Ilir Zhuta moved from his hometown in Albania to Ketchikan when he was just 16 years old. He loves working on the water even in cold rainy weather. Ilir is the Port Manager at Alaska Marine Lines and manages the logistics of loading and unloading barges in Ketchikan. His work is essential to our daily lives and the economic health of our waterfront.

After working on the slime line at Silver Lining Seafoods for two years Ilir took a job at the Ketchikan Pulp Mill stacking paper bales and loading cargo ships. When the Pulp Mill closed in 1997, he was transferred to the adjacent sawmill and became Lead Yard Supervisor.

"I ran a crew of three at the sawmill, working on equipment, operating forklifts, and loading barges and trucks with finished products," Ilir says. "Moving freight with Alaska Marine Lines was a perfect transition for me."

A typical day for Ilir begins with a team meeting to discuss barge schedules and container logistics, followed by a thorough safety check of the yard. With twice weekly barge service from Seattle, Ilir's work requires an understanding of the cargo, coordination of its loading and offloading, and strategic planning of container positions in the yard. "Everything is moving," Ilir says. "Communication is my main priority. You have to think of your safety and the safety of everyone else in the yard."