Kodiak council to weigh $72,500 repair after Navy ship tore cleat off Pier II

Replacing a mooring cleat torn off Kodiak's Pier II will cost $72,500, more than doubling the price of the city's emergency pier repair contract. The Kodiak City Council is scheduled to vote on the change order at a special meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, at 12:30 p.m. in the City Conference Room.

The cleat came off the night of June 2, according to the agenda item report from Interim City Manager Tim Putney. The U.S. Navy vessel Mary Sears was moored at Pier II when winds picked up to over 100 mph. The ship was waiting for a tugboat changeout when it tore cleat No. 7 from the pier. The Mary Sears is a Military Sealift Command survey ship.

**The report does not say whether the Navy owes the city anything.** It records no claim, no insurance and no request for reimbursement.

The change order would raise Highmark Marine Fabrication's contract for the Pier II Fender Damage Emergency Repair project from $55,414 to $127,914. Highmark, a Kodiak marine repair contractor, is already on site doing similar work under that contract. Handling the cleat as a change order minimizes repair time and saves mobilization and bonding costs, the report said.

**The city is not seeking new bids.** "Highmark has consistently been the only bidder on these types of repairs and has consistent pricing," the report said. It cites the code's bidding exceptions, which cover emergencies and sole-source buys, without saying which applies.

The unencumbered balance in the Pier 2 Damage Repairs project is roughly $93,000, which staff said is enough to cover the work. Council approval is required because the interim city manager may not contract above $50,000 without it.

Pier II is Kodiak's Fisherman's Terminal, used by commercial freight, cruise ships, government vessels and fishing boats. If the council delays or declines to approve, Putney wrote, "the cleat will not be repaired and mooring options will be reduced on Pier II."

Public comments open the meeting, limited to three minutes per speaker.