New ship deploys fiber optic in northern and western Alaska starting this summer

An Alasks-based marine service company launched a new vessel this month dedicated to deploying fiber optic cable in the region.

Bowhead Transport — a subsidiary of the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation’s division, UIC Commercial Services ― supports projects and delivers cargo to residents, companies and government entities in Point Hope, Point Lay, Utqiaġvik, Prudhoe Bay, Kaktovik and, starting next year, Wainwright.

On Aug. 2, the company launched the Free Reign landing craft to support fiber optic cable initiatives.

“There’s a tremendous amount of fiber optic work happening on the North Slope, happening in Western Alaska, Southcentral Alaska over the next several years,” said Christopher Palle, vice president of Bowhead Transport. “There’s a need for this unique type of vessel.”

The newest 75-foot craft has a shallow draft, which makes it well-suited to get into remote locations, according to Bowead Transport.

“Because it drafts two and a half feet of water, it’s able to get into shallower regions than almost any other boat of this type within the state of Alaska, and it gives us a unique advantage when it comes to trying to get, let’s say, a fiber optic cable from the offshore fiber optic cable ship into a community such as Point Hope,” Palle said. “It can run through the shallows of Point Lay. It can get through the inner lagoon at Wainwright and deliver cargo there.”

While the company decided to purchase the vessel primarily to deploy new fiber optic cable, Palle said that having the Free Reign in the region could be helpful to telecom companies if repairs are necessary during the operating season when the conditions are right,

The vessel will move around the state throughout the year, from Seward to Aleutians and Western Alaska, and up north during the open water season in the Arctic region, Palle said.

Besides fiber optic deployment, the vessel will be used for lightering services by offloading cargo from a bigger barge and delivering it to villages without barge access, Palle said.

Bowhead Transport helps individuals get household supplies, cars and anything else they need to be delivered. The company also supports a variety of industries, such as the federal government, construction, environmental industry, oil and gas, science and technology, delivering building materials, gravel and equipment.

“Our Bowhead model really kind of focuses on that combination,” Palle said. “We do provide mixed cargo services for private individuals, but at the same time, we’re very capable of mobilizing entire projects for companies and government agencies.”

Free Reign is in operation right now, providing fiber optic cable deployment, Palle said.