Ketchikan Cruise Ship Dock Partnership Sued for Alleged Breach of Contract

A dispute has erupted between two partners in the Ward Cove Dock Group, the entity responsible for operating The Mill at Ward Cove cruise ship dock and visitor center in Ketchikan, Alaska. Power Systems and Supplies of Alaska LLC (PSSA) filed a lawsuit against Fairbanks-based Godspeed Inc. and its vice president, John Binkley, alleging that Godspeed breached their operating agreement by taking unilateral control of the company.

The partners, who owned the Ward Cove Dock Group equally, collaborated to build the cruise ship dock and refurbish part of the former Ketchikan Pulp Co. mill to create a welcoming center for cruise passengers. In its complaint, PSSA claims that Binkley was named CEO without proper board approval and that Godspeed has been managing the operation without consulting PSSA.

PSSA is asking the court to dissolve the Ward Cove Dock Group, liquidate its assets, or require the sale of the company. They have also requested that the court appoint a neutral manager to oversee operations, remove Binkley from the CEO position, and prohibit Godspeed from making management decisions without PSSA’s consent.

As of now, Godspeed and Binkley have not responded to the lawsuit, and their attorney has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation. The cruise ship dock and visitor center, operational since August 2021, have started to accommodate increasing numbers of cruise visitors, with over 400,000 expected in the upcoming 2026 cruise season.

The relationship between the two partners began in 2019 when they jointly established the Ward Cove Dock Group, leveraging Binkley’s connections in the cruise industry. However, tension escalated when Binkley took unilateral control during a period when PSSA’s director, Dave Spokely, faced severe health issues.

PSSA’s lawsuit asserts that the operating agreement mandates joint management and requires unanimous decisions by both parties. It alleges that Godspeed has ignored these stipulations by operating independently and failing to distribute profits, which violates the agreement.

PSSA is pushing for the court to either sell the company as a going concern or dissolve it entirely, citing continuous unilateral actions taken by Godspeed. The lawsuit also highlights a board vote from May 2025 that PSSA believes removed Binkley as CEO, which Binkley allegedly refuses to acknowledge.

The court has denied PSSA’s motions for a temporary restraining order, but the legal proceedings are still underway. Both parties await the next steps as they navigate this significant legal and business challenge.

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