Dredging operations have commenced for the Unalaska-Dutch Harbor Channels Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Alaska District announced.
Work began in June to deepen the entrance to Alaska's Iliuliuk Bay, where a shallow bar has impeded navigation for larger vessels entering Dutch Harbor, one of the United States' top fishing ports.
The $9.2 million project aims to remove roughly 172,000 cu. yards of sediment, creating a 600'x600' channel with a depth of 58'.
Located in the Aleutian Islands, Dutch Harbor is one of the busiest fishing ports in the U.S. by volume and plays a crucial role in Alaska’s seafood industry and maritime trade. Improving access to the port is expected to support the local economy and strengthen logistical capabilities for the region.
The project has been years in the making. USACE completed its final feasibility report in 2019, followed by the chief’s report in 2020, which cleared the way for congressional authorization. In March 2024, a formal partnership agreement between the city of Unalaska and the Corps paved the way for construction. The dredging contract was awarded to J.E. McAmis Inc., Chico, Calif., in July 2024.
“This project is going to improve safety for mariners and strengthen the supply chain of the North Pacific and Bering Sea,” said Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, commander of the USACE Alaska District, when the contract was awarded last year.
The federal government is covering 75% of the cost, while the city of Unalaska is funding the remaining 25%. Local leaders have hailed the initiative as a win for both commercial and subsistence maritime users.
J.E. McAmis said it using its new 250'x76' excavator dredge Ellis Island for the project. The barge, which was recently upgraded at WCT Marine & Construction Inc., Astoria, Ore., features a Manitowoc 4100 support crane as well as a CAT 6020/6030 hybrid excavator with 95' Pierce Pacific front.
