17th District Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

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Date: August 9, 2005
Contact: Petty Officer Thomas McKenzie
(907) 463-2065
After 4 p.m. Alaska Standard Time, (907) 463-2000

Press Release

Coast Guard to hold annual Buoy Tender Roundup Olympics

JUNEAU, Alaska - The 17th District Coast Guard's annual Buoy Tender Roundup Olympics is scheduled for Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Coast Guard station here.

This year's roundup brings five Alaska-based Coast Guard buoy tenders and one Washington-based buoy tender together from Kodiak, Cordova, Petersburg, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Everett, Wash.,  A Canadian buoy tender is also participating for a week of training, exchanging ideas and camaraderie. Participating Coast Guard cutters include Spar, Sycamore, Maple, Elderberry, Henry Blake, and Anthony Petit.  The  Canadian ship is the  Bartlett, a 187-foot buoy tender and multi-purpose vessel home-ported in Victoria.

The event allows approximately 200 buoy tender sailors the opportunity to receive specialized training during the week in areas such as engine repair, buoy maintenance, first aid and more.  Due to the remote locations in which the tenders operate, this mission-essential training would be nearly impossible to complete otherwise.

Events scheduled to take place include a survival suit relay race and a tug-o-war.  Winning crews from each of the seven participating tenders will have their names engraved on plaques for each event.

Crews aboard Coast Guard buoy tenders in Alaska service 1,250 navigational aids along 33,000 miles of coastline while actively participating in search and rescue, environmental protection, and law enforcement missions.

The Buoy Tender Olympics is hosted by the Coast Guard Cutter Anthony Petit, a 175-foot Keeper Class Coastal Class Buoy Tenders based in Ketchikan.

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