Proposed Homeport for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ship Fairweather, Ketchikan, Alaska

To better meet the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and improve marine operations services in the Gulf of Alaska, NOAA proposed the establishment of a single-vessel homeport facility in the Ketchikan, Alaska, area to support the NOAA Ship Fairweather on a long-term basis. SRI was tasked to support the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) Marine Operations Center–Pacific by researching and preparing an alternatives analysis and an environmental assessment for prospective and preferred homeport sites.

SRI analyzed the range of alternatives based on criteria prepared for OMAO. SRI also analyzed the effects of modifying or constructing piers at a preferred homeport location for NOAA vessels and the acquisition of dedicated shore facilities. The final environmental assessment for the proposed action was distributed in August 2003, followed by construction or adaptation of pier and shore facilities in 2005.