Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Module VI - Ocean and River Transportation

No matter where you are, we're glad you're here!


Steamship Co. Promotional Material 
ca. late 1920's Pacific Steamship Co.  
VILDA ASL-MC8-1-03-01-cover

AL-KI, Wrecked on Pt. Augusta, AK, 1917
Pacific Steamship Co.  VILDA  SL-P87-1584




 









Essential Questions
  • Pier 2 in Seattle, AK Steamship Co.  ca. 1920's
    VILDA ASL-P44-03-180
    Alaska's infrastructure of transportation and communication systems - what is the cause-effect relationships to settlement patterns and to the development of the Alaska economy?
  • What have been the impacts on traditional Native cultures and on the environment?
  • What are issues facing Alaskans today related to transportation and communication?


ENGAGE

Stern Wheeler Pushing Cargo Barges,
Yukon River  ca. 1912
VILDA  UAF-1994-70-290
Water Ways
Transport by water was the first means of transportation to Alaska and within Alaska. Ocean and river transportation had been well established by Alaska Natives and enhanced/increased during the Russian America period. Foreign ships had been calling at Alaska ports for decades and after a slump during the transfer/transition period, ocean transportation continued with the establishment of several shipping companies. 


River Steamers Gen. Jacobs and Davis
in Winter Quarters, Nenana, 1922
VILDA AMRC-aec-g2050
With the gold discoveries in the Klondike and in Nome, the Alaska river systems saw increased traffic and a parallel establishment of companies running riverboats Often, existing transportation companies in the U.S. ad Canada simply expanded their business  by adding an Alaska based fleet of boats.

Today, over 80% of all cargo to Alaska arrives via marine transport.  The readings in this section provide an excellent historical overview.


SS Princess Alice, Canadian Pacific Railways
Empress Line of Steamships, no date given
VILDA ASL-M10-4-01-39
EXAMINE
  • What were the factors that prompted the growth of ocean and river transportation in Alaska?
  • What were the challenges in the development of ocean and river transportation?
  • How is Alaska's ocean and river transportation linked to the Alaska economy?
  • What is the current status of ocean and river transportation in Alaska? How significant is it today?

EXPLORE
Alaska Marine Highway Ferry
intransit.blogs.nytimes.com
Please read these two pieces from the Alaska history course:





Please read also from Alaska's Heritage:

Holland America Cruise Ship
vacationideas.me
(These chapters provide more detail.)





Focus not only on the history of these transportation systems, but consider the challenges faced by the transportation companies in navigating the water systems of Alaska - the physical challenges and financial challenges.  

EXPLORE SOME MORE....
Three recent articles from the online paper AlaskaDispatch highlight both the ongoing issues of  complying with the Jones Act (1920) and the increasing need for American icebreaker capacity as climate change in the Arctic opens new shipping routes and off-shore oil/gas development. 





Musings
Alaska Marine Lines Barge
Lynden Transport
lynden.com
Consider the value of marine transportation in Alaska today. Between 80-90% of all goods shipped to Alaska arrive by water  to coastal ports and much is later moved to interior Alaska via the major navigable rivers . This includes everything from diesel fuel to baby diapers.  Barge transport is a way of life for Alaskans, whether they are consciously aware of it or not.  

Yutana Barge Lines Barge and Tug
fmtravels03.com
For rural residents along the rivers, the arrival of each barge is heralded with the knowledge that the local store and fuel supplier will have ample stock for the next few weeks. The cost of living in Alaska, already high by comparison to our neighbors in the lower 48, would be much higher without the highly developed systems of ocean and river transportation now in place in Alaska.


EXTEND

Considering the Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard plays an essential role in marine transportation in Alaska by providing placement and servicing of aids to navigation, coming to the aid of mariners/shippers/fishers, and being a presence in the security of the coastline. 

Visit the link below to explore more about the roles of the USCG here in Alaska.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Melon
St. Paul Island  uscg.mil
Alaska is in the 17th District of the U.S. Coast Guard.  This website provides both historical and current information on Coast Guard activities in Alaska. From the days of the U.S Revenue Service and the famous ships like the Bear and Corwin, to today's use of cutter, buoy tenders, helicopters, and the icebreaker Healey, the Coast Guard  mission remains the protection of the coast of Alaska and all those who work on and traverse its waterways. 




What's Next?
From the motion of the ocean, we're on to riding the Roads and Rails.

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