Coast Guard news will now be posted here

How very sad. Thanks for posting this. I will pray for this man and his family.

united states coast guard





News Release


U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 428-4140
17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, partners to conduct commercial fishing vessel exams, lifesaving education for Western Alaska and Bristol Bay


ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard will offer courtesy dockside examinations of commercial fishing vessels and the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will provide maritime safety education to fishermen in Western Alaska and Bristol Bay in anticipation of the 2021 Bristol Bay salmon season.

The Coast Guard anticipates sending examiners to the following locations for public outreach and to encourage dockside exam participation:

King Cove, Sand Point, Port Moller, Chignik: June 1-7. To schedule an exam in King Cove, call 907-538-4103, Sand Point at 907-764-5071, and Chignik at 907-891-3824.

Dillingham, Egegik, King Salmon: June 14-25. To schedule and exam in Dillingham, call 907-764-5071, Egegik at 907-538-8062, and King Salmon at 907-717-6270 or 907-538-9748.

The exams will address safety issues that may be present before an operator gets underway. The examiners will not issue fines or other penalties for any problems they discover at the dock or before launch. The exams address items such as flares, charts, navigational signals, fire extinguishers, emergency position indicating radio beacons and the serviceability of immersion suits.

"Coast Guard dockside examinations are free, ensure compliance with all federal regulations and can reduce the likelihood of getting boarded at sea if you pass and earn a decal," said Russ Hazlett, a fishing vessel safety examiner at Sector Anchorage. “But more importantly, an exam could save your life.”

Fishermen can also choose to signal they are ready for an exam by running a ring buoy up high on the mast or on the anchor/bow in a visible location.

Fishermen are also encouraged to register for upcoming one-day Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Classes in Sand Point May 29, Naknek June 10-11 and Dillingham June 12-13. Registration and additional information is available online at www.amsea.org/ or over the phone by calling 907-747-3287.

“If you want to provide your crew with a comprehensive, hands-on, maritime lifesaving education in a short amount of time, please register for one of these courses,” said Jerry Dzugan, executive director for AMSEA. “Setting aside just one day could mean the difference between a successful season and a loss of life at sea.”

For more information on preparing for vessel examinations, operators may visit www.fishsafewest.info/ to complete a checklist generator that will provide a detailed pre-examination checklist.

For information about scheduling vessel examinations in other locations, please contact your nearest Coast Guard marine safety office.

Marine Safety Unit Valdez: 907-835-7220
Marine Safety Detachment Dutch Harbor: 907-581-3466
Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak: 907-486-5918
Marine Safety Detachment Seward: 907-224-4784
Marine Safety Detachment Homer: 907-235-3292
Marine Safety Detachment Sitka: 907-966-5454
Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan: 907-225-4496



-USCG-

Bookmark and Share

Photo Release
U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 428-4140
After Hours: (907) 227-9248
17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard rescues 4 after fishing vessel runs aground near Dutch Harbor, Alaska

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.



ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard rescued four people Thursday after a fishing vessel ran aground near Dutch Harbor.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew deployed aboard Cutter Bertholf hoisted all four survivors from a rock near the grounded fishing vessel Endurance, approximately one mile west of Egg Island, near the entrance to Beaver Inlet, Unalaska. They were flown to Dutch Harbor and placed in the care of awaiting EMS with no injuries reported at the time of transfer.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau received a transferred call via satellite phone emergency dispatch from the Endurance at 10:57 p.m. Wednesday, stating they had run aground, were severely listing, and taking on water.
Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, located about 30 miles northwest of Endurance when the call came in, was diverted to respond. Bertholf's crew launched a small boat and helicopter crew.

The helicopter crew arrived on scene just after midnight to find all four survivors huddled on a rock with the tide coming in. They had escaped the grounded vessel on a skiff. All four were wearing life jackets.
"This case showcased the tremendous teamwork of Bertholf's entire crew to include our embarked helicopter detachment from Air Station Kodiak," said Capt. Timothy Brown, Bertholf's commanding officer. "Thankfully, these mariners were well-prepared for emergency, and took the proper actions in time to notify the Coast Guard and get off the vessel. We were very fortunate to be close by and able to arrive on scene quickly."

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the grounding, as well as monitoring the grounded vessel.
On-scene conditions around the time of the rescue included 8-mph winds, 1-foot seas, 10-mile visibility, a 2,400-foot ceiling, an air temperature of 55 degrees and a water temperature of 50 degrees.
-USCG-

Photo Release
U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 487-5700
After Hours: (907) 654-4112
17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard rescued overdue boaters near Nome, Alaska




Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.
KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard rescued overdue boaters Friday, from the Sinuk River near Nome, Alaska.
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew picked up the boaters at approximately 6:30 p.m. and safely transported him to the Nome airport.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District command center received a call from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) at approximately 11 p.m. Thursday, who notified them of the overdue boaters in an 18-foot skiff.
17th District watchstanders directed the launch of an Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules aircrew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew. The C-130 crew was notified of the boater's location and dropped a pump can with survival gear and radio. The helicopter crew was on scene later that day to pick up the boaters.
“We want to stress the importance of filing a float plan with someone before getting underway,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Christopher Cole, a 17th District command center watchstander. “In this case, the boaters told their loved ones where they were going and when they should be arriving at their final destination. This information aided us in locating and rescuing the boaters.”
On scene weather was an air temperature of 28 degrees, 17-mph winds, and less than 10-mile visibility.

-USCG-

Video Release
U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 428-4140
17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing boat near St. Paul, Alaska

Editors' Note: Click on image to download video.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard medevaced an injured crew member Monday from a fishing vessel near St. Paul, Alaska.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched out of Forward Operating Location Cold Bay and hoisted the man from the 169-foot fishing vessel Constellation at about 9:30 a.m., just outside St. Paul Harbor. The Coast Guard placed the man in the care of St. Paul Health Center staff, who later transferred him to a Guardian Flight aircraft crew that flew him to Anchorage for further care.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau received the initial request for the medevac from Guardian’s master at 7:44 p.m. Sunday, stating the crew member had sustained a serious injury to his arm after a hatch closed on it. On scene conditions at the time of the initial request included 44-mph wind gusts and 10-foot seas.

The Coast Guard determined the medevac was necessary and made plans to launch the helicopter crew out of Cold Bay, along with a C-130 Super Hercules aircraft crew out of Kodiak to provide support.

“We have an aircrew operating out of Cold Bay this time of year specifically for situations like this,” said Chief Petty Officer Bobbi East, 17th District command duty officer for the case. “Thanks to the cooperation among various Coast Guard crews from Air Station Kodiak and the 17th District, along with the crew aboard Constellation, the staff at St. Paul Health Center, and the Guardian Flight aircrew, this man will receive the medical care he needs in Anchorage.”
-USCG-