Port of Dutch Harbor

We're ears. Welcome to the International Alaskan port of Dutch Harbor City in Alaska. Some are surprised that there is such incredible beauty in the Aleutians. Most Alaskans have never been here and what they may have heard about us may be inaccurate. We live in a beautiful place. Watch the following few minutes and judge for yourself. The community of Unalaska Dutch Harbor is located eight hundred miles southwest of Anchorage on the same latitude as British Columbia as Queen Charlotte Islands. Now that actually puts us south of Prince Rupert about 11 hundred miles from Seattle. This southern latitude is one of the reasons that Aleutian temperatures are so mild and why we have such a

profusion of wildflowers berries and green mountains in the summer. We are a land of dazzling rainbows. Unalaska Dutch Harbor is fortunate in having a rich heritage. Seventeen years before the Declaration of Independence was signed the first Russian trading party had set up shop and was doing business in town that was 230 years ago. Then 30 years later the country of Spain claimed on Alaska and named us where Till they don't M-Audio we said today so then about 100 years ago Seattle laid claim to is they simply call us studs. One of our community treasures is Town Creek properly known as iliac creek. This little producer is full of trout and salmon and is a delight to visitors and residents alike. From the oldest Russian church in Alaska to the

beautiful Victorian Redwood Bishop's house three World War Two buildings and old military ruins. This is a great place to explore. We are a people that like to work hard and play hard. We love parades. Beach combing for artifacts and drift from around the world. To exploring tide pools having picnics cookouts. And even sailing. We do it all. A favorite winter sport is cross-country skiing. And in our mountains you never get that closed in feeling. Airplane travel in and out of the island plus excursions to surrounding areas is something that all visitors remember. With five schedule flights daily in excess of 54000 air seats will be available this year into Unalaska Dutch Harbor. That's more than a 110

percent increase in the last two years. There is no other place on earth with such an abundance of beauty. Of course we do cargo to. This year's schedule available freight will exceed twenty two million pounds. The visitor industry is mighty big locally. While we have few actual cruise ships the men and women of many nations enjoy the sights and history of the area. In fact. Over 40 Sorby of ships visit us every year. The thirty five hundred Soviet residents that we host this past year spend an estimated 1 1/2 million dollars cash in the community. Visitors from Korea Japan Britain. France. The People's Republic of China and others are all welcome on our Pacific island. We have made many foreign friends over the years. Our families exchanged gifts and letters and we frequently host them in our homes. Olution

whether. It is true that on occasion we get a storm or two through the Aleutians pierces the storms can be. Storms are generally of short duration and the following days of sunshine gives us an appreciation of our lean pollution free environment. Of course what we are all about. Is the fishing industry. And in this we are a world class player. Multimillion dollar vessels and crews work around the clock handling a variety of quality Bering Sea riches for worldwide consumption and the demand for this product is increasing. Sailors from around the world enjoy drinking our spring like water and water is the most crucial element in the city. While we are currently having problems with our roof. Ward who would stay watering. The proposed joint venture with his city and state promises to rectify this critical way.

This will enable five new companies that are awaiting the completion of the water system upgrade to begin construction of shore base processing plants. These new plans have an estimated value of 200 million dollars and will create 500 new jobs in town. Water is vital to attracting onshore processing. Our existing local shore plants are processing approximately 2 million pounds of fish product a day. This takes a lot of water and there just isn't enough to go around. Unalaska Dutch Harbor really does a lot for itself. Here are some examples. For years the city has maintained State Highway 3 to him with out state funds. We have continually upgraded our electrical generation capacity to keep pace with our growing needs. We recently built a new public safety facility at a cost to the city of over one million dollars. We purchased a brand new

fire truck and two new ambulances. We have installed new lighting and water systems at the city port facility and now we are joint venturing with private industry on a major two point three million dollar port expansion project. Now here's how serious and committed we are. At a recent election our residents approved a 50 percent increase in local sales tax which is earmarked for future capital projects. Like I said we are serious. We're really a great place to live and invest in. Our future. And part of Alaska's depends on a strong infrastructure plan and competent management of our world class fisheries. If you ever get a chance to visit us. Please do. We're Alaska. You're.

There. And. This. This is the international Alaskan court of Dutch Harbor City of Onalaska. Support base to over 45

American factory drivers at this historic port with its over 4000 vessel port calls welcome visitors from 12 nations create an international image including Alaska. Ships from our great trading partner Japan to ship from the Soviet Union Korea. Panama Poland. Greece. Great Britain. And the People's Republic of China. Dutch Harbor is one of the busiest ports on the Pacific coast. The reason. A perpetual brutal Bay of high protein bottom fish. This is the working end of a factory trawlers. Factory trawlers common a variety of shapes sizes and colors. They are all big and expensive to construct and operate. A factory trawlers demand a massive amount of shoreside support facilities. And their owners are prepared to joint

venture with Alaska in helping to get these facilities constructed. Operated by a new breed of professionals. These are the highest tech boats on earth. Fisheries product is transshipped the freighter vessels for domestic or foreign markets or may be placed into container vans for distant markets. One factory trawlers come into port. They may offload from 1 million to 3 million pounds of product worth on an average of a dollar twenty five cents per pound. This will include quality and its byproduct serene and. Cog. Several species of the ground fish family. Fish meal for Pacific Rim aqua culture operations. Or craft of factory trawlers is a world within itself. From the men and women on deck for the factory workers below. Pros of up to 120 people work around the clock to produce a high quality protein product.

Look at your vote. Sometimes known as a joint venture boat. Is frequently used by the larger factory trawlers to ensure a consistent flow of fish into the factory ship. These ultramodern tough powerful draggers may be converted crab vessels or even former oil supply vessels. Or in the case of these vessels they can catch crabs or be a trawler. Either way they're designed for the sole purpose of being the most efficient boats on the sea. Some of the big trouble nets measure over 40000 square feet of area and may cost thirty five thousand dollars. Oft times parts of a net or other related equipment is needed. And this is where the community's logistics support bases necessary. From troll doors to wire ropes nets buoys groceries electronics thousands of other things on shore support is necessary.

Fuel is a major necessity. Over 80 million gallons sold out of Dutch Harbor last year with even more anticipated to be consumed this season. The visitor industry in Dutch Harbor. You bet. Lots of visitors come through from the beautiful French sailing vessel Alcyone to cruise from all over the world in a variety of research and cargo ships. Of the over 40 Soviet ships the visited duck harbor this past year. Thirty five hundred Soviet residents took part of Alaska home and left over one half million dollars cash in this community. Our chamber of commerce even hosted three Soviet captains showing them that capitalism in its truest form is friendly and profitable. A life saving feature of the court is the medivac facilities. Every nation that sails knows the importance of quick decisive medical care.

At only 50 miles off the great circle route. Dutch Harbor is convenient. And appreciated by all. The airport a Dutch Harbor is a very busy place. Five scheduled flights daily. From jet service to Anchorage to the famous Grumman Goose which provides the necessary and needed service to surrounding areas and the fleet. In fact. Over 25000 people came through the airport this past year. We have a lot of things going for us. However. One of the things that. Hammer and. Will bring is whole Alaska gold mine. Is the. Lack. Of water. We're known for our great tasting water. Ships load hundreds of tons of it at a time. Processing plants use many millions of gallons of water a month. And the new plants that we are attracting on to the Alaskan shores may never be built because they know as we do that the cities simply cannot

guarantee water when they need it. Here's why. This is a water break. Caused by the 45 year old World War who would stay with water fight. Due to age Woodroffe and metal banding corrosion. Approximately 85 percent of all water that is generated is lost throughout the system. For every time the system is shut down. Six to eight new leaks a few. Of this failure occurs due to height flexing without it. Rain water pressure pipe shutdowns are exceedingly dangerous to public health as a siphon or suction effect takes place allowing surrounding soil contaminants to be sucked into the pipes throughout the systems. Many leaks. At best. There are probably very few places left in the nation that use good staid water lines. We know of none in the world that would try to build a multi billion dollar fishing support center with water lines of

this caliber. Dutch Harbor Alaska is fortunate in having a very rich heritage. 230 years ago. The first Russian trading party set up shop in on Alaska and began doing business 17 years later. The Declaration of Independence was. Then two hundred years ago the country of Spain claimed on Alaska and named us for they don't want to go we said. Then. About 100 years ago Seattle claimed. They simply call us Dutch. Some say that Seattle still controls this Alaskan community. And according to the home court names on the American Post puts a lot of good hard work. And maybe some truth in that. The time is now for Alaska to get control of her own destiny. Only by providing the basic infrastructure requirements of this fishery

including dependable quantities of fresh clean water can we seize this opportunity. The questions are. Would it be wise to provide an Alaskan base of operation for what is potentially the world's most productive fishery. Is it beneficial to Alaska to continue to base this fishery from out of Seattle. We. Don't think so.