The shipping platform

Location: Valdez is situated on the southern coast of Alaska. General overview: Navigation is all year round. There are two multipurpose berths for general cargo, grain and containers. The port also has a large, privately run tanker facility, being the southern terminus of the trans Alaska oil pipeline. The seaway traffic route is divided into two lanes each 1.20km wide. The narrowest strait is 900m wide and only one vessel may transit at any time. Traffic figures: Approx 23,000,000t of cargo, 271 vessels handled annually. Load line zone: North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15. Max size: Draught 17.0m.