The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday gave its approval for the U.S. Coast Guard’s decommissioned cutter Storis to be passed on to Juneau, where it would be on public display.
Rep. Don Young reports authorization for conveyance of the Storis to Juneau was included in the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill approved Wednesday, one of a package of budget bills under consideration.
“We’re hugely encouraged, this is good work by Congressman Young, following the good work of Sen. (Mark) Begich,” said Joe Geldhof, secretary of the non-profit Storis Museum.
Young had introduced a bill to transfer the historic Storis to become a museum ship in Juneau, but then on the House floor Wednesday was able to get the authorization into the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011, the bill authorizing Coast Guard funding.
Young spokesman Luke Miller said the Storis conveyance was a top priority of Young’s. The decommissioned Storis is currently in San Francisco Bay.
The act covers three years of funding for the Coast Guard at between $8-$9 billion year. That’s crucial to Alaska, but also includes some specifics that Young identified as priorities for the state as well.
That includes the Storis conveyance, encouragement for new icebreaker construction, and Arctic emergency response and operations at the publicly owned Ketchikan drydock, Young said.
“This is a good day for Alaska,” said Young in a press release detailing the bill’s provisions.
The reforms it includes will help the Coast Guard in being more efficient in carrying out its mission of protecting Alaska’s and the nation’s coasts, he said.
The transfer of the Storis to Juneau faltered in the Senate last year, but Begich thinks it has much better chances this year, said spokesperson Julie Hasquet.
This year, with Begich chairman of the Ocean, Fish and Coast Guard subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, he’s already managed to see the transfer authorization included in the spending bill that is awaiting action on the Senate Floor.
“This is one of his Alaska priorities in the bill and we will work to make sure it is included in the final conference report,” Hasquet said.
Geldhof said a long-term home for the Storis has not yet been identified. Locations under consideration include both inside the new cruise ship docks and on dry land, which has some big maintenance benefits.
“It will be a really attractive addition to the waterfront,” at any location, Geldhof said.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or at patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
Comments (18)
Add commentGreat!!
Alaska's Congressmen are successful at getting scrap metal for Juneau. How about a road out of town!!
Lots of credit goes to...
...Joe Geldhof. The congressionals don't do this stuff just out of the blue. There needs to be a strong push from citizens working with the congressional staffers. It sounds like Joe was that guy. Nice job.
The Storis will be a big hit on the waterfront, offering tourists something more than just tee-shirt and jewelry shops. Where's it going to be parked?
At what cost?
The CBJ does not need another hole in the waterfront to throw money into. In the midst of this current, ongoing budget crunch where services are being cut the CBJ can't find enough things to spend money on.
It will more than pay for itself
I've seen other ship museums and they're really popular tourist destinations. Park it out of the water next to the Coast Guard station, where the old state warehouse used to be. Charge $10 a head and it will get 100,000 visitors a year.
Only questions for Joe is, what are you going to spend all that money on? You can only paint it so many times.
Who pays?
Who's going to pay for this shrine to Juneau's retired coasties; if it comes make sure it's located where it can be taken away, like Nimbus. And make sure a bond is posted to pay for it's removal. Ever hear of the M/V Kalakala; Seattle's Storis!
What a bunch of nattering
What a bunch of nattering nay-bobs of negativism! Joe is finally behind something that will have a positive effect on Juneau's visitor industry, and you all want to shoot it down. I, for one, am super excited about the possibility of Storis coming back to Juneau. This ship has a long history of defending this nation and saving lives. This thing is no rusted out ferry. Heck, it was in service not too long ago.
This is a worthy project, Joe. Keep up the great work.
At least it will have room...
for a breaching bronze Whale to Nowhere and the Fishermen's Memorial so they can be moved around at Princess and Friend's convenience.
Good thinking Skirkz. Heaven
Good thinking Skirkz. Heaven forbid we should do something to pretty up this armpit of a downtown area.
Been following the progress of this
and I'm pretty excited to see this project one step closer to reality. I still have my hat from touring the cutter when she made her final docking in Juneau some years ago.
Congratulations.
Mike
USCG Cutter Storis
I am happy to see that something is going to be done to make good use of the Storis which has been a part of Alaskan history for years. My brother was stationed aboard the Storis from 1978-80 in Kodiak, AK. I think it will make a great contribution to Juneau for not only the tourists but for all of us here in Juneau and across the state of Alaska. We need to honor the Coast Guard for all that they do for Alaska.
Good old days?
Move it to Kodiak to replace the hole where the Kalakala was removed! If you want a Coast Guard museam find a pudgy old admiral(I've seen some around) to fund the thing with their own money rather than burden the residents of Juneau!
Storis Memorial
Sounds like snagger is a little jelous! Must be he never served int he military. I did and was on the Storis. I think it would attract many tourists as well as "military. active & retired". Good luck to Joe and all involved.
Snagger, You need to smoke a
Snagger,
You need to smoke a joint and mellow out. Your babble sounds like it comes from the brain of a person suffering from acute THC deficiency.
Ich
The CG was not that great for many in Alaska--suicides,"accidents","recreational " deaths. There was an elite Academy group and there were the others--enlisted men. In my 4 years several enlisted men died here in Alaska; the officers here retired. I doubt this shrine will mention those enlisted men who never were to leave .
snagger's comment
Sound's like snagger may have got busted by the Cg at one time or another. Yes people have lost thier lives. How many have they saved? Where you involved? Doubt it!
More For Thought
Snagger, not only do they, the CG help Alaskan's, they helped one another! Do you and I doubt it, remember when the Storis helped the CGC Citrus in their need when they hit an un-charted rock and was going down in Ouzinikie? I do, I was aboard the Storis. I had just checked in and was aboard for less than 1 hr., before we had to get underway to help. "I" was the only one aboard (as a buoy tender black shoe) that could operate a boom that hadn't been used for a long time. We did it though, and hot racked it for over a week and helped my fellow shipmates. Can you top that? Besides being a want to be? Again, I don't think so!!!!
Exactly where are we putting this thing?
I don't think the 'armpit' description downtown is any exaggeration. Our waterfront area is very unfriendly and very inaccessible and where in the waterfront plan does this fit in? You know, that plan that we paid lots of money for someone to tell us what to do that we aren't doing. When we remodeled Marine Park did we think about where to put the whale? When our only waterfront 'park' is in the shade from tourships all summer and too crowded to consider going anywhere near it to find a peaceful moment outdoors, where are we going to go with the future development of the waterfront plan if we are getting another boat dock in front of Gold Creek and a ship tourist shop 'somewhere' -- in between that dock and the current wharf?
Nobody is going to be improving the 'armpit' nature of downtown by simply giving the tourists another tourist attraction, although, hey why not? The locals will just look away and stay away, with nowhere to park and nowhere to go.
When I see pictures of what this place used to look like it just makes me what to cry.
When they finish taking away the waterfront (done deal already) and destroy the pretty blue water of Gold Creek, it is time to go find a town where 'government by the people, FOR the people' is actually in practice. For those of us who can scrape up the money for a plane ticket or a boat ticket out of here.
I don't think this comment will get posted -- my 'hospitality jobs' comment didn't make it past the censors either. However, here goes nothin ----- !
okay fine, then.
I am going to have to start a site called "Things the Empire Won't Let Me Post."
; )
'bye, now~!