(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Today, Ketchikan Borough Manager Ruben Duran announced that on September 13th, 2018, Ketchikan Gateway Borough representatives met with officials from Vigor Alaska, the City of Ketchikan, and the Alaska Industrial Export Authority (AIDEA) to discuss the projected layoffs recently announced by Vigor and efforts to mitigate job losses at the Ketchikan Shipyard.

During the September 13th meeting, Vigor Executive Vice President Adam Beck reaffirmed Vigor’s commitment to remaining in Ketchikan. The company is wrapping up work on the second Alaska Class Ferry construction project and does not have enough work to maintain the current workforce. Vigor estimates it will lay off up to 80 workers. AIDEA stated that it has and will continue to work with Vigor to ensure the health of the Ketchikan Shipyard, which is owned by AIDEA.

Vigor Alaska officials informed Ketchikan shipyard workers at a meeting in August they were expecting to lay off 50-80 workers between October and the end of the year. The reason cited by Vigor was the lack of new construction projects. Vigor employees at the Ketchikan shipyard are wrapping up construction of Alaska Marine Highway System’s two newest day ferries. The two ferries will serve travelers along the Lynn Canal route between Juneau, Haines and Skagway.

In response to the Vigor's layoff announcement, the Ketchikan Borough has developed a plan to address these concerns. Borough officials were recently invited to attend a meeting with members of the White House administration on October 23rd, 2018 to discuss Alaska issues. On September 19th, the Ketchikan Gateway Assembly authorized Assembly Member Rodney Dial to use this opportunity to attend the meeting and serve as the official Borough spokesperson regarding Federal policy issues, including those in support of the shipyard.

The Ketchikan Borough is seeking an emergency exemption to the small business set aside regulations, which prevent Vigor from pursuing maintenance and repair work on Federal naval vessels, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. Current regulations require USCG vessels homeported in Ketchikan to travel hundreds of miles to access alternate shipyard facilities that qualify for the small business set aside. An exemption to the small business set aside regulation would support jobs in Ketchikan, improve operational readiness of the U.S. Coast Guard and could potentially save the Federal government funds by eliminating travel expenses.

According to today's news release, the Ketchikan Borough has long advocated for the continued build out of the Ketchikan Shipyard and the completion of the Ship Conversion Hall as well as the homeporting of the NOAA Vessel Fairweather in Ketchikan. Both could greatly improve the financial outlook and competitive advantage of the Ketchikan Shipyard.

Quoting the news realease, the Borough will vigorously pursue all options to protect local jobs and enhance economic development.

Vigor operates the Ketchikan shipyard, which includes a brand new 70,000 square foot assembly hall along with an adjacent indoor fabrication shop.The yard is one of the most modern in the United States and provides an excellent year-round location for new builds, repair, and refit to support nearly any vessel working Alaska's waters.

Reporting & Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Ketchikan Gateway Borough
www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us

 

 

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