About Bowhead
Bowhead Transport Company (BTC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC), the Native Village corporation of Barrow, Alaska. Alaska Business Monthly ranked UIC as the 9th largest Alaskan owned and based corporation in 2006. UIC and its family of companies provide a wide range of services in Alaska, the Lower 48, and to Hawaii and beyond. Transportation, Construction, Engineering, Oilfield Services, Technical and Professional Services and Communications are some of the comprehensive services available. More information about UIC is available on the web at www.ukpik.com or you can contact UIC for a free information package at 907-852-4460 or at PO Box 890, Barrow, AK. 99723.
Bowhead Transportation Company was incorporated in the State of Alaska and began operation effective August 27, 1982. All shares of Bowhead stock are held by Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation (UIC). UIC was established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and incorporated April 30, 1973.
BTC is organized as a Vessel Operating Common Carrier with a tariff filed and approved by the Surface Transportation Board on file and for public viewing. Our main office is located in Seattle, Washington. For a copy of our Bill of Lading click here.
BTC has been in the common carriage barge business for 30 years servicing the coastal villages of the North Slope Borough on the Arctic Slope of Alaska. From Pt Hope, to Barrow, to Kaktovik, we have extensive experience transporting building and construction materials, heavy equipment, container loads of annual stores for the Village services...all landed on the beach and delivered to our customers. A primary goal of BTC has been to provide, at a fair price, the best service possible to these village communities. Year in, year out Bowhead transports 5-7,000 tons of cargo to the Arctic, around the Arctic and back to the lower 48. Bowhead also has experience mobilizing and demobilizing remote site construction and clean-up jobs.
As a Vessel Operating Common Carrier, Bowhead has built two shallow draft Landing Craft (the Sam Taalak in 1997 and the Greta Akpik in 1998) to facilitate our lighterage operations. Combined with our all-terrain, Forklift Loaders, the lighterage/ beach operations take the cargo off the Line Haul Barge for the final half mile to the beach and delivery to our customers. The Line Haul barge is equipped with a 125 ton Manitowoc crane and Hyster 650 forklift for cargo handling aboard, and on and off the Linehaul. Remote site service is a specialty. Utilizing the shallow draft Landing Craft, Bowhead is able to provide service to locations un-navigable by deeper draft tow boats and barges. Bowhead provides a full complement of marine transportation solutions including Common Carriage, Contract and Charter services.
Both landing craft are outfitted with a full complement of cargo handling equipment including all terrain articulating forklifts capable of handling up to 35,000 pounds. Our seasoned crew are experts in their field, each with more than 15 years experience in cargo handling in the Arctic and nearly every other village on the coast of Alaska. We take pride in our ability to complete virtually any job - even under the most adverse conditions.
Through our relationships with various carriers in the lower 48, we have the ability to contract for many different types of vessels depending on the needs of our customers. In addition to our own equipment, our affiliated partners provide access to vessels up to 4000 HP and barges to 330 feet allowing us to complete projects anywhere within the Pacific Rim and Alaska. With this advantage, we are able to be flexible in operations and give our customers the benefit of a very competitive rate structure.
Bowhead is a Minority Business Enterprise.
Call us today to find out how Bowhead can help solve your marine transportation needs, we know the Arctic - and a whole lot more.
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Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation