US Coast Guard photo.
THE ALASKA STORY
Sept. 14, 2026 – A fire broke out Monday at Whittier’s newly built cruise ship terminal, prompting a multi-agency response and forcing a large cruise ship to pull away from the dock.
The US Coast Guard said watchstanders at Sector Western Alaska and US Arctic received a report at approximately 11 am that a fire had started at the north cruise ship terminal.
The Klondike Express, a tour boat operated by Phillips Cruises and Tours, caught fire while moored alongside the pier. No passengers were aboard the vessel, which was heavily damaged.
The tour boat was released from the pier and moved away, allowing crews to extinguish the fire aboard the vessel. Firefighting operations at the terminal remained underway Monday afternoon.
Photos and videos posted by tourists showed flames and heavy smoke rising from the dock. The Norwegian Jade was docked at the terminal at the time but safely departed the area, according to the Coast Guard. The ship had been scheduled to depart Whittier on Monday for a seven-night Alaska cruise.
There have been no reports of injuries.
The Coast Guard established a 500-yard safety zone around the fire and asked residents, tourists and mariners to remain clear of the area so emergency crews could work.
Coast Guard personnel from Sector Western Alaska and a response boat crew from Station Valdez were on scene assisting local agencies. A Coast Guard pollution-response team was also traveling to Whittier to investigate and respond to any possible fuel or oil discharge.
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel between Portage and Whittier was also expected to be closed for several hours during the emergency response.
The fire occurred at the Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal, an approximately $80 million development built by Huna Totem Corp. in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. The terminal had a soft opening in September 2024 and was developed to serve Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. It includes facilities for cruise passengers, buses and Alaska Railroad service.
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage to the terminal were not immediately known.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
