Boating

“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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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)
A U.S. Coast Guard Station Juneau small-boat crew examines the mast of the sunken 94-foot tugboat Challenger, Sept. 12, 2015 in Gastineau Channel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

USCG experiencing emergency radio outages in Alaska

The Coast Guard’s emergency VHF channels are under repair.

A U.S. Coast Guard Station Juneau small-boat crew examines the mast of the sunken 94-foot tugboat Challenger, Sept. 12, 2015 in Gastineau Channel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Man perishes in Petersburg after skiff capsizes

Another man survived to be rescued.

Fishing boats stream out of Don D. Statter Boat Harbor in Auke Bay at the start of the Golden North Salmon Derby on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska boating deaths up for third year in a row, according to a Coast Guard report

More on-the-water time leads to more deaths.

Fishing boats stream out of Don D. Statter Boat Harbor in Auke Bay at the start of the Golden North Salmon Derby on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Abandoned tugboat problem likely to linger

“Maybe a giant eagle will fix it.”