WHITTIER, Alaska — Chugach Glacier Gateway, the state-of-the-art cruise facility developed and operated by Huna Totem Corporation (HTC), has been selected as the host site for the commissioning ceremony of the USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128).
The event, expected in fall 2026, will mark the official entry of the Navy destroyer into active service and bring national attention to Alaska for the rare maritime ceremony.
The commissioning will celebrate the sailors who will serve aboard the vessel and honor the legacy of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. For over four decades he represented Alaska, shaping not only the state’s economic and social development, but strengthening its maritime transportation infrastructure, military bases and national defense.
“As an Alaska Native corporation guided by our responsibility to honor those who came before us while preparing for the future, we understand how meaningful it is to host this historic event at our new Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal,” said Russell Dick, HTC president and CEO. “Senator Stevens played a significant role in shaping Alaska – its economy and infrastructure – so it is fitting that this leading-edge vessel be commissioned here in our great state.”
Located about 60 miles from Anchorage, Chugach Glacier Gateway features modern port infrastructure and an 80-foot deep-water harbor capable of accommodating large vessels without dredging, a key factor that made the cruise terminal an attractive location for the commissioning.
The event is expected to draw senior military leaders, elected officials and visitors from across the United States. Community festivities and ceremonial activities are anticipated over several days leading up to the official commissioning ceremony.
Chugach Glacier Gateway opened as part of HTC’s broader effort to expand tourism infrastructure throughout Alaska, while supporting economic opportunities for local communities. Sitting on 20 acres, the facility includes a multiuse terminal, double-berth pier and supporting infrastructure designed to accommodate cruise ship turnarounds and visiting vessels in Southcentral Alaska.
Additional details regarding the commissioning ceremony and related events will be announced by the USS Ted Stevens Commissioning Committee in the coming months.
About Huna Totem Corporation
Culture-driven and community-centric, Huna Totem Corporation (HTC) is an over 50-year-old Alaska Native village corporation with businesses across tourism and product development as well as government contracting. Since opening its first tourism business, Icy Strait Point in 2004, it has welcomed over four million cruise travelers. HTC’s port development and operations model is globally recognized, and the corporation has received numerous awards including Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Global Vision Award, Porthole Cruise & Travel 2025 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Alaska Cruise Destination, Condé Nast Traveler’s “25 Best Places to Go in 2025,” Seatrade’s Global Port of the Year in 2020; and a #11 ranking on the New York Times 2022 Top 52 Places for a Changed World. With recent Alaska expansions to Klawock and Whittier, HTC continues to lead in sustainable and culturally rich tourism.
Formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), HTC represents more than 1,850 Alaska Native shareholders with Indigenous ties to Glacier Bay and the community of Hoonah, Alaska. The corporation is the single largest employer in Hoonah. To learn more, visit www.hunatotem.com.