Haines Assembly weighs review into January of two bids to run Port Chilkoot cruise dock

The Haines Borough Assembly will consider Tuesday, Oct. 27, whether to adopt a review process stretching into January 2027 before deciding whether to negotiate with either of two bidders seeking to lease and operate the Port Chilkoot cruise ship dock.

One bid comes from Port Chilkoot Development Corporation, formed by Huna Totem Corp. and Survey Point Holdings with Viking. The other comes from Global Ports Holding Limited. The two differ in lease length, payment structure and passenger limits.

The dock brought the borough about $712,000 in fiscal year 2026, according to a draft borough fund statement, and the borough has budgeted $818,500 for fiscal year 2027.

The Assembly postponed the item unanimously Oct. 13. The Haines Tourism Advisory Board voted unanimously Oct. 23 to recommend a formal review process.

The proposed process opens with an Oct. 29 work session, where borough staff would present a side-by-side review of the bids. A Nov. 17 work session would cover borough priorities and protections, followed by a Dec. 1 community forum on the dock. A Dec. 14 executive session would address negotiating strategy, financial interests and potential concessions, and a Jan. 7, 2027, work session would set a negotiating framework. On a date not yet set, the Assembly could then negotiate with one or both bidders, ask for best and final offers, reject both or take another course, according to the packet.

The borough issued its request for qualifications and proposals Aug. 14. It states the borough intends to keep owning the dock and has not decided to sign any agreement; it may keep running the dock itself or take no action.

The Two Bids

Port Chilkoot Development Corporation proposes a 35-year lease, extendable in five-year steps by mutual agreement. It would pay $9 per cruise passenger, at least $250,000 a year, and would control the fees charged to port users. After five years, the borough could buy out the lease for the company's actual capital investment, a price that would drop by one-thirtieth each year but not below $1.5 million.

Its first phase, targeting the 2028 season, calls for a floating dock section of about 120 feet by 40 feet and an expanded tender pier, at a cost of $8 million to $12.5 million from private money, bank loans and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. A second phase would improve a small piece of land next to the dock that now holds vehicle staging and public restrooms, adding shoreside staging, a covered area, more restrooms and beach access. The company says that phase becomes necessary at 100,000 passengers a summer.

The company counts 73 ship calls and 55,416 passengers at the dock for 2027, excluding American Cruise Line, which it says will use the Chilkoot Indian Association dock. Assuming a $12 million investment, it forecasts 56,560 passengers and $509,040 for the borough in 2028, 106,400 passengers and $957,600 in 2032, and 120,529 passengers and $1,084,761 in 2037.

The two full-time port staff would remain borough employees, and tour permit revenue would stay with the borough.

Global Ports Holding's bid was signed by Colin Murphy, who heads its business development for the Americas. The company says it runs 35 cruise ports in 21 countries. On a 15-year term, it offers $1.3 million up front and $100,000 a year, or no upfront payment and $350,000 a year. On a 20-year term, it offers $2.6 million up front and $100,000 a year, or no upfront payment and $425,000 a year. Payments would be fixed through 2029, then adjusted for inflation, and a five-year extension would need Assembly approval. Murphy invites an "alternative structure" if none of the options suits the borough.

The bid caps passengers at 175,000 a year through 2031, 200,000 through 2036, 250,000 through 2041 and 275,000 through 2046. The company would build and maintain a new floating tender dock. It expects the borough to fund about $2.85 million for a covered passenger shelter, decking, bullrail and fender work, and to keep core structural and major maintenance duties. If a deal is signed, it would give $100,000 each to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation and Haines High School. Its offer depends on satisfactory legal, financial, structural, marine, geotechnical, environmental and operational due diligence and on final terms, including exclusivity.

Kim Wold urged the borough to choose Global Ports Holding in a written comment posted at the request of Assembly member Mark Smith. Wold argues that Huna Totem and Survey Point hold interests in competing Southeast ports, and writes that Survey Point "wants an exclusive contract for 40 years." The proposal in the packet asks for 35.

Dock Finances and Public Input

Dock revenue was about $265,000 in fiscal year 2023. A per-passenger fee began in fiscal year 2025 and brought in about $519,000 in fiscal year 2026. After depreciation, the dock fund lost money from 2023 through 2025 and showed a surplus of about $154,000 in 2026.

The Dec. 1 forum would be the first scheduled session set aside for residents and local tour operators to weigh in on the dock. Written comments for Tuesday's meeting are due to the borough clerk by 5 pm Monday, Oct. 26.