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Southeast Alaska News

28 Nov 2023

Allen Marine Tours to Repower Two Vessels with Scania Engines

(Photo: Allen Marine Tours)

Scania was selected by Allen Marine Tours to power a pair of their eco tour vessels. The two 78-foot QUAD powered vessels will each be repowered with Scania V8 DI16 082M, 800 HP engines delivered by Cascade Engine Center. The custom-built catamarans are capable of 30 plus knots at their full capacity of 150 passengers, and speeds in excess of 35 knots with a lighter load.“We have seen a lot of interest in our V8,16-liter engines by tour operators in ecologically sensitive areas like Alaska due to their low environmental impact…

06 May 2021

'Nuisance' Tug Scuttled off Alaskan Coast

The abandoned tugboat Lumberman was scuttled off the coast of Alaska after it was determined to pose a significant public safety risk. (Photo: City and Borough of Juneau)

A derelict tugboat abandoned near Juneau, Alaska since 2016, has been towed to sea and scuttled in the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Lumberman had been causing problems for locals since it was abandoned in the Gastineau channel five years ago, and the decision was made to dispose of the vessel at sea after the 107-foot steel hulled tugboat was determined to be derelict and a significant risk to public safety, according to the Coast Guard.The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ)…

18 Nov 2020

Resolve Marine Repositions Response Tug in Alaska

(Photo: Resolve Marine)

Marine salvage and emergence response group Resolve Marine said it repositioned its response tug Makushin Bay from Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Kodiak, Alaska where the growing need for maritime and response services will provide local vessel operators and owners with rapid response and cost efficiencies.Stationing the salvage and emergency response vessel in Kodiak with a 24/7 manned crew will improve response time and marine services along Alaska’s south coast, the company said.

18 Feb 2019

New Power for Alaskan Classic

The V/V LISERON in Southeast Alaska. Courtesy of The Boat Company

Thousands of people travel Alaska on mega-cruise ships each year, but only a handful get to cruise Alaskan waters on the immaculate M/V LISERON. Built in Seattle in 1952 by the US Navy as a minesweeper she was sold to France, but returned to Seattle in 1990 after being lovingly converted to yacht-class in Florida.The late Michael Allan McIntosh, philanthropist and environmentalist, founded The Boat Company in 1979, initially as a program of The McIntosh Foundation. The LISERON joined The Boat Company’s first vessel…

21 Nov 2018

Alaska Marine Lines Expands to Arctic Ports

Alaska marine transportation company Alaska Marine Lines said that it is expanding its service from Seattle and Anchorage to the Arctic Region in 2019.Bowhead Transport will provide the destination services at the North Slope villages of Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Utqiagvik (Barrow), and Kaktovik. Alaska Marine Lines will also service Deadhorse with its two annual sealifts.Bowhead, thru its teaming agreement with Alaska Marine Lines, will continue to participate in the door-to-shore service to the Arctic that it initiated over 30 years ago.The new stops will be added to Alaska Marine Lines' many ports of call, joining the major hubs of Naknek…

20 Oct 2017

Rob Nakama: From USCG to Foss Maritime

Rob Nakama (Photo: Saltchuk)

Just two weeks after accepting the U.S. Coast Guard’s congratulations on a military career spanning almost three decades, Rob Nakama drove from Washington D.C. to Seattle to join Foss Maritime as the company’s Manager of Contingency Planning and Emergency Response. “I’ve been in the military for the majority of my life; the transition has been surreal,” he said. Nakama was born in Hawaii, growing up on the island of Maui as the son of a taro farmer who worked for the Aloha Poi Factory.

31 Jul 2017

Man Charged with Murdering Wife on Cruise Ship

Emerald Princess (File photo: Princess Cruises)

A Utah man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife onboard the cruise ship Emerald Princess in Southeast Alaska. Kenneth Manzanares, 39, of Santa Clara, Utah, was charged by criminal complaint with the murder of his 39-year-old wife, Kristy, in their shared cruise ship cabin on July 25. According to the criminal complaint, Emerald Princess security and medical personnel responded to an incident in the cabin where Kristy was found deceased with a severe head wound. A witness observed Manzanares grab his wife’s body and drag her toward the balcony.

05 Jun 2017

Salvors to Raise Sunken Tug in Alaska

A crane barge that will be used to hoist a sunken tug in Sitka, Alaska has arrived to the wreck site. The evolution to raise the tug is expected to take up to 10 days, the U.S. Coast Guard said. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Sitka and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation have been monitoring the out-of-service tug Powhatan, which sank at a pier in Sitka, April 19 and slid approximately 300 yards down a bank ultimately settling in 160 to 180 feet of water. The tug's owner, Samson Tug and Barge Company, contracted Southeast Alaska Petroleum for pollution recovery and Alaska Commercial Divers to plug vents and survey the vessel underwater. Since the sinking, an estimated 400 gallons of mixed product has released from the sunken tug.

24 Apr 2017

Out of Service Tug Sinks in Alaska

An out of service tug has sunk at the Samson Tug and Barge Company pier in Sitka, Alaska. The 81-foot vessel Powhatan owned by Samson Tug and Barge Company sank at the pier on the evening of April 19 and subsequently slid under the pier approximately 200 yards along an underwater ledge. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Sitka and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation personnel are responding. Samson Tug and Barge Company is developing a salvage plan and has contracted Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization for oil recovery and Hanson Maritime to dive and survey the tug. The vessel, which has been out of service for over 10 years…

21 Apr 2017

Global Opens New Alaska Office

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has expanded its regional operations with the addition of a new office in Juneau, Alaska. The new Juneau office will support southeast Alaska through several of Global’s primary service lines: marine construction, marine salvage and emergency response, diving operations and more. Global has been providing marine services in southeast Alaska for years through its Anchorage and Pacific Northwest offices; the new Juneau office is being established in response to client requests for a dedicated base, which will bolster the capacity of operations in that region. Bill Akan, a longtime member of the Global team, will serve as Southeast Alaska Operations Coordinator for the new Juneau location. “I’m thrilled to be returning to Juneau with Global,” Akan said.

17 Feb 2017

Tug Grounding Causes Fuel Spill in Alaska

Emergency personnel continue their response to the tug boat Samson Mariner which ran aground and spilled fuel while towing a barge in the vicinity of Rosa Reef in north Tongass Narrows, Alaska, Wednesday evening. Approximately 1,100 gallons of diesel spilled from the tug prior to being patched by Alaska Commercial Divers Wednesday night. The Samson Mariner has been refloated and is anchored in Ward Cove alongside the barge it was towing. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew conducted an overflight with Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan personnel aboard to determine the extent of any possible sheen or environmental impacts. A sheen has been reported in the area and SEAPRO has been tasked with fuel containment and recovery using boom and absorbent pads.

25 Jul 2016

Cargo Barge Launched for Alaska Marine Lines

Skagway Provider was launched in Portland, Ore. on July 7 (Photo: The Greenbrier Companies)

Alaska Marine Lines celebrated the launch of its newest barge, Skagway Provider, at a ceremony July 7 at Gunderson Marine in Portland, Ore. where the vessel was constructed. The heavy deck cargo barge will make its maiden voyage from Seattle to Southeast Alaska July 29 and will begin serving Alaska Marine Lines customers on the Seattle to Southeast Alaska route. “We are proud to offer our customers additional capacity between Seattle and Southeast Alaska via the Skagway Provider,” said Kevin Anderson, president of Alaska Marine Lines.

26 Jan 2016

Jensen Maritime wins Design & Engineering Contract for U.S. Cruise Ships

Jensen Maritime was recently selected to provide detailed design and production engineering services for two, 100 passenger, U.S. flagged, coastal cruise ships for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. The twin screw diesel ships, will be built at the Washington state shipyard of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) and have planned delivery dates of second quarter 2017 and 2018. Once complete, the $94.8 million duo will operate tours between Baja, Costa Rica and Panama during the winter months and southeast Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Canada during the summer months. For this project, Jensen will utilize its innovative 3D modeling capabilities to allow Lindblad the unique opportunity to confirm the vessel’s layout, maintenance envelopes and operational access prior to construction.

23 Nov 2015

Cadmatic Used for Alaska Ferry Design

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has awarded the Alaska Class Ferry project to Vigor Alaska shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska, where construction is currently underway. Providing production design for the ferry is Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy Glosten, who along with Vigor Alaska, are two of Cadmatic’s newest customers in the U.S. Delivering its design in the imperial unit versions of both Cadmatic Hull and Outfitting, Glosten’s production design of the Alaska Class Ferry represents the premiere application of Cadmatic 3D CAD/CAM engineering software in the northern U.S. The 280-foot, 300-passenger, 53-vehicle Alaska Class Ferry will primarily transit the Lynn Canal and shorter AMHS routes in Southeast Alaska.

18 Sep 2015

Responders Monitoring Sunken Tug in Alaska

A Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew and members of the Sector Juneau response department deploy containment boom around the sunken tug Challenger in Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska, Sept. 13, 2015. The vessel sunk the day before while anchored in the channel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Grant DeVuyst)

Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Natural Resources joined Coast Guard Sector Juneau personnel in responding to the tugboat, Challenger, which sank in Juneau's Gastineau channel September 12, 2015. Global Diving & Salvage and Southeast Alaska Lighterage (SEAL) were contracted and have removed all accessible pollution sources and hazards from the vessel. SEAL replaced the boom around the vessel today. The Coast Guard and DEC will continue monitoring for any further oil seepage and environmental impacts.

03 Sep 2015

Fishing Vessel Sinks, Spills Oil in Alaska

Boom surrounds the sunken vessel Pacific Venture near The Twins, Sitka, Alaska (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lewis Beck)

A 58-foot fishing vessel ran aground, sunk and spilled oil in Sitka, Alaska, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. No injuries have been reported, and there have been no confirmed reports of impacts to wildlife. The fishing vessel Pacific Venture, a 58-foot seiner, ran aground Tuesday evening and subsequently rolled over around 2 a.m. Wednesday, sinking in approximately 25 feet of water in vicinity of The Twins, roughly half a mile off the mouth of the Indian River in Sitka. The vessel’s owner reports 600 gallons of diesel fuel and 70 gallons of hydraulic and lube oils were on board…

27 Jun 2015

Crews Recover Bodies of 9 Victims of Alaska Plane Crash

Emergency crews recovered on Friday the bodies of nine people from the wreckage of a sightseeing plane that remains teetering on a steep rock face after crashing in Alaska, a rescue official said. Eight passengers and the pilot were killed when the aircraft, an excursion flight booked via a cruise ship, went down during a tour of the Misty Fjords area of southeast Alaska on Thursday afternoon, flight operator Promech Air said. A helicopter pilot spotted the wreckage against a granite rock face about 800 feet (240 meters) above Ella Lake, according to an Alaska State Trooper report. The bodies were recovered by a team of eight crew members…

24 Feb 2015

USCG, Alaska State Investigate Spill near Auke Bay

Coast Guard Sector Juneau and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation personnel are investigating the spill of approximately of 50-100 gallons of petroleum products at the Auke Bay Harbor, Monday. Southeast Alaska Lighterage has been contracted to contain and mitigate the spill and they have deployed more than 1000-feet of boom and other absorbent materials to contain and mitigate the spread of the spill. Coast Guard Sector Juneau received a report of a petroleum spill in Auke Bay Harbor Sunday evening and dispatched investigators. “Our primary concern is containing the spill and mitigating damage to the environment,” said Lt. Mickey Sanders, with the Coast Guard Sector Juneau Response Department. The cause of the spill is under investigation.

22 Sep 2014

Alaska Class Ferries to Be Built in Ketchikan

An announcement was made September 20 that Alaska's new ferries will be built in Southeast Alaska. Adam Beck, President of Vigor Alaska and Alaska Governor Parnell sign the agreement. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Announced by Governor Sean Parnell Saturday, September 20, the State of Alaska and Vigor Industrial have reached a final agreement to construct two Alaska Class Ferries at Vigor Alaska in Ketchikan. The vessels will be the first Alaska Marine Highway System ferries to be built in Alaska. “Here we are today to launch this shipyard to a new level, a new level of good jobs, a new level of growth for Ketchikan businesses that are going to supply the shipyard and its workers,” Governor…

19 Nov 2014

Lynden to Provide Barge Service for Tulsequah Mine Project

Lynden Logistics, LLC signed a letter of intent with Chieftain Metals Corp. to provide barge services in support of the construction and production of the Tulsequah Mine in British Columbia. The services will include the barging of materials and supplies up the Taku River to the mine site and, when the mine is in production, the barge shipment of concentrate down the Taku River for transport to smelters in Asia. The polymetallic concentrate will be loaded at the mine site in bags and placed in sealed marine containers for the entire transportation move. "It is exciting to see another mine project proceed toward development with economic benefits for Southeast Alaska…

29 Dec 2014

Two Rescued from Grounded Skiff near Alaska

Image: USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man and woman after their 17-foot skiff ran aground near Sitka, Alaska Saturday. Coast Guard command center personnel at Sector Juneau received a 911 call relayed by the Sitka Fire Department concerning the skiff and its occupants after it grounded near Kanga Bay 10 miles south of Sitka Saturday night. It was reported that both passengers were ejected from the skiff when it struck the shore and the male passenger had suffered injuries to his head and face. The skiff then drifted away from the couple before they could secure it.

13 Jan 2015

Taming the Arctic, One Ferry at a Time

Ferries for Alaska’s harsh conditions, built in Alaska by Alaskans. Vigor and Elliott Bay Design Group team up for a winning combination as the new Alaska Class Ferry Project takes shape. With its network of islands and fjords, rugged mountains and spectacular tidewater glaciers, Alaska’s Inside Passage may make a perfect summer cruise destination, but locals can’t choose when they travel. So when Alaskans need transport, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) must find a way to move them.

15 Jan 2015

Alaska Marine Lines Lowers Fuel Surcharge

Alaska Marine Lines has filed with the Surface Transportation Board to decrease the fuel surcharge from 31% to 29% on shipments to, from and within Central Alaska and Prince William Sound locations. The line has also filed to decrease the fuel surcharge from 14% to 7% on shipments to, from and within Southeast Alaska. The decreases will become effective on January 25, 2015. Alaska Marine Lines said it will continue to monitor fuel prices on a daily basis and will adjust the fuel surcharge when necessary.