Building Maritime Infrastructure for Ketchikan’s Fishing Community
KAPA is implementing a community ice vending machine at Bar Harbor to serve independent fishermen and charter operators. This pilot project launches in summer of 2026, as we pursue funding for full Food Hub construction.
Project Goals
- Provide affordable, accessible ice for Ketchikan’s fishing community
- Validate demand for ice services before scaling to larger infrastructure
- Generate immediate revenue to support KAPA operations
- Establish operational systems for shared-use facility management
- Support local fishing economy by reducing ice costs and improving access
Target Users
Primary Users
Charter & Sport Fish Operations
- Charter fleet operators (Baranof and others)
- Independent sport fishers
- Weekend recreational users
Facility Specifications
Production Capacity: 1,000 lbs of cube ice per day
Location: At the boat pullout at Bar Harbor North, near the Harbormasters Office
Equipment: Self-contained Kooler Ice IM600XL vending machine cube system with insulated storage
Access: Self-service system
Operating Season: Seasonal availability April-October
Future Integration: Expanded ice services will be incorporated into the full Food Hub waterfront development (2027+), including drive-down dock, hoist crane, and shore-based ice house.
Equipment Selection
After evaluating multiple commercial ice-making systems, KAPA selected the Kooler Ice IM600 XL cube ice machine for its:
- Self-contained design (no external condenser required)
- Compatibility with existing port infrastructure
- Standard single-phase power requirements
- Compact footprint and weather-protected enclosure
- Proven reliability in marine environments
Next Steps & Timeline
Q4 2025-Q2 2026
- Finalize equipment purchase and site preparation
- Complete permitting and utility connections
- Equipment installation and testing
- Staff training and operational procedures
- Marketing to target user groups
- Full operations begin
- Data collection on usage patterns
- Customer feedback and system refinement
- Assessment of expansion need
- Evaluation of pilot performance
- Decision on second unit installation
- Integration planning with Phase 1 Food Hub construction
- Volume of ice sold (daily and seasonal)
- Customer satisfaction and repeat usage
- Equipment reliability and maintenance costs
- Operating cost management vs. projections
- Revenue generation per customer segment
- Reducing costs for independent fishermen
- Generating revenue to fund KAPA projects
- Testing systems for the larger Food Hub shared-use model
Q2 2025
Q3 2026 (Summer Fishing Season)
Q4 2026-Q1 2027
Success Metrics
KAPA will evaluate the pilot program based on:
Community Impact
This ice access project directly supports KAPA’s mission by:
Get Involved
For Commercial Fishermen & Processors: Interested in pre-season account setup or providing input on ice needs? Contact KAPA to join our user advisory group.
For Funders & Partners: This pilot demonstrates KAPA’s ability to deliver practical infrastructure projects that support Ketchikan’s maritime economy. Contact us to learn about partnership opportunities.