A cruise ship dock at Alaska’s Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal in Whittier was destroyed by a fire that broke out last Monday, September 14th, with the state fire marshal’s office describing the facility as a total loss, according to the Anchorage Daily News.
The fire was reported at ~11:00 a.m. (~7 PM UTC) and was not fully extinguished until ~12:30 p.m. (~9:30 PM UTC) the following day, September 15th.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The blaze damaged a high-speed catamaran operated by Phillips Cruises & Tours, although no passengers were aboard at the time. NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship Norwegian Jade was also alongside the facility but was able to depart without sustaining damage.
The ~500-foot-long dock was developed in cooperation with Huna Totem Corp. and NCL and opened in 2024. The facility is located at the Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal, which serves cruise vessels visiting Whittier.
Firefighting operations were complicated by the absence of a working hydrant near the dock. The Anchorage Fire Department said crews from the Anchorage Fire Department and Girdwood Fire and Rescue used an engine and several tenders to transport ~112,000 gallons of water during the response.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The absence of a hydrant also prompted discussion about alternative firefighting methods. One commenter pointed out that fire engines can use hard-suction hoses to draw water directly from nearby bodies of water, although such an approach would require appropriate equipment and procedures.