JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard will join the rest of the nation in observing National Safe Boating Week starting May 19, 2012.

National Safe Boating Week is lead by the North American Safe Boating Campaign, and their slogan for the event is “Ready, set, wear it!”

Throughout the state of Alaska, Coast Guard active duty personnel and Auxiliarists will be hosting a variety of events to promote boating safety.

The use of life jackets, emergency beacons, flares, float plans and appropriate communications devices are advised for anyone operating watercraft. To ensure compliance with boating safety requirements, Coast Guard Auxiliarists will be offering boat inspections and safety classes in many coastal Alaskan towns. For times and locations click here.

"Alaska is a beautiful place to live. Its vastness offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for people to participate in," said Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, commander, 17th Coast Guard District. "I encourage anyone who plans on going out on the water to wear life jackets at all times."

More information on the importance of boating safety and resources detailing steps that can be taken to minimize risk on the water can be found at safeboatingcampaign.com and uscgboating.org. In addition, radio-PSAs with tips for safe boating are available here:

Kids Don't Float

EPIRB and PLB

General PSA

Lifejacket and Radio

Float Plan

For more information about boating safety events being held in Alaska, please contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant DeVuyst at 907-463-2065.

SITKA, Alaska – Coast Guard Air Station Sitka is scheduled to hold a change of command ceremony where Cmdr. Ward Sandlin will relieve Cmdr. Doug Cameron as Air Station Sitka’s commanding officer Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the hangar.

Sandlin is arriving from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., where he served as the Operations Officer.

Sandlin's prior assignments include a variety of operational and staff assignments. After graduating from Harding University in 1991 and Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in 1992, he served at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington as a staff officer in the Marine Safety Planning Division. He was then selected for flight training at Naval Flight School, Pensacola, Fla. He served operational tours at Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and Air Station Kodiak, before being sent to Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala. as an instructor pilot. Following his tour in Mobile, he again served in Coast Guard Headquarters as the HH-60J Platform Manager before transferring to Clearwater.

Cameron has led Air Station Sitka since June, 2010. His next assignment will be as the Chief of Incident Management for the 5th Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, VA.

Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, commander, 17th Coast Guard District, will preside over the ceremony.

For more information, please contact Lt. David Birky at 907-966-5613

JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot Response Boat – Medium crew escorts the first cruise ship of the season into port May 3, 2012. In addition to Station Juneau Coast Guardsmen, many Sector Juneau personnel are involved in ensuring safety aboard cruise ships in Southeast Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant DeVuyst.

JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard Station Juneau crewmembers medevaced a 66-year-old female from the cruise ship Carnival Spirit in Gastineau Channel Thursday evening.

The crew of the Carnival Spirit contacted the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center requesting medical assistance for one of their passengers. The watchstanders diverted a nearby Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew to assist.

“Fortunately, the Station Juneau crew was underway nearby conducting night training and were able to be alongside the Carnival Spirit within minutes of the call,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Chris Carson, a communications unit controller for Sector Juneau. “Coast Guard crews are trained to respond to a variety of situations. The boat crew was able to transition from training mode to response mode to medevac the passenger."

The boat crew transported the patient to Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel at the Marine Park Dock for further treatment.

For more information, please contact Lt.j.g. James Dooley at 907-463-2838.

JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew medevaced three crewmembers off the Seattle-based fishing vessel Alaska Juris 80 miles north of Cold Bay Thursday.

The aircrew safely hoisted the three crewmembers from the 218-foot catcher/processor, where they were reportedly exposed to an ammonia leak on the vessel, and then transported them to Cold Bay where a Kodiak-based Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew was waiting to take them to Anchorage for medical attention.

The three crewmembers were listed in good condition and are expected arrive in Anchorage at 10:20 p.m.

"Having the cutter Munro already staged in the Bering Sea minimized response time for this case," said Petty Officer 1st Class Mark Leuchte, a search and rescue controller with the 17th Coast Guard District. "We will continue to monitor the status of the fishing vessel as it heads to Dutch Harbor for repairs."

Coast Guard personnel responded after Sector Anchorage watchstanders received the report of an ammonia leak Thursday afternoon. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was also deployed from Air Station Kodiak to help support the Dolphin and Hercules crews if needed.

The initial press release can be viewed here.

For more information, please contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant DeVuyst at 907-321-1866.

JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard personnel are responding to reports of an ammonia leak and crewmembers suffering from ammonia exposure on the fishing vessel Alaska Juris 80 miles north of Cold Bay Thursday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter deployed on the Kodiak-based Coast Guard Cutter Munro are responding to the distressed vessel.

“We are sending multiple air assets to ensure the most efficient response possible,” said Lt. Lane Munroe, a watchstander at the 17th Coast Guard District command center. “Getting on scene quickly and assisting the crew of the vessel is our number one priority.”

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received the report of the ammonia leak at 12:38 p.m. and air assets are expected to arive on scene at 5 p.m.

For more information contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant Devuyst at 907-321-1866

KODIAK, Alaska — Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak positioned assets in Cordova in preparation for the upcoming spring and summer fishing seasons in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.

Air station personnel deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and support crew to Cordova on April 30, in an effort to reduce search and rescue response times during a known period of increased maritime activity.

The Coast Guard will alternate between an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crews from May through September. The forward deployed crews will receive logistical support from Air Station Kodiak based HC-130 Hercules aircrews throughout their deployment. Additional Coast Guard aircraft remain in Kodiak to respond to search and rescue cases which may arise elsewhere in the state.

"Having the Coast Guard Air Station helicopter crews forward deployed to Cordova essentially splits the air station's area of responsibility into two, helping our response times to be more rapid and effective in the Prince William Sound and Gulf of Alaska areas," said Lt. Mark Heussner, an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter pilot. "Even during the summer time when the weather is warmer it is still vital that rescue crews are able to respond to a maritime emergency quickly because the waters of Alaska are still frigid and dangerous to mariners."

Forward deployed aircrews from Air Station Kodiak saved seven lives and assisted 28 others during the 2011 Cordova deployment.

For more information please contact Public Affairs Detachment Kodiak at 907-487-5700.

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew rescued two Cold Bay residents 11 miles northwest of Cold Bay Monday.

Coast Guard District 17 watchstanders received a phone call from a family member at 11:50 p.m. Sunday reporting the two men overdue from a beachcombing trip to Izembek Lagoon.

The watchstanders directed the launch of the rescue helicopter crew, which is forward deployed on the Coast Guard Cutter Munro, to conduct a search. The rescue crew hoisted the two men at 2:53 a.m. from the beach in good condition with no reported injuries and took them to Cold Bay.

"The two men filed a detailed float plan with friends and family with the time they were leaving and returning, which resulted in them being found quickly," said Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Roberto, command duty officer with the District 17 command center. "The Coast Guard highly recommends that anytime mariners decide to get underway that they file a float plan with friends, family and their local harbormaster. A float plan should include departure and return time information, number of people onboard and intended routes and destinations."

The weather at the time of the rescue was report as winds of 12 mph with an air temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

For more information contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally at 907-321-4176.

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a fisherman from the 110-foot fishing vessel Bering Leader 57 miles northwest of Cold Bay Tuesday.

Coast Guard 17th District watchstanders received a call from Health Force Partners personnel in Seattle at 8:02 a.m. requesting a medevac of the 39-year-old crewman reportedly suffering from stroke-like symptoms. The watchstanders directed the launch of the Jayhawk crew. The rescue helicopter crew safely hoisted the patient from the vessel and is transporting him to Cold Bay. After landing in Cold Bay he will be transfered to Guardian Lifeflight who will fly him to Anchorage for further medical treatment

"Coast Guard helicopter crews are trained to respond safely and rapidly to assist mariners in distress regardless of the situation," said Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Ihle, a search and rescue controller with District 17. "When it comes to medevacs the Coast Guard works closely with emergency medical services to provide expeditious care."

The weather at the time of the medevac was reportedly winds of 15 mph with one foot seas.

For more information contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally at 907-321-4176.

The above map shows the approximate location of the fishing vessel Island Dancer 45 miles southeast of Juneau during a medevac of an ill crewman April 29, 2012. Map Courtesy Google Earth.

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a fisherman from the 68-foot fishing vessel Island Dancer in Seymour Canal on the east side of Admiralty Island Sunday.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received a request from the Island Dancer crew at 3:52 p.m. for a medevac of a 45-year-old crewman reportedly suffering from seizures. Coast Guard District 17 watchstanders directed the launch of the Jayhawk crew to respond. The rescue helicopter crew safely hoisted the patient from the vessel and delivered him to awaiting emergency medical crews in Juneau for further transport to Bartlett Regional Hospital at 7:30 p.m.

"The Coast Guard works diligently with our medical partners throughout the state and the fishing fleets to safeguard the lives of mariners," said Lt. Robert Baysen, District 17 command duty officer. "Our helicopter crew's rapid response in the event of a medical emergency at-sea can mean the difference between life and death in many cases."

The weather at the time of the medevac was reportedly winds of 23 mph with seas of 3 to 4 feet and light rain. 

The above map shows the approximate location of the grounded pleasure craft Tailfeather prior to refloating April 26, 2012. Map Courtesy Google Earth.

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Station Ketchikan 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew refloated and escorted the 30-foot pleasure craft Tailfeather to Ketchikan Thursday. 

Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received a call over VHF-FM Channel 16 at 12:50 p.m. from the operator of the vessel reporting that they were aground in Foggy Bay 35 miles southeast of Ketchikan with two people aboard. 

The Coast Guard responded by issuing an urgent marine information broadcast requesting assistance of any mariners in the area and launched the MLB crew from Station Ketchikan. The rescue boat arrived on scene at 2:41 p.m. and assisted the Tailfeather crew to refloat the vessel. One Coast Guardsman remained aboard the Tailfeather with a dewatering pump ready while the MLB crew escorted the vessel safely back to Ketchikan arriving at 5:50 p.m. 

"The crew used their VHF radio to contact the Coast Guard. We recommend carrying multiple forms of communication with you when boating in Alaska," said Lt. Nate Sargent, Sector Juneau command duty officer. "Food and water as well as warm clothing for the constantly changing weather conditions is also a good idea."