Fire destroys pier at Whittier’s Chugach Glacier Gateway Terminal
No injuries were reported after crews spent more than 13 hours battling a blaze that began aboard the Klondike Express catamaran.
A fire that began late Monday morning aboard the catamaran Klondike Express while it was docked at the Chugach Glacier Gateway Terminal in Whittier was extinguished early Tuesday after more than 13 hours of emergency response.
The Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office declared the terminal’s wooden and composite pier structure a complete loss. No passengers, crew members or emergency responders were reported injured, and the cause remained under investigation.
With no working hydrants at the terminal, local firefighters established water shuttles to a functioning hydrant in town. Trucks made repeated 10-minute trips, hauling an estimated 161,000 gallons of water to fight the fire.
The terminal, a joint venture between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Huna Totem Corporation, opened in September 2024. During the incident, Norwegian Cruise Line moved Norwegian Jade to another Whittier berth so guests who were ashore could reboard.
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line use a separate, city-owned pier across the harbor. Their Whittier itineraries were not expected to be affected.