Harbor Notes 2025

In 2026, Eliason Harbor will be approaching its 30-year lifespan. Built in 1996 (with a second phase in 1998), Richard I. Eliason Sr. Harbor is the furthest north of Sitka’s harbors.

The Harbor Department did not receive the hoped-for federal funding from the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PDIP), for which they applied in 2024.

However, Harbormaster Stan Eliason thinks they will get State of Alaska funding. With an application submitted in July of 2024, “It looks like they will fund the $1.1 million project,” which would involve “electrical upgrades and dock upgrades at Eliason Harbor.”

The Sealing Cove fish-cleaning floats are also being upgraded in 2025.

Other planned maintenance includes the Fisherman’s Work Float, which needs major repairs. RFPs are coming up soon and the repairs will take place this calendar year.

Eliason says he currently has 58 visits expected on the 2025 Cruise Ship Calendar, with the first ship being scheduled for April 29th and the last one on October 1st.

The Harbor Website is “something we always do our best to keep up-to-date and this is done in-house.” Check it out at cityofsitka.com/departments/Harbors. The GPIP (Gary Paxton Industrial Park) hosts the smaller cruise ships, and that schedule is on the website.

New fees for Moorage and Transient Vessels go into effect on July 1st, 2025.

When asked what he would like to say to the public, Eliason discloses that he will be retiring in 2025 after 30 years as Sitka Harbormaster. Eliason is contemplating moving to either Montana (his mom’s birthplace) or Idaho. His son is stationed with the U.S. Army in Washington state, so either location would make sense.

And as for how the soon-to-be-retired Eliason will spend his time?

“My passion is fly-fishing,” he admits. “It’s definitely true that I’m going to miss my crew and my customers. But my crew will keep us afloat!”