U.S. Coast Guard

Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012.

Juneau-based private icebreaker remains in Coast Guard’s plans as needs grow

Officials now say up to nine vessels needed for polar areas, but first may not be ready until 2028

Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012.
Coast Guard officials are silhouetted by rescue aircraft during a change of command ceremony on June 9 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s top Coast Guard official warns of rising medevac cases as he leaves command

As cruise ship tourism returns and grows, the demand for emergency services is growing, too

Coast Guard officials are silhouetted by rescue aircraft during a change of command ceremony on June 9 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits docked at Auke Bay in November 2022. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended its search for a 70-year-old man who was last seen departing for a fishing trip near Kake on Friday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Coast Guard suspends search for missing Kake boater

The decision was made following a 16-hour search effort covering more than 375 nautical miles.

A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits docked at Auke Bay in November 2022. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended its search for a 70-year-old man who was last seen departing for a fishing trip near Kake on Friday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The U.S. Coast Guard Band, seen here, plays as a 55-member ensemble. The band will play in Juneau Saturday as part of its Ready for the Call tour. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Sea notes: U.S. Coast Guard Band to play in Juneau

Do you like American music?

The U.S. Coast Guard Band, seen here, plays as a 55-member ensemble. The band will play in Juneau Saturday as part of its Ready for the Call tour. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Coast Guard Cutter Munro docks in Juneau for a scheduled port visit Monday. The port visit marks Munro’s final stop before returning to its homeport in Alameda, California after 11,500 miles and 105 days away from homeport.

Coast Guard Cutter Munro makes stop in Juneau

Munro partnered with NOAA to enforce sustainable fishing.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Coast Guard Cutter Munro docks in Juneau for a scheduled port visit Monday. The port visit marks Munro’s final stop before returning to its homeport in Alameda, California after 11,500 miles and 105 days away from homeport.
The Coast Guard 45-foot response boat-medium. (Juneau Empire file)

Coast Guard rescues two people, one dog

AMHS LeConte provided assistance in rescue.

The Coast Guard 45-foot response boat-medium. (Juneau Empire file)
This photo shows a Coast Guard vessel moored in Auke Bay. Another vessel, an icebreaker, could soon be homeported in Juneau following passage of the NDAA. City officials are considering whether that developed should encourage the city to become involved with plans to develop a cruise ship dock on a waterfront property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown port development plans make winter waves

City discusses assisting private developers with proposed cruise ship dock with eye on icebreaker.

This photo shows a Coast Guard vessel moored in Auke Bay. Another vessel, an icebreaker, could soon be homeported in Juneau following passage of the NDAA. City officials are considering whether that developed should encourage the city to become involved with plans to develop a cruise ship dock on a waterfront property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Gregory Chaney A 60-foot fishing vessel was grounded in Favorite Reef on Thursday evening into Friday morning when three passengers were safely rescued off the boat by JPD Chief Ed Mercer. The Coast Guard continues to monitor the ship while crews work to safely defuel it.

Police chief rescues crew from grounded ship

Coast Guard continues to monitor ship.

Courtesy Photo / Gregory Chaney A 60-foot fishing vessel was grounded in Favorite Reef on Thursday evening into Friday morning when three passengers were safely rescued off the boat by JPD Chief Ed Mercer. The Coast Guard continues to monitor the ship while crews work to safely defuel it.
The U.S. Coast Guard District 17 released video footage of two people being rescued during stormy conditions on Saturday, Oct. 1 after their boat ran onto rocks in Pavlof Harbor in southwest of Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard makes rescue in poor visibility

Man and woman safe after boat grounds near Juneau

The U.S. Coast Guard District 17 released video footage of two people being rescued during stormy conditions on Saturday, Oct. 1 after their boat ran onto rocks in Pavlof Harbor in southwest of Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
An MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau, Alaska, June 26, 2018. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard aircrew medevacs man from cruise ship near Juneau

73-year-old passenger stabilized

An MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau, Alaska, June 26, 2018. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)
A Coast Guard boat crew helped medevac a patient experiencing a medical emergency from the Ovation of the Seas late Tuesday to medical personnel in Ketchikan. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Coast Guard carries out medevac, rescues stranded boaters

Across the state, the service stayed busy.

A Coast Guard boat crew helped medevac a patient experiencing a medical emergency from the Ovation of the Seas late Tuesday to medical personnel in Ketchikan. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka aircrew medically evacuates a 65-year-old woman from the cruise ship Zuiderdam in Cross Sound, Alaska, Aug. 21, 2022. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Ian Gray / USCG)

Coast Guard aircrew medevacs woman near Cross Sound

The passenger was suffering from loss of vision.

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka aircrew medically evacuates a 65-year-old woman from the cruise ship Zuiderdam in Cross Sound, Alaska, Aug. 21, 2022. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Ian Gray / USCG)
Team Elm faces off against Team Cypress in a battle of tug of war during the Coast Guard’s annual Buoy Tender Olympics on Wednesday at the Coast Guard Station Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard hosts Buoy Tender Olympics in Juneau

Off the chain.

Team Elm faces off against Team Cypress in a battle of tug of war during the Coast Guard’s annual Buoy Tender Olympics on Wednesday at the Coast Guard Station Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the Holland America Line cruise ship Koningsdam in Juneau on Monday night. Hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified a crew member had gone overboard near Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Update: Search suspended for man missing from cruise ship

Coast Guard asks help for information

This photo shows the Holland America Line cruise ship Koningsdam in Juneau on Monday night. Hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified a crew member had gone overboard near Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, commander of Coast Guard District 17, speaks during a ceremony at University of Alaska Southeast for the renewal of the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative on July 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Coast Guard and UAS renew commissioning program partnership

The Coast Guard is always seeking new talent for its officer corps.

Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, commander of Coast Guard District 17, speaks during a ceremony at University of Alaska Southeast for the renewal of the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative on July 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
A Coast Guard aircrew fro Coast Guard Air Station Sitka rescued a boat’s captain after his vessel ran aground southeast of Yakutat on Thursday morning. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Coast Guard rescue man after vessel runs aground

Aircrews also medevaced a crewman from a cargo ship near Dutch Harbor.

A Coast Guard aircrew fro Coast Guard Air Station Sitka rescued a boat’s captain after his vessel ran aground southeast of Yakutat on Thursday morning. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter pilot watches as the aircrew assists overdue boaters, July 18, 2022. (Lt. Scott Kellerman / U.S. Coast Guard)

USCG conducts multiple rescues around state

Coast Guard aircrews stayed busy on Monday from the Southeast to western Alaska.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter pilot watches as the aircrew assists overdue boaters, July 18, 2022. (Lt. Scott Kellerman / U.S. Coast Guard)
Rusted oil barrels are visible on the riverbank of the Eagle River as erosion exposes more debris from roadbuilding infrastructure buried decades. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Erosion reveals old oil drums near Eagle Beach

The situation is noncritical, said state and federal agencies working on a removal solution.

Rusted oil barrels are visible on the riverbank of the Eagle River as erosion exposes more debris from roadbuilding infrastructure buried decades. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf returns home to California following a nearly three-month patrol monitoring for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on Nov. 1, 2021. (Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi / U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard announces penalties against fishing vessels

The annual patrol to monitor illegal fishing is set to begin soon.

Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf returns home to California following a nearly three-month patrol monitoring for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on Nov. 1, 2021. (Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi / U.S. Coast Guard)
A P-18 Super Cub aircraft and two people on shore at Montague Island, Alaska, after the plane crashed July 6, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Lt. Cmdr. Josh Wofford)

Coast Guard performs multiple rescues around holiday weekend

Alaskans might have relaxed for the holiday, but the Coast Guard didn’t.

A P-18 Super Cub aircraft and two people on shore at Montague Island, Alaska, after the plane crashed July 6, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Lt. Cmdr. Josh Wofford)