Posted on September 9, 2025
Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dutch Harbor Channels Project in the community of Unalaska on Sep. 2. He joined Vincent Tutiakoff, mayor of Unalaska, Bil Homka, city manager, and members of the City Council to celebrate the critical milestone at the harbor.
Before work at this project began, a bar shallower than the surrounding seabed at the entrance to Iliuliuk Bay limited access to Dutch Harbor. To execute the project, USACE contractor J.E. McAmis Inc. dredged a 600-by-600 foot channel through the bar to a depth of minus 58 feet, completing work 54 days ahead of schedule. This advancement will improve economic efficiency, enable greater freedom of movement for vessels in the area and ensure safer navigational transit in and around Dutch Harbor.
“Today marks a significant milestone for ship traffic in and out of Dutch Harbor,” Palazzini said at the event. “Our efforts at this project are a testament to the immense value that this harbor presents to the economy and people of Unalaska.”
