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Cargo Traffic Trends: Anchorage

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Anchorage Cargo Uptick in 2014

The Port of Anchorage experienced an increase in overall tonnage in 2014 – the first uptick in three years.

Containerized cargo and vehicle tonnage rose 4.0 percent from 2013 levels, based on business numbers reported by the port's resident ocean carriers, Horizon Lines, LLC, and Totem Ocean Trailer Express. Furthermore, says the port, "all indicators point to 2015 getting off to an equally good start."

Port Director Steve Ribuffo also reports that 15 fuel tanker ships called at Anchorage in 2015, up from just in 2013. "We've had a steady flow of fuel traffic at the Port of Anchorage in 2014 and so far in 2015," said Mr. Ribuffo. "Essentially, there had been at least one tanker here offloading petroleum every month, and we don't see the surge letting up anytime soon." Fuel deliveries across the dock jumped 59 percent in 2014.

Fuel arriving by barge or tanker is delivered through one of nine petroleum offload headers on the port’s two dedicated petroleum docks. Petroleum suppliers with facilities at the Port of Anchorage are Tesoro, Flint Hills Resources, Crowley, and The Aircraft Service International Group. They are being joined this year by Delta Western, which recently concluded an agreement with the port (Advisory, February 24, 2015).

Pipelines transport fuel from the port to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. One hundred percent of the jet fuel used at the base comes through the port.

In 2014, both foreign and domestic carriers brought in 6.7 million barrels of fuel, up from 4.2 million barrels in 2013.

Said Mr. Ribuffo: "While there is a real and serious need to modernize our dock infrastructure, it is very clear from a business perspective that we can successfully support more tonnage within the same footprint. Contrary to what some folks will tell you, the Port of Anchorage is open for business every day and we have plenty of availability to support anyone who needs it."


Unloading a container ship on a sunny day in Anchorage.
Photo/Port of Anchorage
 

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