The arrival of the first large ships to Prince of Wales Island (Canada) has been postponed for at least another year. A group of Native corporations, who are collaborating to convert a former logging dock in Klawock Alaska into a tourist destination, have pushed back the opening of the cruise port to 2024.
Oceania's ship Regatta, which was originally planned to dock at the facility owned by the village corporation Klawock Heenya in May 2023, and make four visits to Klawock during the summer, will be affected by this delay.
Klawock’s mayor/member of Klawock Heenya’s board of directors, Nick Nickerson said the port just was not ready yet. Nickerson explained they felt it would be better to wait a year to have everything lined up.
According to Klawock Heenya, the port is expected to include a welcome center, a cafe, retail, walking trails, historical displays, bathrooms, and buses once it is open. Nickerson said it was going to be done in stages.
Image: Port of Klawock (Alaska, Prince of Wales Island)
The port is a joint effort between Klawock Heenya and Na-Dena, formed through a partnership between Doyon Limited and Huna Totem Corporation.
The port's design is based on Huna Totem's successful Icy Strait Point port in Hoonah, and it is anticipated to become the first port on Prince of Wales Island to accommodate large cruise ships.