Ports board backs study to relocate Broadway fuel header after berth conflicts

The Ports and Harbor Advisory Board on Tuesday voted to recommend that the Skagway Municipality Assembly fund a feasibility study into relocating the Broadway Dock fuel header.

Port Director Jennings told the board the current fuel header location forces fuel barges to sit deep in the berth and can block cruise-ship operations. “The pilot of the cruise ship refused to bring his cruise ship in if that fuel barge didn't move,” Jennings said, describing an incident on May 8 that required tug assists and a temporary halt to fueling.

The vote recommends KPFF’s Broadway Dock fuel header relocation study in an amount not to exceed $24,940. The motion passed on a voice vote with all members present saying "aye." The recommendation will go to the Assembly for final approval and funding.

Why it matters: board members said harbor scheduling is growing busier as cruise and barge traffic increase, and conflicts with fuel barges can cause operational delays and lost revenue. Jennings said the municipality previously planned to relocate the header as part of the ore-dock redevelopment but that component was descoped; the relocation was also included in PIDP grant applications the municipality has submitted.

Board members and staff described the operating problem in detail. Jennings said fuel barges typically fuel overnight — roughly a 24-hour window in many cases — and when a cruise ship arrives the next day, pilots may refuse to bring the ship in until the barge moves. That can require tug assists and shifting vessels, a process Jennings estimated can cost about three hours of tug time when it occurs. The board also said the municipality absorbed lost revenues last year related to vessel moves — about $60,000 total for three such accommodations — and that the port generates roughly $550,000 annually in flowage fees (figure cited by a board member and noted as approximate).

Board members asked whether Petro Marine, the primary fuel provider, or the Southeast Alaska pilots (SEPA pilots) have policy positions on the issue; Jennings said staff have had preliminary conversations with Petro Marine and planned a follow-up call, and that pilot decisions remain subjective and are made on a pilot-by-pilot basis. Member Montebayas raised whether moving the header would affect the port’s foreign trade zone status with Canada; Jennings said the feasibility study should examine regulatory and trade implications.

The board discussed two relocation options raised by staff: moving the header farther inside the ore dock footprint or relocating it to Broadway Dock so the ore dock remains available for the largest vessels. Jennings said each option carries trade-offs for scheduling and infrastructure upgrades and should be evaluated in a formal feasibility study.

What the board decided: the board voted to recommend the study and authorized staff to continue coordination with legal counsel, fuel providers, cruise line agencies and pilots. Jennings said staff will factor feasibility outcomes into future budget cycles and grant planning if the Assembly approves the recommendation.

The item linked to other port priorities discussed at the meeting, including a planned port master-plan update and ongoing projects such as the ore-dock head frame, fender modifications and water/fire-suppression work. Board members asked staff to provide lifecycle or condition assessments for Broadway Dock as part of longer-term planning.

No final relocation decision was made; the motion recommends a study to provide the data needed for that decision.