By: Suzanne Downing

The Ketchikan Shipyard has landed another major federal contract, signaling that Alaska’s maritime industry is gaining momentum as a growing center for vessel repair and modernization. JAG Ketchikan LLC has been awarded a $99.6 million contract from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to perform the modernization and midlife extension of the NOAA research vessel Henry B. Bigelow. The contract, which began June 10, runs through April 14, 2029, and provides nearly three years of steady work at the AIDEA-owned shipyard.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the award "a clear win for Alaska."

"It means more jobs, more skilled trades, and more steady work at the Ketchikan Shipyard," Dunleavy said. "We've said all along that Alaska needs to leverage its infrastructure and workforce to compete for large federal projects, and this award shows that strategy is working."

The award also advances a broader vision shared by state leaders and AIDEA officials: transforming Alaska into a national maritime hub much as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport became a global cargo aviation center.

With growing federal, commercial and Arctic demand for ship repair, fabrication and modernization, supporters say Alaska’s geographic location and industrial infrastructure position it to capture more of that work. Continued investment in facilities such as the Ketchikan Shipyard could diversify Alaska’s economy while creating stable, high-paying skilled jobs for decades to come.

Read the Full Article