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Alex Haley News

30 Dec 2023

Burning Vessel Diverted to Dutch Harbor, Alaska

Source: US Coast Guard

The US Coast Guard is continuing to assess a fire reported on the 410-foot general cargo vessel Genius Star XI off Dutch Harbor, Alaska.The vessel is carrying lithium-ion batteries, and the fire started on Christmas Day in cargo hold No. 1. The crew released carbon dioxide into the hold and sealed it over concerns of an explosion.The Coast Guard then diverted the vessel to Dutch Harbor while an HC-130 airplane from Air Station Kodiak and Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC-39) were dispatched to assist.The Coast Guard confirmed there are no injuries to the 19 crewmembers.

28 Dec 2023

USCG's New Cutters Can’t Arrive Soon Enough

(Photo: Brandon Giles / U.S. Coast Guard)

The much-needed replacement for the U.S. Coast Guard’s long-serving medium endurance cutters (WMEC) took a giant step closer to joining the fleet as the first Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) was launched and christened at Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) in Panama City, Fla. on October 27, 2023.The future USCGC Argus (WMSM 915) was christened by the ship’s sponsor, Captain (Ret.) Beverly Kelley, the first woman to command a U.S. military vessel, the 95-foot patrol boat, USCGC Cape Newagen (WPB 95318).

13 Jan 2023

Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley Repairs Completed

The Coast Guard Alex Haley sits dry docked for repairs and maintenance in Seattle, Washington, Dec. 13, 2022. While in dry dock, the crew and contractors successfully completed more than $6 million worth of repairs. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to homeport at Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska, on Thursday, following an extended seven-month dry dock maintenance period in Seattle.While in dry dock, the crew and contractors successfully completed more than $6 million worth of repairs.The engineering department oversaw 76 work items including major overhauls on the cutter’s controllable pitch propeller system, speed reducers, rudders, and boilers, along with inspections of fuel, sewage, and water tanks.

25 Sep 2017

Man Medevaced from Chinese Research Vessel near Alaska

U.S. Coast Guard photo

A man with a broken arm was medevaced from the Chinese research vessel Xue Long, 15 nautical miles from Nome, Alaska, Saturday morning. A smallboat crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley embarked the man and transferred him to the Alex Haley for further transfer to Nome. Coast Guard District 17 command center watchstanders received a relay notification from a Coast Guard liaison to China who reported a Chinese national aboard the Xue Long suffered a broken arm while conducting research in the Arctic Ocean.

23 Aug 2016

USCG Evaluates Comms Equipment in Alaska

Coast Guard R&D Center researchers board a helicopter as they prepare to evaluate remote Alaskan sites to establish a communications relay network. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Research & Development Center staff)

At nearly 663,000 square miles, Alaska is the biggest state in the United States and over twice the size of Texas. The state’s size and the remoteness of its northern communities make emergency response challenging. In response to growing economic and tourism interests in the Arctic, Coast Guard District 17, Alaska Command and the State of Alaska and other state and federal partners will conduct a mass rescue exercise called Operation Arctic Chinook in Tin City and Kotzebue August 23-24.

10 Feb 2015

CGC Alex Haley Returns from 70-day Bering Sea Patrol

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to Kodiak Sunday following a successful 70-day deployment patrolling more than 10,800 miles throughout the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Alex Haley, known as the “Bulldog of the Bering,” departed Kodiak on Dec. 1, 2014, and spent the last 70 days conducting law enforcement and community outreach operations in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. During the deployment, Alex Haley’s crew performed 41 at sea domestic fisheries enforcement boardings and covered more than 5,000 square miles in search efforts for the sunken Korean fishing vessel 501 Oryong. The Alex Haley crew visited Akutan, Alaska, on Dec. 23, 2014. The crew disembarked Santa who delivered warm winter clothes collected by the crew and the base chapel to the community.

17 Dec 2014

USCG Provides SAR Planning Support to Korea

Coast Guard search and rescue crews were relieved by Republic of Korea assets on Saturday in their search for 26 crewmembers from the fishing vessel 501 Oryong that capsized Nov. 30, 2014, near Chukotka, Russia, in the Bering Sea. The Coast Guard completed more than 24 searches covering more than 4,576 square miles utilizing two cutters, two helicopters, and multiple airplanes. Coast Guard crews will continue to partner with the Republic of Korea to provide search and rescue planning support. "The sympathies of the Coast Guard go out to those impacted by this tragic maritime loss," said Rear Adm. Dan Abel, commander, Coast Guard 17th District. "To the families of those known to have perished, we grieve with you.

16 Dec 2014

Korean Fishing Vessel Sinks, 26 Still Missing

USCG photo by Dale Arnould

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) search and rescue crews were relieved by Republic of Korea assets on Saturday in their search for 26 crewmembers from the fishing vessel 501 Oryong that capsized Nov. 30, 2014, near Chukotka, Russia, in the Bering Sea. The USCG completed more than 24 searches covering more than 4,576 square miles utilizing two cutters, two helicopters, and multiple airplanes. Coast Guard crews will continue to partner with the Republic of Korea to provide search and rescue planning support. Two Republic of Korea Navy P-3 Orion aircraft joined the search for survivors on Dec. 6, 2014.

18 Mar 2014

USCG: The Fleet Faces Forward

USCG Cutter Sapelo and the Royal Netherlands Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HNLMS Holland search Caribbean Sea waters for bales of contraband jettisoned by Dominican drug smugglers.

The numerous cutters and craft of the U.S. Coast Guard —from the sail training ship Eagle to the large oceangoing patrol ships; from polar icebrakers to small utility boats — form a formidable fleet to meet the many challenging assignments undertaken by the service. In 2014 the Coast Guard continues its recapitalization program with its National Security Cutter (NSC), Fast Response Cutter (FPC) and Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). The service plans to procure 91 cutters (8 NSCs, 25 OPCs and 58 FRCs) to replace are 90 aging cutters and patrol boats. According to a Feb.

26 Nov 2013

IMO Honors Acts of Bravery

USCG aviation survival technicians Randy Haba and Daniel Todd were awarded for the rescue of 14 crew members aboard HMS Bounty during Hurricane Sandy.

American rescuers and a Chinese seafarer have been presented with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea 2013, during a special ceremony held on November 25, 2013 at IMO Headquarters in London. Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Randy J. Haba and Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Daniel J. Todd of the United States Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, were nominated by the Government of the United States…

08 Jan 2013

Wayward Rig 'Kulluk' Safely Arrives Kiliuda Bay

Logos courtesy of Unified Command

The 'Kulluk', towed by the 'AHTS Aiviq' has arrived in the safe harbor for assessment of any damage caused by its recent grounding. The Kulluk was refloated from its Ocean Bay position, off Sitkalidak Island, late Jan. 6, and will remain connected to its support vessels while it undergoes assessment in Kiliuda Bay, located about 30 miles north of Ocean Bay. The final location for assessment within the Bay will be determined by environmental conditions, including weather. The Coast…

07 Jan 2013

Towline Aboard Stranded 'Kulluk' Rig

Rig 'Kulluk' Aground: Photo credit Shell

Aerial and onboard inspections confirm the vessel remains firmly aground & stable on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, with no sign of leakage of pollutants. Naval architects on the survey team confirm the Kulluk is structurally sound and fit for towing to safe harbor in nearby Kiliuda Bay. The exact timing for potential towing activity is dependent on weather, tides and operational readiness. Once the Unified Command team managing the incident confirms it is safe and ready to move forward, the recovery operation will begin.

01 Jan 2013

Gulf of Alaska Storm Rig Under Tow Again

'Kulluk': Photo credit USCG

Battling the storm a tug and a support vessel succeed in getting lines aboard the abandoned Shell drill rig 'Kulluk'. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to the Kulluk’s location Sunday evening, after repairing their fouled port propeller in Kodiak, and relieved the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Spar as on scene commander. The crews of the response vessels Alert and Aiviq re-established the tow of the Kulluk Monday morning and plan on towing the mobile drill…

30 Dec 2012

Tugboat Engine Failure Imperils Alaska Drillship Tow

'Kulluk' & Tugboats: Photo credit USCG

Tugboat 'Aiviq' experienced total engine failure, casting it & the Shell drilling rig  'Kulluk' adrift in stong winds & heavy seas, S. of Kodiak Island. The US Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley was sent to assist, establishing a tandem tow of both Aivig and Kulluk, which effectively prevented their drift towards shoal water, then, due to the severe weather the tow-line parted and became entangled in one of the cutter's propellors. The USCG recalled the vessel to base. Meanwhile the Royal Dutch Shell despatched tugboat…

02 Oct 2012

VT Halter Marine Partners with DCNS for U.S. Coast Guard

VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a subsidiary of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), has announced  its partnership agreement with DCNS to submit a proposal to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the design and construction of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). VT Halter Marine will be the prime contractor and DCNS will be its exclusive subcontractor for the OPC platform design. USCG stated in its Request for Proposal for the OPC released on September 25, 2012, that it anticipates to acquire as many as 25 OPCs to replace an aging fleet of 28 Medium Endurance Cutters consisting of 14 Reliance class cutters (210ft/64m) built between 1964 and 1969…

16 Jul 2012

Arctic Shield 2012: USCG Mounts Historic Arctic Effort

While it seems that half the world is monitoring the oil and gas exploration activities of Royal Dutch Shell (Shell Oil) on the United States outer continental shelf (OCS) in waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the north coast of Alaska, another historic event is occurring in those same waters: Arctic Shield 2012. The US Coast Guard is assembling its largest ever effort in the Arctic during the period July through October 2012. The Coast Guard has been gradually expanding its presence in the Arctic over the past four years.

10 Feb 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – February 10

1840- A House resolution was introduced to inquire into transferring the Revenue Marine to the Navy. 1992- Retired Coast Guard Chief Journalist Alex Haley, internationally noted author and the first person to ever hold that rate in the Coast Guard, crossed the bar. 1995-The 689-foot tank ship Mormac Star, carrying more than 4.7 million gallons of Jet A fuel and nearly 5.7 million gallons of number 2 diesel fuel, ran aground in Sandy Hook Channel, two miles off the beaches of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, spilling 33,600 gallons. COTP New York responded. Other responding units included Stations New York and Sandy Hook, VTS New York, and the Atlantic Area Strike Team. The spill was successfully contained and the vessel salvaged.

06 Jan 2011

Inside Look at the USCG Response to the Golden Sea

The Kodiak-based Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley escorts the 738-foot cargo vessel Golden Seas while under tow to Dutch Harbor by the tug Tor Viking II Dec. 5, 2010, 50 miles west southwest of Dutch Harbor in the Pacific Ocean. The Golden Seas requested a tow after suffering a turbo-charge failure Dec. 3 limiting power and steerage. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

Fierce Arctic winds and towering 30-foot seas assaulted a 738-foot freighter with 20 crewmembers aboard finding themselves helplessly adrift with limited engine power in the midst of an ice-cold storm 70 miles north of Adak. Trouble loomed on the horizon as they were drifting toward land carrying more than 132,277 pounds of rape seed used to make canola oil, 450,000 gallons of fuel oil and 11,700 gallons of diesel fuel with the only help more than 400 miles away. In the midst of the Golden Seas’ voyage to the United Arab Emirates the crew experienced a turbo-charger failure Dec. 3 2010.

08 Dec 2010

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – December 8

1904-An Executive Order extended the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service to the noncontiguous territory of the Midway Islands. 1941-Coast Guardsmen seized all nine Finnish vessels that were currently in U.S. ports and placed them in "protective custody" to "prevent the commission of any acts of sabotage" on orders from the Navy Department. Twenty-four hours later the Coast Guard removed the crews from each of the vessels. This action was ordered soon after the break in diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Finland. The following Finish vessels were seized: SS Olivia, at Boston, Massachusetts; SS Kurikka, SS Jourtanes, and SS Saimaa at New York…

09 Jun 2008

Coast Guard Yard Under New Command

Captain John Kaplan recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in . He is the 39th Commanding Officer in the 109-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the United States Coast Guard. Captain Kaplan took charge of the Coast Guard Yard from Captain Stephen Duca who had served as the shipyard’s Commanding Officer, May 2005 - May 2008. Captain Duca retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 27 years active duty service. Captain Kaplan assumed command of the shipyard from his assignment as Yard Industrial Manager, a position held since 2005. Captain Kaplan graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. Upon commissioning, he reported as a Student Engineer aboard the U.S.

10 Jun 2008

Coast Guard Yard Under New Command

Captain John Kaplan recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in . He is the 39 Commanding Officer in the 109-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the United States Coast Guard. Captain Kaplan took charge of the Coast Guard Yard from Captain Stephen Duca who had served as the shipyard’s Commanding Officer, May 2005 - May 2008. Captain Duca retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 27 years active duty service. Captain Kaplan assumed command of the shipyard from his assignment as Yard Industrial Manager, a position held since 2005.

07 Dec 2009

This Day in Coast Guard History – Dec. 8

1904-An Executive Order extended the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service to the noncontiguous territory of the Midway Islands. 1941-Coast Guardsmen seized all nine Finnish vessels that were currently in U.S. ports and placed them in "protective custody" to "prevent the commission of any acts of sabotage" on orders from the Navy Department. Twenty-four hours later the Coast Guard removed the crews from each of the vessels. This action was ordered soon after the break in diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Finland. The following Finish vessels were seized: SS Olivia, at Boston, Massachusetts; SS Kurikka, SS Jourtanes, and SS Saimaa at New York…

09 Feb 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – Feb. 10

1840- A House resolution was introduced to inquire into transferring the Revenue Marine to the Navy. 1992- Retired Coast Guard Chief Journalist Alex Haley, internationally noted author and the first person to ever hold that rate in the Coast Guard, crossed the bar. 1995-The 689-foot tank ship Mormac Star, carrying more than 4.7 million gallons of Jet A fuel and nearly 5.7 million gallons of number 2 diesel fuel, ran aground in Sandy Hook Channel, two miles off the beaches of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, spilling 33,600 gallons. COTP New York responded. Other responding units included Stations New York and Sandy Hook, VTS New York, and the Atlantic Area Strike Team. The spill was successfully contained and the vessel salvaged.