U.S. Coast Guard

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)
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)
In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues capsized boater on Shelter Island

Wind gusts were up to 45 mph.

In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)
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. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

One-of-a-kind Coast Guard icebreaker visits Juneau on way home

The Coast Guard’s only medium icebreaker swings through Juneau.

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. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)
Wayne Smallwood lines up with the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans honor guard to lead dance groups parade through downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

As the ice melts, military ambitions in Alaska heat up

Russian encroachment in Alaska airspace is also a growing issue.

Wayne Smallwood lines up with the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans honor guard to lead dance groups parade through downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter makes an approach on their return to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, June 5, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage.)

Petersburg man struggled to save companion in boating accident

One survivor held on to the other until he was rescued.

An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter makes an approach on their return to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, June 5, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage.)
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.

A diagram of the whaleship Essex, homeported in Nantucket, Massachusetts, before she was sank by a whale in the Pacific. The diagram was drawn by Thomas Nickerson, a survivor of the wreck. (Courtesy photo | Nantucket Historical Association)

What Alaska can learn from the sinking of the Essex

The sea is merciless, but technology can be a lifesaver.

A diagram of the whaleship Essex, homeported in Nantucket, Massachusetts, before she was sank by a whale in the Pacific. The diagram was drawn by Thomas Nickerson, a survivor of the wreck. (Courtesy photo | Nantucket Historical Association)
Machinery Technician 2nd Class Anthony Delorenzo, Coast Guardsman stationed at Coast Guard Station Juneau, displays his tattoos Oct. 4, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Art on hand: Coast Guard to allow limited hand, finger tattoos with new policy

The Coast Guard is adapting to modern attitudes toward body art.

Machinery Technician 2nd Class Anthony Delorenzo, Coast Guardsman stationed at Coast Guard Station Juneau, displays his tattoos Oct. 4, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Airman Dominik Vancini, front, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Mariaah Romo-Cosgrove chock and chain an MH-65D, attached to Alaska Patrol Division of Air Station Kodiak, on the flight deck of San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson)

Coast Guard training with Marines and Navy in Alaska exercise

This is the largest-ever exercise of its kind.

Airman Dominik Vancini, front, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Mariaah Romo-Cosgrove chock and chain an MH-65D, attached to Alaska Patrol Division of Air Station Kodiak, on the flight deck of San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson)