Ships to Sail for Alaska

For Immediate Release

Ships to Sail for Alaska

SAN FRANCISCO (October 4, 2002) -- In response to a request from Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, who noted the short supply of food and other essential products in his state, and given the ILWU’s assurance that the Union will not engage in slowdowns, an exemption to the closure of West Coast ports has been made to enable ships to sail from the Port of Tacoma to Alaska. 

“We trust that the union will keep its word to the Governor that it will not engage in slowdowns,” said Joe Weber, Pacific Northwest Manager for the Pacific Maritime Association.

Work on Alaska-bound ships is likely to begin later today, with the first ship expected to sail for Anchorage sometime around midnight tonight.

Aside from military cargo, which has already begun moving, the exemption to the port closure is limited to Alaska. 

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