U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Megan Dean shakes hands with the new Arctic District commander Rear Admiral Bob Little on Friday. Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the Pacific Area, smiles. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

US Coast Guard receives new commander, new name for Alaska

The Arctic District’s new icebreaker will visit Juneau next month

 

In this still image from a video provided to the Alaska Beacon, the cruise ship Celebrity Edge (at right) is seen drifting toward the Carnival Luminosa (at left). Three other cruise ships are seen moored to the Juneau docks. (Video screenshot)

Coast Guard investigates storm-caused near-collision between two cruise ships in Juneau

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a near-collision between two cruise ships in the Port of Juneau that occurred Monday, when one of the two… Continue reading

 

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

Coast Guard icebreaker Storis begins maiden voyage, scheduled to be commissioned in Juneau in August

Ship will initially be homeported Seattle until infrastructure upgrades in Juneau are complete.

 

Laa.éi Kathleen John leads the Yées Ḵu.oo dance group through the Haida entrance song at the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

A merry 15th annual Juneau Maritime Festival despite the rain

“This kind of feels like it’s just for us.”

Laa.éi Kathleen John leads the Yées Ḵu.oo dance group through the Haida entrance song at the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Tom Dawson touches a 57-millimeter Bofors gun during a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

US Coast Guard Cutter Munro stops in Juneau as it begins its patrol

Crew conducts community outreach and details its mission in Alaska.

Tom Dawson touches a 57-millimeter Bofors gun during a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Storis icebreaker expected to make ceremonial visit to Juneau this summer, officials say

Coast Guard icebreaker set to be homeported locally will still need further upgrades for deployment.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)

Trump’s immigration raids arrive in Alaska, while Coast Guard in state help deportations at southern US border

Anchorage arrests touted by FBI, DEA; Coast Guard plane from Kodiak part of “alien expulsion flight operations.”

A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)
The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The Juneau-bound icebreaker has design problems and a history of failure. It’s America’s latest military vessel.

Aiviq builders gave more than $7M in political donations since 2012; Coast Guard purchased vessel under pressure from Congress.

The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2022, was relieved of duty after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Adm. Linda Fagan fired as Coast Guard Commandant on Trump’s first day back in office

First woman to head a U.S. military branch presided over decision to homeport icebreaker in Juneau.

Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2022, was relieved of duty after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Coast Guard: ‘It will be several years before families arrive in Juneau’ with icebreaker

Initial crew of 60 expected to be assigned to Storis next summer, but major ship and port upgrades await.

The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
The icebreaker originally known as the Aiviq, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about three weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs photo)

First of Coast Guard’s new Polar Security Cutters likely delayed until at least 2030, U.S. House panel says

Delay means Juneau-based icebreaker may play stopgap role longer than expected.

The icebreaker originally known as the Aiviq, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about three weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs photo)
At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)
Video

Update: Coast Guard confirms Juneau icebreaker to be named after historic ‘Storis’ stationed here after WWII

Newly painted Aiviq bears name of ship in service for 64 years, including a lengthy local legacy.

At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)
Video
Darius Heumann tries his hand at an old-fashioned steering wheel on the bridge of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker during a public tour on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A shipload of elephants, oysters and narwhals for visitors aboard Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker

Hundreds of locals take tours of ship with power 40,000 Formula One cars during its stop in Juneau.

Darius Heumann tries his hand at an old-fashioned steering wheel on the bridge of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker during a public tour on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Crew of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker talk with Juneau residents stopping by to look at the ship on Thursday at the downtown cruise ship dock. Public tours of the vessel are being offered from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard icebreaker Healy stops in Juneau amidst fervor about homeporting newly purchased ship here

Captain talks about homeporting experience for Healy in Seattle; public tours of ship offered Friday.

Crew of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker talk with Juneau residents stopping by to look at the ship on Thursday at the downtown cruise ship dock. Public tours of the vessel are being offered from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard participates in the annual heat-and-beat on Coast Guard cutter Kukui on Wednesday, a competition where teams from different cutters heat up a pin in order for it to be smashed down and sealed tightly. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard members buoy each other up in annual training

The Buoy Tender Olympics teaches teamwork, cohesive training for cutters across the Pacific.

The U.S. Coast Guard participates in the annual heat-and-beat on Coast Guard cutter Kukui on Wednesday, a competition where teams from different cutters heat up a pin in order for it to be smashed down and sealed tightly. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Buoy tenders dock at the U.S. Coast Guard station in downtown Juneau during the summer of 2023. The dock and adjacent property is where the Coast Guard plans to place support infrastructure for an icebreaker homeported in Juneau. (Screenshot from U.S. Coast Guard video)

Getting icebreaker to Juneau will require lots of support work, may be slow process, officials say

Hope is Aiviq can arrive in 18-24 months, but Coast Guard has history of delays, Murkowski says.

Buoy tenders dock at the U.S. Coast Guard station in downtown Juneau during the summer of 2023. The dock and adjacent property is where the Coast Guard plans to place support infrastructure for an icebreaker homeported in Juneau. (Screenshot from U.S. Coast Guard video)
The Aiviq icebreaker, targeted by the U.S. Coast Guard for purchase and deployment in Alaska, completes a chartered refueling operation at Davis Research Station in Antarctica. (Kirk Yatras/Australian Antarctic Program)

It’s official: Private icebreaker acquired by Coast Guard will be homeported in Juneau

Vessel with up to 190 personnel expected to “reach initial operational capability in two years.”

The Aiviq icebreaker, targeted by the U.S. Coast Guard for purchase and deployment in Alaska, completes a chartered refueling operation at Davis Research Station in Antarctica. (Kirk Yatras/Australian Antarctic Program)
Firefighter Sylvester Olivares-Ramos bows down to give the U.S. Coast Guard softball team their first-place trophy in the Alaska Peace Officer Association’s charity softball tournament on Saturday that fundraises for Special Olympics Alaska. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Charity softball tournament catches more than $1,000 for Special Olympics Alaska

Alaska Peace Officers Association Capital City Chapter hosts “Guns Versus Hoses Charity Softball”

Firefighter Sylvester Olivares-Ramos bows down to give the U.S. Coast Guard softball team their first-place trophy in the Alaska Peace Officer Association’s charity softball tournament on Saturday that fundraises for Special Olympics Alaska. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a 420-foot icebreaker homeported in Seattle, breaks ice in support of scientific research in the Arctic Ocean during a 2006 cruise. The Healy is now on its way to Alaska and scheduled to complete three missions this year, including a sailing through the Northwest Passage to Greenland. (Petty Officer Second Class Prentice Danner/U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard icebreaker Healy headed to Alaska for three Arctic research missions

Activities will include cruise through the Northwest Passage to Greenland.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a 420-foot icebreaker homeported in Seattle, breaks ice in support of scientific research in the Arctic Ocean during a 2006 cruise. The Healy is now on its way to Alaska and scheduled to complete three missions this year, including a sailing through the Northwest Passage to Greenland. (Petty Officer Second Class Prentice Danner/U.S. Coast Guard)
The Aiviq icebreaker, targeted by the U.S. Coast Guard for purchase and deployment in Alaska, completes a chartered refueling operation at Davis Research Station in Antarctica. (Kirk Yatras / Australian Antarctic Program)

Juneau-based Coast Guard icebreaker in final budget bill as Congress tries to avoid shutdown

Murkowski, Sullivan say they don’t expect repeat of last minute-deal in ‘22 that sunk vessel’s funds.

The Aiviq icebreaker, targeted by the U.S. Coast Guard for purchase and deployment in Alaska, completes a chartered refueling operation at Davis Research Station in Antarctica. (Kirk Yatras / Australian Antarctic Program)