The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will carry out the expansion of the port to strengthen the United States’ naval presence. It will host U.S. Coast Guard units
Nome (Alaska) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a $399 million contract for the first phase of work to expand the port of Nome, Alaska. The goal is to transform the port into a deep-water port capable of hosting Coast Guard units, thereby strengthening American operational capability in the Arctic, a region increasingly contested by Russia and China. Nome is located about 100 miles from the Bering Strait and near the Arctic Circle, but its current basin, limited to a draft of 18 feet, does not allow access to most commercial and military vessels.
After years of studies and interruptions, the project has taken shape with a plan to increase the depth to 40 feet, build new quays and piers, and thus ensure the transit of large units, including heavy Coast Guard icebreakers. Colonel Jeffrey Palazzini, commander of the USACE Alaska District, emphasized that a more efficient port will be essential not only for national security but also for the economic sustainability of local communities.
The first phase, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, involves the construction of a 1,200-foot breakwater and a new berth. The subsequent phase, dedicated to major dredging operations, will be put out to tender separately. Once completed, the port will be able to host icebreakers like the USCGc Storis (ex Aiviq) and the future Polar Security Cutter-class units, reducing dependence on the base in Seattle, which is 1,800 nautical miles away, and allowing for a faster response to developments in the Arctic.
