Span Alaska announced that due to a tariff increase approved by the Anchorage Assembly for freight coming through the Port of Alaska, freight charges will increase by 7.5% starting in December. The company said that last year it absorbed the rate increase.
Span Alaska provides over-the-water freight via container ship from the Port of Tacoma in Washington state to the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, as well as provides barge service to Southeast Alaska.
“On July 25, 2023, the Anchorage Assembly passed Ordinance 2023-34, establishing the Port of Alaska Modernization Program (PAMP) Surcharge. It applies to all commodities shipped through the port of Alaska, including southbound shipments, and intra-state shipments to Kodiak and dutch Harbor. The per-ton fee became effective on January 1, 2024, and was collected as part of the Municipality’s financing plan for the construction of new cargo terminals. Ocean carriers pay this fee to the Port, and pass on the cost to shippers, including Span Alaska. Throughout the 2024 shipping season, Span Alaska absorbed this fee, without assessing our customers,” the company said. But now, it’s going to have to pass along the costs, because the Assembly just jacked the tariffs even more, and this will increase the cost of living to Alaskans who get their goods through the Port of Alaska.
“On November 6, 2024, the Anchorage Assembly approved an increase in tariffs to help pay for the Program. Effect January 1, 2025, the fee will increase from $.059 to $4.80/ton and from $9.50 per Container to $75.50 per Container on Full Loads. The Port of Alaska Commission will conduct ongoing reviews and adjustments to the fee, extending beyond 2025. This tariff increase will have a notable effect on shipments through the Port of Alaska, and as a result, Span Alaska will introduce a PAMP surcharge executive January 1, 2025.”
The general rate increase will be 7.5% more for all cargo, effective Dec. 15 and will include Central Alaska, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Southeast Alaska, and intrastate freight.
The higher cost of goods will be compounded by the fact that Ballot Measure 1 passed, which will increase all union wages across Alaska, a cost that will also be passed on to consumers.
Think of all the children that can get gender reassignment surgery now.
Is sales tax next?
“If at first, you don’t succeed…..?
Someone explain to me why the Port of Anchorage tariff should raise the shipping cost to southeast Alaska when those goods do not pass through the port. Was this a missprint on Span’s part? Lord knows that southeast rates are already unjustifiably high. Southeast rates have doubled or tripled since the AG approved ending of true competition.
Well, we deserve what we tolerate. We let it get this bad and it’s just going to get worse from here.
Well now, you’d better get used to this because when Trump imposes his massive tariff plan, the price of almost everything you buy will increase significantly. And if you think your income taxes will decrease as an offset, you haven’t been paying attention. Good luck to all.
And just wait the uneducated Anchorage voter will pass the sales tax coming up and then they were wonder why did my rent go up why his food cost more. I can’t help but laugh when people shoot themselves in the foot. Politicians will always be after more money in anyway they can get it. You look at everything that’s taxed versus stuff that’s not taxed, I’m waiting for taxes on the air that we breathe. Cost go up for reasons and the reasons are our politicians.
Welcome to the State of Seattle. Thank you, Anchorage. Time to build a new port out here in the Valley. We can tax ourselves to build it and once done forget about Anchorage. First time that I heard that the Anchorage Board had voted to increase the tariffs. That was done a year ago, but kept from the Public? Might have hurt an election if it was made public when passed?? Just going to get worse. Where does the Anchorage fuel charge go? Haven’t heard much about what that money is spent on at all since its inception.
The assembly is completely out of hand. Those amounts are ridiculous and unjust. I cannot believe this makes me sick to my stomach
Wait! What, Tarriff’s are passed on to consumers! I thought Trump said that CHINA would be paying the Tarriff’s. How can the Assembly Tarriff’s be bad but the ones that Trump will use are good? I can’t wait for the story that says CHINA Tarriff’s passed on to consumers!
Who uses SPAN Alaska? I know that if you are in the Bush, you would have ordered it through the Mail so then it would not have gone through the port of Anchorage. Whew, I am glad I don’t use SPAN Alaska, because they are supposed to be the ones paying the Tarriffs! MAGA!!!!!
I don’t get it. How can the muni put tariffs on other ports in AK?