Port of Valdez, Alaska

(https://www.valdezak.gov/151/Port)

Valdez is the United States’ farthest north ice-free port with best access to Alaska’s interior as well as to the United States Pacific Northwest, Northern Canada and Pacific Rim trade routes.

The Port is not troubled by excessive tides (there is an average 11.8-foot tide differential and an excess of 50 feet of water in front of the Valdez Container Dock at mean low tide.)

Equipped to transfer cargo directly onto trucks, the port features Foreign Trade Zone No. 108, the first in Alaska to offer international shippers many cost advantages. These secured areas at official ports of entry are considered outside the United States for Customs purposes to reduce red tape and overhead for importers and exporters expediting foreign commerce. Additionally, available undeveloped land in the thousands of acres sit adjacent to our Port and along the Richardson Highway, in direct link to the rest of the State.

At a glance

Operations

Valdez Container Terminal — Port of Valdez general cargo and container facility loading dock has an overall length of 700 feet (212.3 meters) with an apron width of 100 feet (30.3 meters). The deck height from the water is 14 feet (4.2 meters). The water depth at mean low water is 50 feet (15.2 meters). The pre-stressed concrete floating dock is tied to a 21-acre marshalling yard by two 200-foot (60.7-meter) ramps leading from the dock to the marshalling yard. The dock is designed as a multi-purpose berth to handle containerized, roll on/roll off and lift on/lift off operations. The marshalling yard contains a total area of 21 acres (8.5 hectares). This marshalling yard has container storage capacity of 560, 40-foot (12.1 meter) vans and 360 dual reefer outlets. There is a 60-ton Fairbanks certification scale located at the entrance to the terminal.
Valdez Industrial Park — Adjoining the Valdez Container Terminal is the Valdez Industrial Park, which contains approximately 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) of land. This land is owned by the City and is available for lease or sale with attractive terms. This land is available for storage, assembly and manufacturing spaces as well as any other industrial activity that is needed.
Grain Terminal — The grain terminal consists of nine (9) concrete terminals. Each silo is 112 feet tall and 33 feet in diameter and has a total terminal capacity of 522,000 bushels. Four shipping bins are able to contain an additional 14,000 bushels in each bin. The facility has a truck off loading rate of 300 tons per hour. The grain terminal can receive grain at 18,000 bushels per hour and is designed to load ships at 35,000 bushels per hour. The receiving system features a 10-foot x 70-foot hydraulic truck dumper with a single 800-bushel pit feeding a 18,000-bushel per hour receiving leg. From the leg, grain is spouted by gravity to a 18,000-barrel per hour drag conveyor, then into one of five other drag conveyors (2 @ 35,000 BPH and 3 @ 18,000 BPH) which eventually fill the concrete silos. The terminal’s reclaim system has three 35,000 BPH belt conveyors located beneath the silo at the ground level. The belt conveyors feed a drag conveyor, which feeds the 35,000 BPH reclaim bucket elevator. The reclaim legs fill the bulk weigh system. Once through the scale system grain is then elevated through by the shipping leg to drag conveyors which feed the interstice bins. The terminal does not at this time have a conveyor system for loading/unloading grain ships and barges.
John Thomas Kelsey Municipal Dock — The Kelsey Dock is a 600-ft. wooden wharf featuring a newly remodeled fendering system. Water depth at the dock is 35 feet at MLLW. Services include garbage disposal, lights, water, fueling and wastewater disposal. The adjoining John Thomas Kelsey Plaza is available to rent for events such as company picnics, graduation parties, and other special events. Please contact the Port Office at (907) 835-4564 for more information on renting the facilities.
Alyeska Marine Terminal — As the southern terminus of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, approximately 1.6 million barrels of crude oil arrive at the terminal daily and shipped to the west coast and gulf states via super tankers. Marine traffic has been well regulated and safe and the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Valdez continues to stay on duty to insure the continued safety of all marine traffic in the area.

Services

Richardson Highway Access — The all-weather Richardson Highway stretches for over 360 miles from the Port of Valdez to Fairbanks. The effectiveness of the Alaska State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities efforts in maintaining clear roads is demonstrated over its 40 year history at almost 365 days a year. In fact, road closures due to winter storms average only thirty-five hours, not quite a day and a half, a year for natural hazards. And, the number of days of restricted commercial use is minimal and occurs for only 2 to 3 weeks a year, usually in April, yet still allowing trucks to carry 75% of their maximum loads. For freight movement there are very few times during the year that restrictions occur. The Richardson Highway has an excellent, proven record of reliability.
Alaska Marine Highway System — For over 50 years, the Alaska Marine Highway System has been continually expanding to provide dependable transportation between Alaska’s coastal communities. Today, as the only marine route recognized as a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, the system currently extends across 3,500 miles of scenic coastline and provides service to over 30 communities.
Valdez Pioneer Field Airport — (Airport Code: VDZ) — With a 6,500 ft. long runway, the airport is capable of serving large airplanes. Fuel is only available by prior arrangements with Ravn Aviation (907-835-2595). Car rentals are available through Valdez U-Drive Car Rental (907-835-4402). Office space is available for rent in the airport building (907-835-4564).