U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guardsmen aboard the cutter Liberty, recently re-homeported from Juneau to Valdez, take the vessel Nine Lives under tow after fuel contamination rendered its engine nonfunctional on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Ex-Juneau cutter Liberty helps tow boat to safe harbor

Bad fuel rendered the engine nonfunctional 80 nautical miles west of Yakutat.

Coast Guardsmen aboard the cutter Liberty, recently re-homeported from Juneau to Valdez, take the vessel Nine Lives under tow after fuel contamination rendered its engine nonfunctional on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, U.S. Coast Guard 17th District, commander, left, and Neil O’Rourke, Canadian Coast Guard Arctic Region, assistant commissioner, holding the officially signed Beaufort Sea Annex, at Hay River Base, Northwest Territories, Canada, June 8, 2022. (PO2 Alexandria Preston / USCG)

U.S., Canadian coast guards update joint pollution response plans

The conference also covered planning for other missions, such as search and rescue.

Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, U.S. Coast Guard 17th District, commander, left, and Neil O’Rourke, Canadian Coast Guard Arctic Region, assistant commissioner, holding the officially signed Beaufort Sea Annex, at Hay River Base, Northwest Territories, Canada, June 8, 2022. (PO2 Alexandria Preston / USCG)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File
A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Sector Juneau rescued a pair of kayakers in distress near Spuhn Island on Saturday.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File
A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Sector Juneau rescued a pair of kayakers in distress near Spuhn Island on Saturday.
The U.S.C.G. cutter Liberty, homeported in Juneau for 33 years, is being re-homeported in Valdez, and as a send-off to the community the ship was open for tours on Thursday, May 26, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The U.S.C.G. cutter Liberty, homeported in Juneau for 33 years, is being re-homeported in Valdez, and as a send-off to the community the ship was open for tours on Thursday, May 26, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Coast Guard aircrews medevaced two people from Dry Bay Airstrip, approximately 30 miles Southeast of Yakutat, Alaska, after their plane crashed, May 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Coast Guard District 17)
Coast Guard aircrews medevaced two people from Dry Bay Airstrip, approximately 30 miles Southeast of Yakutat, Alaska, after their plane crashed, May 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Coast Guard District 17)
Soon-to-be instructors from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Xheighaa Warrior Veteran Canoe Journey, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, and the 17th Coast Guard District took part in a Kids Don’t Float training session being held at Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau, Alaska, April 13, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

Training the trainers: Coast Guard holds boating safety instructor class

Every kid with safe boating habits might be a life saved in the future.

Soon-to-be instructors from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Xheighaa Warrior Veteran Canoe Journey, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, and the 17th Coast Guard District took part in a Kids Don’t Float training session being held at Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau, Alaska, April 13, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)
Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been nominated by the president to serve as the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Fagan nominated as next Coast Guard Commandant

If confirmed, she’ll be the first woman to lead one of the armed services.

Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been nominated by the president to serve as the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
A Coast Guardsmen rescues a 70-year-old man who fell off Mt. Verstovia while hiking on March 26, 2022. (Screenshot / USCG)
A Coast Guardsmen rescues a 70-year-old man who fell off Mt. Verstovia while hiking on March 26, 2022. (Screenshot / USCG)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Daniel, an aviation maintenance technician at Air Station Sitka, observes an oil sheen surrounding the Western Mariner, an 83-foot inspected tug, in Neva Strait March, 21, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Wereda)

Recovery efforts for grounded tug near Sitka continue

Nearly a thousand gallons of diesel have been recovered from the ruptured tank.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Daniel, an aviation maintenance technician at Air Station Sitka, observes an oil sheen surrounding the Western Mariner, an 83-foot inspected tug, in Neva Strait March, 21, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Wereda)
A Coast Guard rescue swimmer pulls in a rescue basket during an emergency call to a stricken vessel south of Sitka on Feb. 7, 2022. (Screenshot)
A Coast Guard rescue swimmer pulls in a rescue basket during an emergency call to a stricken vessel south of Sitka on Feb. 7, 2022. (Screenshot)
The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking to increase recruitment numbers after a pandemic-induced drop left the expanding service understrength. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Crewing the cutters: Pandemic complicated recruiting, says Coast Guard

Distancing and not being able to get face to face with folks didn’t help numbers.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking to increase recruitment numbers after a pandemic-induced drop left the expanding service understrength. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa pose with the donated goods they ferried from Petersburg as they prepare to offload them in Wrangell. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Coast Guard assists Petersburg nonprofits in clothing drive

The crew lifted, distributed, and transported donations to where they could do the most good.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa pose with the donated goods they ferried from Petersburg as they prepare to offload them in Wrangell. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
This August photo shows the cutter Midgett moored in Juneau. The U.S. Coast Guard, including the Midgett, is as of early November edging toward total vaccination.

Coast Guard edges toward full active-duty vaccination nationwide

Along with the other armed services, more than 90% of active duty members are fully vaccinated.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
This August photo shows the cutter Midgett moored in Juneau. The U.S. Coast Guard, including the Midgett, is as of early November edging toward total vaccination.
A Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot Response Boat-Medium patrols Auke Bay during an exercise in 2018. (Lt. Brian Dykens / U.S. Coast Guard)
A Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot Response Boat-Medium patrols Auke Bay during an exercise in 2018. (Lt. Brian Dykens / U.S. Coast Guard)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File
A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk, like the one shown in this June photo, rescued a man from a stricken vessel in the Gulf of Alaska on Oct. 11, 2021.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File
A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk, like the one shown in this June photo, rescued a man from a stricken vessel in the Gulf of Alaska on Oct. 11, 2021.
Crews aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf prepare to board a fishing vessel flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China in the North Pacific on Sep. 21, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard, partner nations ID numerous fisheries violations

Ships found operating in concert with more than 450 shark fins aboard, according to Coast Guard.

Crews aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf prepare to board a fishing vessel flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China in the North Pacific on Sep. 21, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball and the Japanese Ship Kashima, a naval training vessel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, transit together during a maritime exercise near Dutch Harbor on Sept. 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Coast Guard and Japanese military conduct joint training at sea

The partner nations were able to take advantage of the serendiptious opportunity.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball and the Japanese Ship Kashima, a naval training vessel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, transit together during a maritime exercise near Dutch Harbor on Sept. 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
Army Pfc. Luke McCarty jumps in the water during training for the engineer divers with a Coast Guard dive team on Sept. 6, 2021. (Courtesy photo / MyKenzie Robertson)
Army Pfc. Luke McCarty jumps in the water during training for the engineer divers with a Coast Guard dive team on Sept. 6, 2021. (Courtesy photo / MyKenzie Robertson)
Capt. Darwin R. Jensen, Sector Juneau’s new commander, speaks during the change of command ceremony at the station on July 7, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Friends in damp places: Sector Juneau CO talks partnerships, future plans

A new set of eyes can examine old plans, the new commander said.

Capt. Darwin R. Jensen, Sector Juneau’s new commander, speaks during the change of command ceremony at the station on July 7, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Gauvain participates in the line toss, one of the inter-vessel competitions during this year’s Buoy Tender Roundup at Sector Juneau, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Gauvain participates in the line toss, one of the inter-vessel competitions during this year’s Buoy Tender Roundup at Sector Juneau, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)