influx of 2,500 to 10,000 cruise passengers every day. The City of Ketchikan recently embarked on a rehabilitation and improvement project along the downtown waterfront to maintain and rehabilitate their existing cruise vessel berthing facility. This project was managed to provide the greatest economic benefit to the community and improve the existing facilities in order to maintain the cruise vessel berthing facilities that are so vital to Ketchikan's economy. This paper and presentation will discuss: 1) The evolution of the economic situation in Ketchikan from resource-based economies to tourism; 2) Contracting strategies that help the local economy; and 3) Technical aspects of rehabilitating an existing pier and constructing a new pier in downtown Ketchikan during an Alaskan winter.