Port of Nome Deepwater Expansion Tour

A front-row, waterborne view of America’s first deep-draft Arctic port under construction. Purpose-built for project engineers, visiting officials, media crews, and industrial travelers needing direct access to active causeway extensions, breakwaters, and dredging operations.

The Port of Nome is undergoing a historic multi-hundred-million-dollar expansion—extending causeways, deepening basins to -40 feet MLLW, and transforming Norton Sound into a primary Arctic maritime hub. Running out of Nome Harbor aboard the Orso, our 1-hour charter provides an up-close, safe vantage point of heavy civil marine engineering that cannot be seen from shore.

What You’ll Observe on the Water

Our routing circles the immediate perimeter of the causeway, breakwaters, and active project footprint while maintaining safe clearance from operating heavy equipment and tug traffic.

  • Causeway Extensions & Dock Footprints: Get a waterline perspective of active armor stone placement, sheet pile work, and causeway lengthening.

  • Active Dredging & Basin Operations: Observe dredge barges, material handling, and seafloor deepening across the outer harbor basin.

  • 360-Degree Inspection Platform: Utilize our unobstructed walk-around deck to see everything going on.

Tailored for Stakeholders, Media, and Curious Visitors

We regularly accommodate visiting professionals who require efficient, dedicated time on the water without delaying tight travel schedules:

  • Contractors & Engineering Teams: Field checks, site familiarity, and waterborne inspections for visiting project managers, civil engineers, and sub-consultants.

  • Agency & Government Delegations: Private, professional site visits for USACE, USCG, state officials, and municipal stakeholders.

  • Film Crews & Journalists: A heated, stable mobile production platform with an experienced local captain who understands filming angles and harbor logistics.

  • Industrial & Maritime Tourists: Fascinated by mega-projects and Arctic logistics? Come see the Nome deepwater port built in real time!

Vessel Capabilities & Amenities

The Orso is a custom 27-foot aluminum pilothouse vessel engineered for Northern waters, providing warmth, stability, and reliable performance inside and outside the jetty system.

  • Heated Cabin

  • Walk-around deck

  • Licensed, local captain

Charter Rates & Booking Information

  • Standard tour duration: 1-hour

  • Charter Rate: $399, up to 6 passengers

  • Departure Location: Nome Small Boat Harbor

  • Commercial Invoicing: Direct credit card payment, purchase orders, and custom receipts provided for corporate expense reporting.

  • Flexible Departure Windows: Call ahead and we can accommodate tight travel schedules, weather shifts, or specific barge or equipment movements.