In 2016, there were 14 fatal boating wrecks that killed 19 people, The Ketchikan Daily News reports. That’s seven more boating accidents and 12 more fatalities than in 2015.
"Coast Guard"
New Coast Guard cutter to be commissioned Wednesday in Juneau
The Alaska-based Bailey Barco, a Coast Guard fast-response cutter, will be commissioned June 14, at the AJ Dock off Thane Road in Juneau. The ceremony is not open to the public.
Coast Guard rescues man and dog in Gastineau Channel in duct-taped inflatable
A Coast Guard Station Juneau crew picked up the 32-year-old who was trying to reach Point Bishop after he began taking on water.
Sunken tugboat Powhatan to be raised on crane barge
Officials are preparing to raise a sunken 81-foot tugboat Powhatan. A crane barge arrived from Seattle over the weekend, the Daily Sitka Sentinel reported Monday, and divers are going to work over the week to prepare to lift the tug, which sank April 19.
Navy to scan Kodiak waters for WWII explosives
The Navy will scan Kodiak and Unalaska waters for World War II-era munitions using underwater drones next month, as part of an ongoing effort to eventually remove the explosives. What could happen and whether the historic weapons would detonate is unclear.
Coast Guard rescues 2 kayakers off Alaska’s southern coast
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says it rescued two kayakers who were near an island off the coast of southern Alaska and became separated as the weather deteriorated. The Guard says in a news release that two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews rescued the kayakers near Chichagof Island Saturday evening. The Guard says…
After 40 years, Air Station Sitka maintains original mission
It’s been 40 years since the hangar doors opened at Air Station Sitka. Since 1977 Coast Guard helicopters have been flying all over Southeast Alaska for rescue missions and medevacs. Lt. Ray Jamros is a helicopter pilot, who pulls double-duty as the Air Station’s communications and external affairs officer. Up some stairs, the walls are lined…
Coast Guard cleans up graffiti on World War II bunker as tagging investigation continues
The U.S. Coast Guard has cleaned up controversial graffiti that was found spray-painted on a World War II bunker in Unalaska last month.
U.S. senators make budget plea for Coast Guard
Both of Alaska’s U.S. senators wrote the White House budget director Wednesday asking him to spare the Coast Guard from the budget ax.
Fishing crew rescued after vessel runs aground off Unalaska
A fishing crew was rescued Monday morning after their boat ran aground off Unalaska Island.
Fishing vessel St. Dominick began taking on water about 10 a.m., Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Steenson said.