Harbor master details maintenance, utilities and project updates; Papy's Landing conveyance expected this summer
June 12, 2026 | Petersburg Borough, Alaska
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The Petersburg Borough harbor master provided a spring 2026 operations update May 27, describing maintenance work, equipment repairs and several project milestones.
Staff reported repairs to UHMW wear points and outer float corners after heavy sheet ice, replacement of cracked pilings, and ongoing top‑of‑pile preservation work. The harbor ordered two new custom roto seals for the large crane to reduce future downtime.
The harbor is relocating supplies to Middle Harbor because port storage is unavailable, and plans to move 70‑foot pilings from the Scal Bay turnaround to support upcoming work. Staff said they are standing by for authorization from project partners to finalize a spending package and bid packet; operations of the boatyard are planned to fall under the harbor department on project completion.
The harbor master said staff is working with the borough delegation and a US Coast Guard planning team on long‑range options, including support for home‑porting a 120‑foot buoy tender expected for Petersburg in 2032. He reported the harbor is coordinating to convey about 8.8 acres of DNR tide lands at Papy’s Landing and is awaiting a formal transfer letter that will follow transfer of DOT’s dock ownership to the borough.
On utilities, staff described effort to clean underwater potable water and fire lines and said corrosion from galvanized fittings prompted purchase of stainless replacement components. The harbor master also reported a leaking 40‑year boiler that will be replaced this summer; staff is exploring an electric boiler solution and potential transformer upgrades to accommodate the change.
Staff noted the tourship schedule for 2026 includes 84 stops (down from 97 last season) and that Ellen Marine has suspended certain overnight excursions, which affects tender availability.
The harbor master said waiting‑list changes and new permanent moorage contract language have reduced the list slightly and that staff will send follow‑up letters to roughly 30 inactive vessels to clarify status and billing. He also noted increased use of the harbor security boat to support Water Department tasks, with fuel and operator time reimbursing harbor costs.
Board members asked follow‑up questions about the Papy’s Landing conveyance, potential extra costs to monitor newly conveyed lands, and the scale of electrical upgrades for the South Harbor; the harbor master said staff will provide additional details as they are available.
No formal board action on these items was taken at the meeting; the report was presented for the board’s information.
Staff reported repairs to UHMW wear points and outer float corners after heavy sheet ice, replacement of cracked pilings, and ongoing top‑of‑pile preservation work. The harbor ordered two new custom roto seals for the large crane to reduce future downtime.
The harbor is relocating supplies to Middle Harbor because port storage is unavailable, and plans to move 70‑foot pilings from the Scal Bay turnaround to support upcoming work. Staff said they are standing by for authorization from project partners to finalize a spending package and bid packet; operations of the boatyard are planned to fall under the harbor department on project completion.
The harbor master said staff is working with the borough delegation and a US Coast Guard planning team on long‑range options, including support for home‑porting a 120‑foot buoy tender expected for Petersburg in 2032. He reported the harbor is coordinating to convey about 8.8 acres of DNR tide lands at Papy’s Landing and is awaiting a formal transfer letter that will follow transfer of DOT’s dock ownership to the borough.
On utilities, staff described effort to clean underwater potable water and fire lines and said corrosion from galvanized fittings prompted purchase of stainless replacement components. The harbor master also reported a leaking 40‑year boiler that will be replaced this summer; staff is exploring an electric boiler solution and potential transformer upgrades to accommodate the change.
Staff noted the tourship schedule for 2026 includes 84 stops (down from 97 last season) and that Ellen Marine has suspended certain overnight excursions, which affects tender availability.
The harbor master said waiting‑list changes and new permanent moorage contract language have reduced the list slightly and that staff will send follow‑up letters to roughly 30 inactive vessels to clarify status and billing. He also noted increased use of the harbor security boat to support Water Department tasks, with fuel and operator time reimbursing harbor costs.
Board members asked follow‑up questions about the Papy’s Landing conveyance, potential extra costs to monitor newly conveyed lands, and the scale of electrical upgrades for the South Harbor; the harbor master said staff will provide additional details as they are available.
No formal board action on these items was taken at the meeting; the report was presented for the board’s information.
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