Despite its enterprise distinction, the Port acts as a standard municipal department with the Anchorage Assembly approving its annual budget, contracts, tariffs, and leases.

Additionally, needed legal, financial and other day-to-day support are provided, for a fee, by the appropriate general government departments acting as an extension of the Port's staff.

Typically between October and November, pan ice develops in the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet but does not fully freeze over for the winter.

The Port of Alaska began operations in September 1961, and in its first year over 38,000 tons of marine cargo moved across its single berth.

The Port has since expanded to a five-berth terminal providing facilities for the movement of containerized freight, iron and steel products, bulk petroleum, and cement.

[6] In the late 1990s, following studies of then-existing and projected future needs, geotechnical and structural design studies and an Environmental Assessment prepared under the direction of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the final Environmental Assessment identified a proprietary design known as Open Cell Sheet Pile (OCSP) as the preferred alternative for the wharf and berthing area of the new expansion project.

Anchorage is served regularly by two major carriers, Matson Navigation Company (formerly Horizon Lines, Inc.[8]) and Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE), which bring four to five ships weekly from Tacoma, Washington.

Gantry Crane and roll-on, roll-off capability On terminal Class 1 rail service Immediate major Alaska highway access Experienced, 24/7 security force Expertise handling multi-modal project cargo Over 50 years supporting Alaska in cargo, cement, fuel, etc.