U.S. Coast Guard

Cmdr. Brian McLaughlin speaks to Coast Guard Air Station Sitka personnel during a change of command ceremony held at Air Station Sitka, Alaska, July 17, 2020. (Courtesy photo | U.S. Coast Guard)

Air Station Sitka welcomes new commanding officer

This isn’t his first tour in Alaska.

Cmdr. Brian McLaughlin speaks to Coast Guard Air Station Sitka personnel during a change of command ceremony held at Air Station Sitka, Alaska, July 17, 2020. (Courtesy photo | U.S. Coast Guard)
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick conducts a patrol in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska, near Hubbard Glacier, June 13, 2017. The cutter and crew are homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska, and conduct Coast Guard operations throughout Southeast Alaska. (Coast Guard photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Miller)

Ketchikan-based Coast Guard cutter welcomes new commanding officer

The John McCormick has a new CO.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick conducts a patrol in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska, near Hubbard Glacier, June 13, 2017. The cutter and crew are homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska, and conduct Coast Guard operations throughout Southeast Alaska. (Coast Guard photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Miller)
A signal flare burns bright enough to light up the day lit shores of the Sacramento Delta during a flare training exercise held at Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Friday, April 6, 2012. (Courtesy Photo | Petty Officer 2nd Class Levi Read)

Coast Guard reminds boaters not to use flares as fireworks

It’s punishable by a fine and prison time.

A signal flare burns bright enough to light up the day lit shores of the Sacramento Delta during a flare training exercise held at Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Friday, April 6, 2012. (Courtesy Photo | Petty Officer 2nd Class Levi Read)
The USCGC Healy, the Coast Guard’s only medium icebreaker, lies moored to the pier in Juneau as it returns to Seattle at the end of deployment, Oct. 27, 2019. The Healy is one of two U.S. icebreakers, but perhaps that will change, as a White House memorandum directs the government to look at options for expanding the icebreaker fleet. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

White House examining more options for expanding U.S. icebreaker fleet

Leasing and further construction are both possibilities.

The USCGC Healy, the Coast Guard’s only medium icebreaker, lies moored to the pier in Juneau as it returns to Seattle at the end of deployment, Oct. 27, 2019. The Healy is one of two U.S. icebreakers, but perhaps that will change, as a White House memorandum directs the government to look at options for expanding the icebreaker fleet. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)
“Alaska is consistently rated very high, in part because of the consistent boating safety programs, such as Kids Don’t Float,” said Mike Folkerts, boating safety specialist for Coast Guard District 17. He said such campaigns and widespread use of life jackets help explain why Alaska saw fewer boating-related deaths last year than in 2018. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

2019 boating deaths, injuries in Alaska down from previous years

Alaska’s high rate of life jacket use likely saved many lives.

“Alaska is consistently rated very high, in part because of the consistent boating safety programs, such as Kids Don’t Float,” said Mike Folkerts, boating safety specialist for Coast Guard District 17. He said such campaigns and widespread use of life jackets help explain why Alaska saw fewer boating-related deaths last year than in 2018. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
A helicopter 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)

Good Samaritans, Coast Guard rescue capsized boaters

Good Samaritans and good life jacket use likely saved their lives.

A helicopter 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 Station Juneau 45-foot medium response boat patrols Auke Bay during an exercise in 2018. Coast Guardsmen from Station Juneau aboard a similar boat rescued two stranded kayakers on Couverden Island on May 1, 2020. (Lt. Brian Dykens | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues two kayakers near Admiralty Island

They were exhausted but unhurt.

A Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot medium response boat patrols Auke Bay during an exercise in 2018. Coast Guardsmen from Station Juneau aboard a similar boat rescued two stranded kayakers on Couverden Island on May 1, 2020. (Lt. Brian Dykens | U.S. Coast Guard)
Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard An MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau on June 26, 2018.

Coast Guard flies pump to vessel taking on water

Civilian vessels also responded to the situation.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard An MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau on June 26, 2018.
Coast Guardsmen perform an inspection of a fishing vessel in Sitka Sound on March 19, 2019. (Coast Guard Photo | Ens. Lindsay Wheeler)

All towing vessels to require inspections by July

Owners with multiple vessels will have longer.

Coast Guardsmen perform an inspection of a fishing vessel in Sitka Sound on March 19, 2019. (Coast Guard Photo | Ens. Lindsay Wheeler)
Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage | U.S. Coast Guard An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter makes an approach on their return to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, June 5, 2019.

When you need them most: Coast Guard MH-60s and their crew

Sitka aircrews have performed four medevacs in the last week.

Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage | U.S. Coast Guard An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter makes an approach on their return to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, June 5, 2019.
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 24, 2019. (U.S. Navy | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)

Experts, military officers testify about rising importance, threat in Arctic

The Great Game will be played in the Arctic, expert says.

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 24, 2019. (U.S. Navy | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)
A submerged boat at Harris Harbor activated an automatic emergency beacon, triggering a search and rescue deployment from local Coast Guard units on Jan. 23, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Emergency beacon triggers Coast Guard search downtown

The Coast Guard traced the signal to a partially submerged boat downtown.

A submerged boat at Harris Harbor activated an automatic emergency beacon, triggering a search and rescue deployment from local Coast Guard units on Jan. 23, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Knight waits for their fifteen minute swim to be up during cold water survival training at Coast Guard Station Juneau, Jan. 13, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Fun way to start a Monday? Coast Guardsmen go for a swim

The Coast Guard’s idea of a polar plunge is a little more involved.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Knight waits for their fifteen minute swim to be up during cold water survival training at Coast Guard Station Juneau, Jan. 13, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Members of Coast Guard Station Juneau aboard a 45-foot response boat—Medium conduct drills near Juneau, Jan. 24, 2018. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues stranded hunter after boat capsizes

The man was rescued unharmed.

Members of Coast Guard Station Juneau aboard a 45-foot response boat—Medium conduct drills near Juneau, Jan. 24, 2018. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)
A helicopter 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)

Kayaker reported missing near Sitka

The missing man’s kayak was found empty and overturned.

A helicopter 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)
Russ Hazlett (left), a commercial fishing vessel inspector for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, performs a CFV safety exam in Kotzebue, Alaska, July 10, 2019. (Courtesy photo | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard pulls out stops in yearlong facilities inspection mission

The state has more than 380 bulk oil facilities to certify, almost all of them remote.

Russ Hazlett (left), a commercial fishing vessel inspector for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, performs a CFV safety exam in Kotzebue, Alaska, July 10, 2019. (Courtesy photo | U.S. Coast Guard)
An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the carrier transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 25, 2019. (MC2 Anthony J. Rivera | United States Navy)

Alaska senators introduce Arctic naval ops bill

Activity in the region is soaring as more ice melts.

An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the carrier transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 25, 2019. (MC2 Anthony J. Rivera | United States Navy)
A helicopter 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 medevacs teen from wilderness therapy camp

The teenager suffered from chest pains during a hike.

A helicopter 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 U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk searches Gastineau Channel for a possible missing boater after the boat Sealion was found adrift near the Petro Marine docks on Nov. 29, 2019. (Yang-Hui Lee | Courtesy Photo)

Coast Guard resolves search for possible missing boater, but questions remain

How did the boat end up in the channel?

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk searches Gastineau Channel for a possible missing boater after the boat Sealion was found adrift near the Petro Marine docks on Nov. 29, 2019. (Yang-Hui Lee | Courtesy Photo)
Lt. j.g. Jonathan Dillard hustles after the turnaround during a Coast Guard 5K Turkey Trot through Juneau’s harborfront on Nov. 22, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard braves foul weather for early Turkey Trot

Coast Guardsmen weren’t about to let rain stop them from winning a turkey.

Lt. j.g. Jonathan Dillard hustles after the turnaround during a Coast Guard 5K Turkey Trot through Juneau’s harborfront on Nov. 22, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)