The Coast Guard 17th District will host its annual Buoy Tender Roundup in Juneau this week, a time for training followed by Coast Guard games.
Beginning Monday and ending on Friday, this year’s roundup will include seven U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian buoy tenders, stationed throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest for five days of training and maintenance. Participating are the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Maple, Hickory, Fir, Sycamore, Elderberry, Anthony Petit and the Canadian Coast Guard ship Bartlett.
The event allows Coast Guard members and partner agencies to receive specialized training in areas such as engine repair, buoy maintenance, first aid, navigation, weather observation and fisheries throughout the week.
“The roundup is an extremely cost-effective and efficient means to ensure our buoy tender crews have access to the training they need to be successful in their chosen professions,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Newell, chief of the 17th District’s Waterways Branch.
Experts from across the Coast Guard will arrive to inspect and service vital shipboard equipment to ensure crew safety while deployed. The cutters will also compete in the Buoy Tender Roundup Olympics on Wednesday. The games give bragging rights to the cutter that wins in events such as the chain pull, survival swim, tug-o-war and the heat-and-beat.
The games are not open to the public, however, there will be public tours aboard the cutter Fir, moored at Coast Guard Station Juneau from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Crews aboard Coast Guard buoy tenders in Alaska service 1,250 navigational aids along 33,000 miles of coastline while actively participating in search and rescue, environmental protection and law enforcement missions.
