Small Boat Harbor Construction Complete
The completion of the Saint Paul Small Boat Harbor (SBH) in October of 2010 and its official dedication on August 4th, 2011, constitute a major milestone in Saint Paul’s history. It also brings Saint Paul closer to fulfilling the objectives of the 1983 Fur Seal Act Amendments which envisioned Saint Paul’s transition from an economy based on fur sealing to one based on commercial fishing. We have certainly come a long way since those difficult days of the fur seal harvest phase-out!
The SBH is the final phase of a process that started almost three decades ago. The first phase was completed in 1989, when the Saint Paul Harbor consisting of a main breakwater and a second detached breakwater, became operational. This allowed Saint Paul to attract fish processing facilities and become an important harbor for the Bering Sea crab fleet. The second phase, the Harbor Improvements Project, occurred between 1999 and 2005 when the existing harbor was improved with the addition of: underwater reefs to protect the main breakwater; the deepening of the harbor entrance channel and maneuvering area; and a tidal channel into the Salt Lagoon. The total cost of these improvements reached $52.3 million.
The completion of the SBH last October 2010 at a cost of over $20 million represents the final phase of this monumental local, state, and federal effort. CBSFA contributed over $6 million to the project. CBSFA also worked with Bellingham Marine Industries (BMI) and the Dutra Dredging Company to finalize the design and installation of the SBH infrastructure. The SBH is considered a state of the art design and engineering project, and the joint construction team consisting of CBSFA, BMI, Red Point, and Dutra was recently awarded the 2011 “Project Excellence Award” by the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute. CBSFA owns and manages the SBH and is leasing the SBH tidelands.
The improved Saint Paul Harbor and the newly constructed SBH are critical to Saint Paul’s long-term economic well-being and its diversification efforts. They will enhance the community’s ability to generate millions of dollars of income and will create numerous job opportunities each year, particularly for our younger generations, through commercial fishing and related activities. CBSFA recognizes and is grateful for the key support provided by Saint Paul’s local entities, our Alaska congressional delegation, the State of Alaska, and the Denali Commission. The board and management are very happy that this project has finally come to fruition.
Fire Station/CBSFA Crane Storage Facility
During 2006, the CBSFA Board of Directors approved funding a joint project with the City of St. Paul to construct a fire station and crane storage facility. In 2009, the construction was completed. The Volunteer Fire Department now has a centralized location to operate from and store equipment, which is critical to proper response. The facility provides storage for CBSFA’s Grove crane and front end loader. The indoor storage extends the useful life of the equipment.
Tribal Government Dock
CBSFA contributed a $500,000 match to a Denali Commission grant for a 60-foot public dock that was constructed in June 2015. The dock will provide economic opportunities for the Bering Sea fleet, our community, and Western Alaska. The CBSFA Boat Shop and Tribal Government’s Multi-Use Facility will be constructed near the dock.
CBSFA Boat Shop & Tribal Government Multi-Use Facility
Construction of a vessel repair facility to support the local fishing fleet has been a goal of CBSFA and funding for this project has been set-aside for a number of years. CBSFA has been working with the Tribal Government of St. Paul to construct the jointly owned facility, which will include the CBSFA Boat Shop and Tribal Government’s Ship Supply Warehouse. The project will expand the overall services offered within the Small Boat Harbor and Saint Paul Harbor in general. CBSFA provided local-match funds to support the Tribal Government’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant application to fund the construction of this facility.