Boating

A security gate installed at Harris Harbor is scheduled to be locked from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily starting in early May, with access to boaters provided by key fobs or other means. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Harris Harbor to be protected at night by electronic security gate starting in early May

Barrier is believed to be the first at a public dock in Alaska; boaters will access via key fobs

 

The Captain Cook, one of two tour boats formerly operated by Adventure Bound Alaska, in Aurora Harbor prior to a scheduled sealed-bid auction for vessels that has been extended until April 10. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Auction of Adventure Bound boats gets delay, big minimum bid increase due to liens

Two vessels from troubled tour company now selling for several times the original listed bids.

 

The Adventure Bound tour vessel, docked in Aurora Harbor, is one of two tour boats formerly operated by Adventure Bound Alaska being offered by the city in a sealed-bid auction scheduled next Wednesday. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Adventure Bound Alaska’s two tour boats being auctioned off by city due to company’s prolonged debt

Impounding and sealed-bid sale of large charter vessels “is a first for me,” harbormaster says.

 

A man died Sunday after falling off a fishing charter boat in Barlow Cove, located directly west of Auke Bay, according to the Alaska State Troopers. No foul play is suspected. (Map by the U.S. Forest Service)

Man dies after falling off fishing charter boat in Barlow Cove

No foul play suspected as 69-year-old Wisconsin passenger loses footing aboard vessel, officials say

A man died Sunday after falling off a fishing charter boat in Barlow Cove, located directly west of Auke Bay, according to the Alaska State Troopers. No foul play is suspected. (Map by the U.S. Forest Service)
A troller fishes in Sitka Sound on Feb. 2, 2021. A charter fishing vessel sank in the area Sunday, resulting in one person dead and four missing. The U.S. Coast Guard called off a search for the missing persons Monday night. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

1 dead, 4 missing after fishing charter boat sinks near Sitka

Coast Guard calls off search Monday night after company reports vessel overdue Sunday.

A troller fishes in Sitka Sound on Feb. 2, 2021. A charter fishing vessel sank in the area Sunday, resulting in one person dead and four missing. The U.S. Coast Guard called off a search for the missing persons Monday night. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)
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.

Coast Guard rescues two near Auke Bay over weekend

Their kayak had begun to take on water.

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.
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)
Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel participate in the rescue of a capsized kayaker near Don D. Statter Harbor on March 21, 2022. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)

CCFR rescues kayaker near Auke Bay

The kayaker was in the water for more than 20 minutes, firefighters said.

Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel participate in the rescue of a capsized kayaker near Don D. Statter Harbor on March 21, 2022. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly recently passed amendements linking all harbor fees to the consumer price index and raising the dockage fees, which applies primarily to large vessels reserving mooring at city piers, such as the Don D. Statter Harbor breakwater. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Amendment passes increasing dockage fee

Harbor fees are now linked to consumer price index.

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly recently passed amendements linking all harbor fees to the consumer price index and raising the dockage fees, which applies primarily to large vessels reserving mooring at city piers, such as the Don D. Statter Harbor breakwater. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department is readying for the inbound cruise season as it makes headway on other projects around the city, said the harbormaster. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Docks and harbors rigs for cruise season

It’ll be the first full season since 2019.

Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department is readying for the inbound cruise season as it makes headway on other projects around the city, said the harbormaster. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
High winds in the early morning of Nov. 26, 2021 damaged two sections of float in Don D. Statter Harbor. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Statter Harbor float damaged by high winds

Variable geometry is a viable design decision for jets; less so for piers.

High winds in the early morning of Nov. 26, 2021 damaged two sections of float in Don D. Statter Harbor. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Divers work to right a vessel capsized by snow in Don D. Statter Harbor in 2020. The Coast Guard and city both recently issued reminders to prepare for winter weather in the coming months. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

City, Coast Guard remind residents to ready for colder weather

The snow isn’t here yet, but it’s on the wind.

Divers work to right a vessel capsized by snow in Don D. Statter Harbor in 2020. The Coast Guard and city both recently issued reminders to prepare for winter weather in the coming months. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.

National Weather Service, city warn of severe rain

The worst of the rain should be over by Friday afternoon, meteorologists say.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File The Coast Guard’s 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report highlighted an expected spike in boater accidents, deaths, and injuries with more people on the water during the pandemic.

Boating accidents, casualties expectedly high in 2020

More people on the water with the pandemic means more potential for accidents to happen.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File The Coast Guard’s 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report highlighted an expected spike in boater accidents, deaths, and injuries with more people on the water during the pandemic.
The Coast Guard is investigating a series of three vessels sinking across Southeast Alaska within an approximately twelve-hour period in late June. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Coast Guard investigating multiple sinkings from last week

No casualties were reported, and owners are working to refloat one of the vessels.

The Coast Guard is investigating a series of three vessels sinking across Southeast Alaska within an approximately twelve-hour period in late June. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Fr. Gordon Blue takes part in the 31st annual Blessing of the Fleet and Reading of Names at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 1, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau holds annual ceremony blessing and recognizing fishermen

It was the 31st iteration of the ceremony.

Fr. Gordon Blue takes part in the 31st annual Blessing of the Fleet and Reading of Names at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 1, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire A proposal to the Docks and Harbors board to double residency fees for live-aboard residents of Juneau’s harbors have rankled many.

Docks and Harbors floats idea of live-aboard fee increase

Live-aboard residents less than thrilled about potential doubling of residency fee.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire A proposal to the Docks and Harbors board to double residency fees for live-aboard residents of Juneau’s harbors have rankled many.
The 52-foot fishing vessel, Haida Lady, submerged between Cobb Island and Silver Point South of Sitka, Alaska, February 28, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Unknown amount of diesel spilled after boat sinks south of Sitka

Clean up and investigation into the sinking are underway.

The 52-foot fishing vessel, Haida Lady, submerged between Cobb Island and Silver Point South of Sitka, Alaska, February 28, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
Coast Guardsmen aboard the cutter USCGC John McCormick rescued two people off the fishing vessel Reluctant near Hoonah after it grounded Tuesday morning, Sept. 22, 2020. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues 2 from grounded fishing boat

No injuries were reported.

Coast Guardsmen aboard the cutter USCGC John McCormick rescued two people off the fishing vessel Reluctant near Hoonah after it grounded Tuesday morning, Sept. 22, 2020. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire The derelict tug Lumberman is scheduled for disposal by at-sea scuttling in mid-October, said Juneau harbormaster Matt Creswell, Sept. 9, 2020.

Derelict tugboat slated for mid-October sinking

The vessel will be dragged into the Gulf and scuttled.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire The derelict tug Lumberman is scheduled for disposal by at-sea scuttling in mid-October, said Juneau harbormaster Matt Creswell, Sept. 9, 2020.