Boating

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.
The United States Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick, rear, prepares to take over towing a stranded vessel after assistance from the Canadian Coast Guard on Aug. 1, 2020. (USCG photo / PA2 Alexandria Preston)

US and Canadian coast guards work together to rescue stranded vessel

The inter-service rescue went off smoothly.

The United States Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick, rear, prepares to take over towing a stranded vessel after assistance from the Canadian Coast Guard on Aug. 1, 2020. (USCG photo / PA2 Alexandria Preston)
“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 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)
Peter Segall | Juneau Empire The vessel was grounded to clear a fouled propeller at Sandy Beach on Sunday.

Boat beaches Sunday at Sandy Beach for impromptu repairs

The boat’s propeller was fouled on something.

Peter Segall | Juneau Empire The vessel was grounded to clear a fouled propeller at Sandy Beach on Sunday.
Outgoing City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors harbormaster Dave Borg, right, poses with incoming harbormaster Matt Creswell. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Changing tides: New harbormaster for Juneau coming soon

The new harbormaster will be familiar to residents.

Outgoing City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors harbormaster Dave Borg, right, poses with incoming harbormaster Matt Creswell. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)
Todd Hadfield, right, Phil Sellick, left, and Alfie Cook, underwater, work to right a capsized vessel at Statter Harbor, Feb. 25, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Impounded vessel capsizes at Statter Harbor

The reason it sank is unknown.

Todd Hadfield, right, Phil Sellick, left, and Alfie Cook, underwater, work to right a capsized vessel at Statter Harbor, Feb. 25, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
The derelict tugboat Lumberman lies moored to a city-owned pier on Sunday after coming adrift and grounding near Norway Point downtown. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

After unplanned voyage, run-away tugboat secured to city dock

The city will now likely take responsibility for the derelict tugboat.

The derelict tugboat Lumberman lies moored to a city-owned pier on Sunday after coming adrift and grounding near Norway Point downtown. (Michael S. Lockett | 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)

Coast Guard suspends search for Sitka kayaker

His kayak was found capsized on Monday.

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)
Dredging continues in the basin at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in Auke Bay on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. The area will be used to construct floats for the charter vessel fleet. The floats will be in use by the whale watching charters in May of 2021. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Auke Bay work prepares for underwater demolitions next year

Harbors deepened, rocks demolished: Statter Harbor is getting a makeover.

Dredging continues in the basin at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in Auke Bay on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. The area will be used to construct floats for the charter vessel fleet. The floats will be in use by the whale watching charters in May of 2021. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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. Cmdr. Scott Shields, a Coast Guard officer stationed in Juneau, flips a small boat during a boating safety training class at the Augustus Brown Swimming Pool on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. The class will qualify the members to teach students around the state about the use and importance of life vests. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard prepares to teach boating safety across Alaska this winter

The class readies children for the unexpected.

Lt. Cmdr. Scott Shields, a Coast Guard officer stationed in Juneau, flips a small boat during a boating safety training class at the Augustus Brown Swimming Pool on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. The class will qualify the members to teach students around the state about the use and importance of life vests. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)