Building a Half Billion Dollar Plus Shipyard at Wrangell?

 

I asked A.I. about the context of building a half to three quarter billion dollar shipyard at Wrangell.

Gary- Do you think there is a market sufficient to invest in building a three quarter of a billion dollar ship repair facility at wrangell alaska?

A.I.– A $605 to $726 million shipyard in Wrangell faces major economic hurdles. A standalone commercial market alone is likely insufficient to justify this massive price tag, so the project’s viability depends on public-private partnerships, securing federal defense contracts, and capitalizing on the Coast Guard’s expanding Arctic operations. [1, 2, 3]

Key Market Variables

• Sky-High Costs: Full build-out estimates range from $605 million to $726 million. The project requires aggressive phasing to be digestible. [1]
• Target Customers: The proposed 500-foot shipyard relies heavily on securing contracts with the U.S. government, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and research vessels. Private commercial vessels (e.g., state ferries) alone cannot carry this level of capitalization. [1, 2, 3]
• Partner Backing: The City and Borough of Wrangell has established a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Seattle-based JAG Marine Group and Miami-based Pearlson & Pearlson to navigate port feasibility and secure state and federal funding. [1, 2, 3]
• Geopolitical Drivers: Proponents are pitching the facility to federal officials as vital to national security and Arctic patrol maintenance. [1, 2]

Actionable Information

• Review Project Proposals: Read the initial assessments on the Wrangell Economic Development page.
• Current Feasibility: Keep an eye on ongoing 30% design phase deliverables that will dictate long-term funding requirements. [1]

Gary- Can a population of 2000 people afford that sort of thing?

A.I. No. A local population of 2,100 people cannot afford a project of this scale through local taxes or municipal debt.

The project relies entirely on external funding, with the local community acting as a host rather than a financial backer.

The Funding Reality

• Zero Local Funding: Wrangell’s municipal budget cannot support a $700 million project. Local residents will not pay for the construction through property or sales taxes.
• Federal Defense Dollars: Proponents are targeting federal funding. This includes the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation (MARAD), and federal infrastructure grants.
• Private Capital: Private partners like JAG Marine Group are expected to bring external investment to cover commercial operational costs.
• State Support: The State of Alaska may provide economic development grants, as the facility would boost the regional maritime economy.

Local Risks and Impacts

• Infrastructure Strain: A massive shipyard brings hundreds of temporary construction workers and permanent contractors. A small town must upgrade its housing, utilities, and medical services to handle the influx.
• Economic Boom: If funded externally, the facility would create high-paying year-round jobs. This would diversify a local economy currently reliant on seafood and tourism.

To help evaluate if this project makes sense for the region, tell me what concerns you most:

• The environmental impact on the local waters?
• The potential boom-and-bust cycle for housing and schools?
• How it compares to competing shipyards in Seattle or Ketchikan?

Let me know what area you would like to explore next.

Gary- All three

A.I.-Building a massive $605M to $726M shipyard in a town of 2,100 people creates intense friction between economic opportunity and small-town stability. [1]

1. Environmental Impact on Local Waters

Heavy marine industrialization introduces severe localized environmental risks to Wrangell’s pristine waters. [1]

• Contaminants and Runoff: Large-scale ship repair involves hull blasting and painting. This releases toxic anti-fouling copper or tin paints, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and microplastics directly adjacent to marine habitats. [1, 2, 3]
• Industrial Noise & Dredging: Operating a 38,000-ton lift and servicing 500-foot vessels generates significant underwater noise and light pollution. This can disrupt local marine mammals and migratory salmon corridors. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• The “Brownfield” Advantage: On the positive side, Wrangell plans to place this facility at the 6-Mile Mill property. Because this is a former timber mill site, it is already an altered industrial footprint rather than untouched, pristine coastline. [1, 2, 3]

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2. The Threat of a Boom-and-Bust Cycle

Bringing an estimated 150 permanent shipyard jobs—plus hundreds of transient construction workers—into a tiny community triggers a classic infrastructure shock. [, 2]

• The Housing Crisis: Wrangell already suffers from a severe housing shortage. Local officials note it is a “chicken and egg” problem; developers won’t build without guaranteed buyers, yet the workforce cannot arrive without housing. The borough is proactively designing 60-unit complexes at the old hospital site and expanding sub-divisions to get ahead of the crush. [1]
• Utility & School Strain: The influx will heavily tax local water systems, electricity grids, and medical clinics. While a population boost could save local schools from declining enrollment, a sudden exit if a major federal contract expires would leave the town holding massive debt for over-expanded infrastructure. [1, 2]

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3. Competition with Ketchikan and Seattle

Wrangell is entering a highly competitive and protective Pacific Northwest maritime market.

• The Ketchikan Rivalry/Alliance: Nearby Ketchikan already features a world-class shipyard owned by the state (AIDEA) and operated by the exact same company partnering with Wrangell: JAG Marine Group. JAG recently secured a $99.6M federal NOAA contract for Ketchikan. While JAG claims a Wrangell facility would “complement” Ketchikan by expanding overall Alaskan capacity, the two sites will inevitably compete for a limited pool of skilled labor and state resources. [1, 2]
• The Seattle Monopolies: Major vessel operators and the Alaska Marine Highway (state ferries) traditionally send their largest ships to massive, deeply entrenched shipyards in Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon. Wrangell’s advantage is geography—it is thousands of miles closer to the opening Arctic defense theater. However, convincing unions and private operators to move logistical hubs up to an isolated island community is a steep hill to climb. [1, 2, 3]

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Would you like to look closer at how the town plans to build housing for these workers, or examine the specific types of Coast Guard ships they are trying to attract? [1, 2, 3]

Gary– What are alternative businesses that might attract as much employment to wrangell

To match or exceed the job footprint of a major shipyard (roughly 150 permanent trades jobs), Wrangell has a few alternative pathways. Because the town wants year-round, high-wage, “blue-collar” industrial employment rather than seasonal or minimum-wage work, alternative solutions focus on leveraging Wrangell’s low utility costs, deepwater port, and existing natural assets. [1, 2, 3]

1. Expanded Marine Service & Haul-Out Center

Instead of building a $700M mega-shipyard for 500-foot federal vessels, Wrangell could expand its existing Wrangell Marine Service Center. [1, 2]

• The Concept: Focus on private commercial fishing fleets, tugboats, yachts, and regional barges.
• Employment Potential: Expanding the current haul-out yard and adding support trades (welding, machining, fiberglass repair, electrical) could support 50 to 100 year-round jobs.
• The Advantage: Much lower infrastructure costs, less environmental risk, and direct support for the local fishing fleet. [1, 2, 3]

2. High-Tech Green Data Centers

Wrangell has some of the lowest electrical rates in Alaska due to regional hydropower. Local officials have already discussed sharing the 6-Mile Mill site with data center infrastructure. [1, 2]

• The Concept: Partner with companies like Greensparc to build localized data centers cooled naturally by the Alaskan climate.
• Employment Potential: While the data centers themselves require few permanent staff, combining them with a renewable energy generation hub or tech manufacturing could bring 30 to 50 tech and maintenance jobs.
• The Advantage: Clean industry with a tiny physical and environmental footprint compared to heavy industrial ship repair. [1]

3. Healthcare Hub Expansion (SEARHC)

According to the Wrangell Economic Conditions Report, healthcare has already quietly overtaken government and seafood as Wrangell’s largest economic cornerstone. [1]

• The Concept: Formally establish Wrangell as a specialized, regional healthcare hub for Southeast Alaska, anchored by the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). [1, 2]
• Employment Potential: Healthcare already accounts for 171+ jobs and $15.2M in annual wages. Expanding long-term care facilities, specialized therapy, or regional medical training programs could easily add 50 to 70 high-paying, year-round positions. [1]
• The Advantage: Highly stable, high-wage jobs that naturally attract families and do not suffer from industrial “boom-and-bust” cycles. [1]

4. Advanced Seafood Processing & Mariculture

The traditional seafood sector is struggling with weak salmon returns, but ocean farming presents a major pivot. [1]

• The Concept: Scale up regional kelp and oyster mariculture alongside an automated, year-round value-added seafood processing plant (producing ready-to-eat products rather than just freezing raw fish). [1]
• Employment Potential: Transitioning from seasonal canning to year-round specialized processing and mariculture logistics could sustain 80 to 120 jobs.
• The Advantage: Strengthens Wrangell’s cultural identity and supports local fishermen while building an eco-friendly export market. [1]

5. Tourism and Waterfront Expansion

Wrangell is currently entering its strongest tourism period in two decades. [1]

• The Concept: The borough is actively trying to expand its waterfront by adding a second cruise dock to capture more boutique and mid-sized cruise ships. []
• Employment Potential: Tourism easily generates over 100 jobs, but they are heavily skewed toward the summer months. [1]
• The Advantage: Low capital costs for the town, but it fails to meet the borough’s stated goal of creating year-round, trades-based blue-collar employment. [1]

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If you were advising the town, would you prioritize expanding the stable healthcare sector or trying to revive the industrial waterfront with green tech and mariculture? [1]

Gary- I would pursue each

A.I.-Pursuing all five pathways simultaneously is a smart, balanced approach known as economic diversification. By spreading the town’s eggs across multiple baskets, Wrangell can build a resilient economy that avoids the vulnerability of a single-industry town.

Here is a roadmap for how Wrangell can coordinate these five alternative sectors without overextending its limited resources.

The Phased Diversification Plan

Phase 1: Immediate Growth (1-2 Years)

├── Expand SEARHC Healthcare Center 

└── Build Boutique Cruise Dock & Waterfront

│

Phase 2: Waterfront Shift (3-5 Years)

├── Expand Existing 300-Ton Marine Haul-Out

└── Launch 6-Mile Mill Kelp & Seafood Processing

│

Phase 3: High-Tech Future (5+ Years)

└── Install Hydropower Data Center at 6-Mile Mill

1. Phase 1: The Quick Wins (Years 1–2)

Focus first on the sectors that already have momentum and require the least amount of municipal debt.

• Healthcare Expansion: Partner closely with SEARHC to add specialized regional services (like elder care or physical therapy) to the new hospital facility. This brings immediate families and high-wage spending into the local economy.
• Waterfront Tourism: Complete the planned second cruise dock to capture the booming boutique cruise market. Use the immediate seasonal tax revenue to fund the next phases of infrastructure.

2. Phase 2: The Working Waterfront (Years 3–5)

Shift focus to the blue-collar, year-round trades by upgrading existing assets rather than building from scratch.

• The Marine Service Center: Instead of a $700M mega-lift, invest a fraction of that amount to upgrade Wrangell’s existing boatyard. Adding covered work bays and a slightly larger travel lift allows local vendors to capture regional fishing and tugboat maintenance year-round.
• Mariculture Hub: Utilize part of the 6-Mile Mill site for kelp and oyster processing facilities. This pairs perfectly with the marine service center, as kelp harvesting vessels will need local boatyard support.

3. Phase 3: The Green Tech Anchor (Years 5+)

Once the housing and utility infrastructure has stabilized from the growth in Phases 1 and 2, target the high-tech sector.

• Data Centers: Allocate the remaining footprint of the 6-Mile Mill site for climate-cooled data storage. By this time, the town’s upgraded hydropower grid will be ready to support the tech sector without raising electricity rates for local residents.

Balancing the Master Plan

By staggering these projects, Wrangell can grow its workforce incrementally—perhaps 30 to 40 new jobs at a time—rather than shocking the system with 150 jobs all at once. This gives local builders time to construct housing naturally and allows the school district to absorb new families smoothly.

To look into how the town can fund this multi-pronged approach, would you like to explore available federal infrastructure grants, or look at how the town is currently zoning the 6-Mile Mill site to accommodate both mariculture and tech?

Gary– Each

A.I.-Wrangell is already using a layered strategy, mapping out funding while carefully zoning the 40-acre, borough-owned 6-Mile Mill site to balance heavy industry, green technology, and mariculture. [1, 2]

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Part 1: How Wrangell is Zoning the 6-Mile Mill Site

Purchased by the borough for $2.5 million, the former timber mill is being divided into a co-location ecosystem rather than a single massive shipyard. [1, 2]

• The Shipyard & Freight Anchor: The borough approved a three-year lease with JAG Marine Group for the deepwater tidelands. This allows them to pursue shipyard feasibility while immediately establishing a new barge ramp and freight yard to improve regional shipping. [1, 2]
• The High-Tech Footprint: The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend a lease to Greensparc to build a compact, small-scale data center on a slice of the 6-Mile property. [1, 2]
• The Power Grid Catch: Local zoning approval for tech has been highly debated. Because data centers consume significant power, residents are pushing for safeguards so the facility does not drive up utility rates or strain Wrangell’s Tyee Hydroelectric plant during extreme winter cold spells. [1, 2]
• The Mariculture Buffer: The remaining acreage is zoned for light industrial and maritime support, leaving a physical footprint available for localized kelp and oyster processing facilities that can share the upgraded dock space. [1]

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Part 2: The Federal Grant Playbook

Wrangell cannot fund this on its own, so local leaders are aggressively applying for external grants under an initiative titled “Wrangell’s Economic Revival: Anchoring the Future, Empowering the Region.” They are targeting distinct pools of federal money: [1]

Grant Type / Agency	Target Project Component	Why Wrangell Qualifies
EDA Disaster Supplemental	Industry Transformation Portfolio	Offsets regional economic losses from declining salmon returns and a shrinking traditional maritime sector.
MARAD PIDP(Port Infrastructure Development)	6-Mile Deep Water Port Infrastructure	Specifically funds the engineering and design phases to transform idle timber mills into active cargo hubs.
USDA Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS)	Mariculture & Local Food Systems	Provides millions in community-led funding to transition the Tongass region from old-growth logging to sustainable ocean farming.
Federal Transit / AMHS Funds	Passenger Waterfront & Second Cruise Dock	Captures federal infrastructure dollars meant to optimize multi-modal marine transport and regional transit hubs.

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Part 3: Progress Across the Alternative Sectors

Wrangell’s other key industries are moving forward independently of the 6-Mile site:

• Healthcare: The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) continues to be the town’s primary economic stabilizer. It generated $15.2 million in local wages and grew employment by over 50%, acting as the quiet cornerstone while seafood and timber fluctuated. [1, 2]
• Tourism: The town has approved a 40-year lease agreement with American Cruise Lines (ACL) to build and operate shared public-commercial passenger docking facilities. This infrastructure will directly support the town’s massive visitor spike—climbing from 45,000 cruise visitors to nearly 80,000 cruise visitors. [1, 2]

Would you like to explore how the town is managing the public pushback over the data center’s power usage, or examine the 30% design plans for the new freight barge ramp?

Duckweed Has as Much Protein as Soy and All the Necessary Amino Acids for Human Life

 “Common duckweed is native to Alaska and much of the United States and world. It is a little green plant that floats on the surface of ponds entirely covering them in many instances. Two and a half acres of area covered in duckweed can produce 1.4 million pounds of dry duckweed annually- fifty times what one could get from corn in the same area (one hectare).

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-duckweed-world.html

Duckweed protein has all of the amino acids a human body needs. Some believe it could feed the world. In the United States it is generally treated as a weed and eradicated. It is probable though, that duckweed will be grown underground in ponds on Mars in order to produce protein for those spending the remainder of their lives as troglodytes on a foreign planet. Here are a few duckweed facts from Gemini…

Gemini–

Common duckweed (Lemna minor) is one of the most protein-dense plants on Earth, but whether it is the “most” protein-rich depends on how you measure it (by dry weight vs. cultivation yield) and which other organisms you include.

1. Protein Density (Dry Weight)

When dried, duckweed is exceptionally high in protein, often surpassing common land-based crops:

• Duckweed: Contains 25% to 45% protein by dry mass, depending on growing conditions and nitrogen availability.
• Soybeans: Typically contain about 36% to 40% protein. Duckweed can equal or exceed this level.
• Comparison to Microalgae: While duckweed is more protein-rich than almost any leafy green or legume, it is surpassed by some microalgae. For example, Spirulina and Chlorella can contain 50% to 70% protein by dry weight. 

2. Protein Yield (Per Acre)

Duckweed is often cited as the most “efficient” protein producer because of its rapid growth rate (it can double its mass in 48–72 hours). 

• Yield Comparison: One hectare of duckweed can produce 10 to 18 tonnes of protein per year.
• Soy Comparison: In contrast, soybeans produce only 0.6 to 1.2 tonnes of protein per hectare per year. This makes duckweed roughly 5 to 10 times more productive than soy per unit of area. 

3. Protein Quality

Duckweed is a “complete protein,” meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids required by humans. 

• Amino Acid Profile: Its profile is comparable to animal proteins like eggs or dairy.
• RuBisCO: About 40–50% of the protein in duckweed is RuBisCO, a highly digestible and non-allergenic protein. 

Summary of Edible Plant Protein Content (Dry Weight)

Plant/Organism	Average Protein Content (Dry Weight)
Spirulina (Microalgae)	50% – 70%
Duckweed	25% – 45%
Soybeans	36% – 40%
Lupini Beans	~36% – 40%
Peas/Lentils	20% – 30%

Verdict: Duckweed is likely the most protein-dense flowering plant (angiosperm) by dry weight and yield, though certain non-flowering microalgae like Spirulina have a higher percentage of protein per gram.

From 2.47 acres (1 hectare) of duckweed growth annually, one can potentially produce between 10 to 18 tonnes (22,000 to 40,000 pounds) of protein per year under optimal conditions. 

Production Breakdown

• Total Biomass Yield: Research indicates that a 2.47-acre area can yield up to 30-32 tonnes of dried biomass annually. In certain highly optimized vertical farming systems, Rutgers University researchers have produced as much as 1.4 million pounds (over 635 tonnes) of dried plant matter.
• Protein Content: Duckweed’s protein content typically ranges from 20% to over 40% of its dry weight, depending on the species and cultivation conditions.
• Protein Yield:
  • Typical estimates for protein production are 10-18 tonnes per hectare per year.
  • One study reported achieving a protein yield of approximately 2.6 to 3.3 tonnes/ha/year even in a temperate climate, which still exceeds typical soybean production.
  • In general, duckweed protein yields are significantly higher than conventional crops like soybeans or corn, potentially 5 to 10 times higher. 

Key Factors Affecting Yield

The actual amount of protein produced depends heavily on several factors:

• Species: Different duckweed species (e.g., Wolffia, Lemna, Spirodela) have different protein potentials and growth rates.
• Cultivation Conditions: Optimal nutrient concentration (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), light intensity, and temperature are crucial for maximizing both biomass and protein content.
• Harvesting Frequency: Regular, judicious harvesting is needed to maintain an optimum plant density and growth rate. 

Overall, duckweed is a highly efficient and sustainable source of protein, offering a significant potential yield per acre compared to traditional agriculture. 

Duckweed, specifically the tiny Wolffia species known as Asian watermeal, has been a traditional food source for centuries in several Southeast Asian countries. 

Primary Consuming Countries

• Thailand: Known locally as khai-nam (water eggs) or pham, it is commonly sold in local food markets.
• Laos: It is a traditional staple vegetable in various regions.
• Myanmar (Burma): It is historically harvested and consumed as part of the regular diet.
• Israel: While not a traditional consumer, Israel has recently become a leader in cultivating duckweed for human consumption, marketing it as “green caviar” or “water lentils”. 

Culinary Preparation

Duckweed has a mild, nutty flavor similar to sweet cabbage, spinach, or watercress. It is prepared in the following ways: 

• Soups and Curries: Fresh duckweed is most commonly added to savory liquid dishes, where it provides a thick, nutrient-dense texture.
• Omelettes: It is often mixed directly into beaten eggs before frying, a popular preparation method in Thailand.
• Salads: It can be eaten raw in salads or as a garnish.
• Traditional Dishes: It is used in specialty Southeast Asian dishes like Gaeng Khai-Nam (duckweed curry).
• Modern Applications: In Western and Israeli markets, it is processed into powders for smoothies, used as a topping for sandwiches, or served as a fresh “caviar” substitute in fine dining. 

Note on Safety: Wild duckweed must be harvested from clean, sanitary water sources because it can absorb heavy metals and pollutants from its environment. “

common duckweed- image credit U.S. Gov

Areas where common duckweed grows in the U.S.A.-image credit U.S. Gov

From ChatGPT-

"Duckweed and the Limits of Resilience in a Nuclear World

Duckweed is often described as one of humanity’s most promising answers to hunger. It grows extraordinarily fast, requires minimal land, can be cultivated in controlled environments, and produces high-quality protein at a fraction of the resource cost of conventional agriculture. If any plant appears capable of feeding a stressed world, duckweed is it.

Yet even duckweed would fail in a nuclear winter.

A large-scale nuclear war—even one limited to Europe and Russia, involving roughly 100–150 nuclear detonations over cities and industrial areas—would inject massive amounts of black carbon soot into the upper atmosphere. This soot would block sunlight, cool the planet, and disrupt precipitation patterns for years. Duckweed, despite its efficiency, still depends on photosynthetically active light, stable temperatures, and managed water chemistry. A sustained reduction in sunlight alone would sharply reduce growth rates; temperature volatility would further destabilize cultivation, even in greenhouse or indoor systems strained by energy shortages.

More importantly, duckweed is not merely a biological solution—it is a civilizational one. Harvesting, drying, processing, and distributing duckweed protein depend on electricity, functioning supply chains, chemical inputs, transportation networks, and political stability. Nuclear war would fracture energy grids, destroy infrastructure, and collapse international trade long before the full climatic effects unfolded. Food that can theoretically be grown but cannot be processed or transported does not feed people.

This is where casualty estimates become unavoidable. Peer-reviewed climate-agriculture models indicate that a regional nuclear war involving on the order of 100 warheads could lead to hundreds of millions of deaths globally from starvation within one to two years, due to abrupt declines in food production and distribution. As the number of detonations rises toward 150—especially if urban firestorms are involved—some scenarios project famine deaths approaching or exceeding one to two billion people worldwide. These deaths would occur predominantly far from the war zone, in regions dependent on global grain markets and thin food reserves.

The key lesson is not that duckweed fails as a concept, but that no food technology can outrun planetary physics. Nuclear winter does not selectively damage inefficient systems; it collapses the foundational conditions—sunlight, temperature stability, energy, logistics—on which all food systems depend. Even the fastest-growing plant on Earth cannot compensate for a darkened sky and a broken world."

Duckweed shows how close humanity is to solving hunger.
Nuclear war shows how easily that solution—and every other—can be erased."

PTSD- Experience and Memory

If PTSD was easy to delete the technique might have been mass produced. Memory of past traumatic events doesn’t disappear, nor should it. It is worthwhile discovering some way of detachment without memory loss.

I guess time fades or dilutes traumatic events. Some traumatic events do recur in reality and not just memory. Being at sea isn’t traumatic yet the waviness experience recurs on solid ground, in the brain. Empirical signals trigger memories good and bad.

Memory of challenges regarded as trauma inform experience and is a survival mechanism. If people forgot that a traumatic event was bad they might repeat the ‘trauma’.