From Shipyard to Sea: The Incredible Resurrection of the Alaskan Frontier

Barnard’s connection to the Alaskan Frontier runs deep. He began his maritime career aboard this very vessel as a third engineer shortly after its delivery to ATC, working his way up to first engineer over five years. After a decade sailing on sister ships and serving as chief engineer on the Alaskan Legend, he transitioned to shore-side operations as a technical superintendent. 

When ATC decided to reactivate the Frontier, it was clear who would lead the project. “One day, they told us that we’re going to bring the Frontier back into service. How would you like to be the project manager? I said, I’ll give it my best shot, and here we are,” Barnard recalled. 

What followed was an intensive and fulfilling project. Spending over five and a half months in Singapore working seven days a week, Barnard and his team systematically inspected, rehabilitated, and in many cases completely rebuilt every system from “bow to stern, bridge to keel.” 

The scope of work went far beyond typical maintenance. After six years of inactivity, every component required careful attention on the highly automated, diesel-electric vessel. “You have to go through every little nook and cranny, every piece of machinery, every sub-component, test it, and make it work again,” Barnard explained. 

The project included a complete lifecycle upgrade of the engines, tearing them down to blocks and rebuilding them as essentially brand-new powerplants that are more fuel efficient, burning less fuel than the original configuration. The team also addressed obsolete equipment, installed new systems like ballast water treatment to meet updated environmental regulations, and systematically solved technical challenges along the way. 

Captain Jared Brabazon, who brought the Alaskan Frontier through the Panama Canal, spent nine years on the Alaskan Frontier before she was put in layup, and chose to rejoin the ship when she was brought back into service.

Perhaps most remarkably, the entire project was staffed by employees who volunteered, many of whom already had full-time jobs elsewhere in the organization. Many were former crew members of the Frontier who felt a personal connection to the vessel. 

“Every person who contributed knew this project was going to be rewarding and said, ‘Yeah, let me give it a crack. I want to be part of this,” Barnard noted. 

The collaborative effort extended beyond the shipyard to support teams in Tampa and Beaverton, creating what Barnard compared to “a Formula One team” with different groups working toward a common goal. 

The Frontier’s return represents more than just an additional vessel—it’s a 25% increase in ATC’s fleet capacity, representing 54.6 million gallons of crude oil that can now move from Alaska to West Coast refineries. As one of four Alaskan Class vessels, the largest crude oil carriers in the U.S. domestic fleet, each has a capacity of 1.3 million barrels. These ships fill a critical role in America’s energy infrastructure. 

“Only Jones Act carriers can bring Alaskan oil to refineries in the lower 48,” Barnard explained. “These ships help the energy independence of the United States and provide reserve capacity for the U.S. government in times of need.” 

The economic mathematics were compelling: bringing back a ship with more than half its 50-year design life remaining for a fraction of what a new vessel would cost.  

In February 2025, the Alaskan Frontier arrived in Galveston, Texas, and immediately began work on charter. By July, she was heading back to Alaska to start a long-term contract, serving the state’s growing oil production. 

The project came in on time and on budget—a testament to Barnard’s methodical approach and the dedication of his volunteer crew. “I can only think of how proud I am of everybody who wanted to be part of this and did their best,” he reflected. 

For Barnard, living in Oregon with his wife and 12-year-old daughter near ATC’s office in Beaverton, he can look back on a project that not only saved a remarkable vessel but strengthened America’s maritime fleet for decades to come. 

“It was a significant undertaking,” Barnard said. But seeing the Frontier back in service, her engines running cleaner and more efficiently than ever, represents a successful completion of a meaningful project that showcases the expertise and dedication of American maritime professionals.