December 02, 2009
Wednesday AM

Ketchikan, Alaska - During a multi-purpose trip in Southeast Alaska Tuesday, Governor Sean Parnell held a meeting with his Cabinet, spoke to the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, and met with local community leaders and other constituents, including students.

Tuesday morning, Parnell met with Ketchikan leadership (Mayors Dave Kiffer of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Lew Williams of the City of Ketchikan and Richard Makua of Saxman) and administration cabinet members to discuss issues of regional importance.

As the guest speaker at the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday, Parnell spoke about results that his administration is delivering for the area. The Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce luncheon was held at the Ted Ferry Civic Center.

Listen to the Governor's remarks to the Chamber. Click on the to listen to the audio.

Following the luncheon, the Governor sat down with Schoenbar Middle School students to learn how to podcast as part of a social studies class.

The governor also attended the delivery ceremony for the newly constructed Chevron Legacy. The ceremony was held at the Ketchikan Shipyard at 5:30 PM Tuesday. Governor Parnell delivered keynote remarks at the event held to celebrate the first steel marine vessel manufactured in Alaska for export in the international shipbuilding market, a notable achievement for any US shipyard. The new 116' Chevron Legacy marine fueling station will replace Chevron's existing Coal Harbour Marina in Vancouver, British Columbia, and will double the current facility's diesel fueling capacity.

Governor Parnell thanked Ketchikan's Alaska Ship and Drydock Inc. and Chevron for their great work on the new Chevron Legacy fueling barge that was near completion.

Ketchikan Shipyard is owned by AIDEA and operated by Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc. (ASD). In recent years, AIDEA has expanded and improved the Shipyard, and the Chevron Legacy will be the first vessel delivered from the new facilities.

"The delivery of the Chevron Legacy is a milestone for the Ketchikan Shipyard and its role in expanding economic development opportunities for Alaska," said AIDEA Executive Director Ted Leonard in a press release announcing the ceremony. "Ketchikan has a viable shipyard business that attracts and retains clients, repairs vessels in service, constructs new vessels, all with positive and growing impact to the region's economy. AIDEA's partnership with ASD is a great example of a successful public and private sector endeavor."

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is a public corporation of the state. AIDEA's purpose is to promote, develop and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Alaska.

ASD commenced building the Chevron Legacy in March 2009. The project utilized state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques and provided employment for an average of 60 workers. ASD is also nearing completion of the M/V Susitna, an advanced ship design that ASD and the Office of Naval Research are building at the Ketchikan Shipyard. The Susitna will deliver in early 2010 and will operate as a ferry serving the Mat-Su Borough upon completion of its demonstration period.

While in Ketchikan Governor Parnell also cut the ribbon on the new fire station of the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department.

Wednesday, Governor Parnell will travel to Wrangell and Petersburg, where he will meet with community leaders and visit students at the Wrangell and Petersburg high schools.

Source of News & Photographs:

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

Source of News:

Chevron Canada

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