US-based company Jacobs has secured a five-year contract extension to continue as programme management consultant for the Port of Alaska Modernisation Programme.

The programme aims to replace the port’s ageing waterfront structures with updated facilities via a phased approach consisting of several projects.

The Port of Alaska is the state’s main inbound cargo terminal, supplying goods to the majority of Alaska’s population and supporting national security and disaster response operations.

Jacobs Global Transportation market director Patrick King said: “This extension is a powerful reflection of the close collaboration between Jacobs, the Municipality of Anchorage and the Don Young Port of Alaska for the past ten-plus years.

“Through dedicated programme management and close coordination, we’ve advanced a critical modernisation effort in one of the world’s most challenging marine environments, where extreme tides, seismic activity and environmental sensitivity require highly specialised experience to meet the long-term resilience objectives of the asset.”

Under the extended contract, Jacobs will remain responsible for overseeing planning, procurement, design, and construction activities in partnership with the Port of Alaska.

The upcoming stages of the modernisation will focus on replacing one of the port’s two primary cargo berths with a structure designed to endure seismic activity and function during extreme weather events.

Port of Alaska port director Mike Abbott said: “The Port of Alaska is a lifeline for our state, and its modernisation is essential to ensuring the long-term resilience of this critical infrastructure.

“Jacobs’ work is critical to the success of our multi-billion-dollar modernisation program. As program manager Jacobs is bringing strong technical expertise and a collaborative spirit that continues to drive progress.”

Jacobs has been involved in the modernisation initiative since its launch in 2014.

The company provides a range of services across sectors including transportation and water, supported by annual revenues near $12bn and a workforce of approximately 45,000.

In August 2025, Jacobs was selected to provide engineering consultancy services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Interborough Express light-rail project in New York.