Harbour

Valdez Marina

Name: Valdez Marina
Address: Valdez, US

Valdez, United StatesPrince William Sound and Kenai

Type: Harbour

Municipal small boat harbour at the head of Port Valdez, on the north shore of Prince William Sound in south-central Alaska, the northernmost ice-free port of the United States.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from Prince William Sound through Valdez Arm, then Port Valdez itself, all deep water and well-charted. Sheltered fjord setting between the Chugach Mountains. Williwaws can sweep down off the peaks in strong outflow conditions.

Practical

Two basins under the City of Valdez harbourmaster, with 511 slips in the North Basin and 127 in the South Basin, taking vessels from 20 to 100 ft. About 1,800 ft of transient dock in the North Basin and 1,400 ft in the South. Hot-berth system for transients. Restrooms and showers in both basins, laundry on tokens, oil disposal sheds, free pump-out by mobile cart on request. Fuel ashore in town.

Ashore

Town of Valdez at 500 m, with full provisioning, hardware and chandlery. Trailhead for the Mineral Creek and Solomon Gulch routes within 3 km. Whale and sea otter watching, glacier cruises to Columbia Bay and Meares Glacier from the harbour. Salmon and halibut charter fleet based on the floats.

History

Old Valdez was destroyed by the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. The town was rebuilt 4 NM west on stable ground, and the present harbour basins were dug at the new site. Valdez is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which opened in 1977.