Yakutat News

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…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced over $653 million to fund 41 port improvement projects across the nation under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).The investments—part of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in history, nearly $17 billion through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—are intended to help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) today announced the immediate designation of four new Marine Highway Projects as part of the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). Projects in North Carolina, Alaska, and Puerto Rico will receive these designations. They can now apply for record levels of funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help address supply chain challenges.A Marine Highway Project is a planned service, or expansion of an existing service, on a designated Marine Highway Route.

Admiral James Steele Gracey, USCG (retired), 17th Commandant of the Coast Guard, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2020, in Falls Church, Va., at the age of 92.Born in Newton, Mass. in 1927, Adm. Gracey graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1949. Adm. Gracey was a 1956 graduate of the Harvard Graduate School where he earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration.His career included diverse tours both ashore and afloat, including Commanding Officer, LORAN Station Ocean Cape…

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. of Seattle, Wash., recently delivered the P/V Bering, a 50’ x 15.5’ pilot vessel to the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association (SWAPA). Bering will operate in the coastal areas of South Central Alaska. After acceptance of the Bering, the SWAPA crew and a Kvichak technician departed Seattle and began transiting north to Valdez, Alaska. The Bering’s delivery encompassed 1350 nautical miles averaging 25 knots over five days (53.9 hours run time on the engines). Weather conditions were generally favorable, however Johnstone Strait in B.C.

The Coast Guard Communications Station in Kodiak received a mayday call from the tender, relayed by the fishing vessel Heidi Linea, reporting that they had experienced a loss of steering in 20-foot seas. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Cordova to respond. Later, the vessel St. Joseph was confirmed aground between Yakutat and Kayak Island on the Gulf of Alaska. An overflight revealed that the vessel was on the beach and a vehicle and portable storage tank were dislodged from the aft deck of the vessel and thrown ashore. The St. Joseph reportedly has 1,400 gallons of diesel aboard but responders report that there are no signs of pollution at this time.

The Coast Guard is investigating an allision between the 935-ft cruise ship Westerdam and ice in the vicinity of Yakutat Bay Wednesday, May 11. The Westerdam was reportedly maneuvering through ice near Hubbard Glacier Tuesday evening when it sustained damage approximately 15 feet below the waterline. The hull was reportedly not breached and no injuries or pollution were reported. The Westerdam continued on her voyage to Sitka, where she was met by Coast Guard officials.

Photo Credit: USCG Coast Guard crews from Air Station Sitka and Marine Safety Detachment Sitka investigate the fishing vessel El Cazador that ran aground Monday afternoon near Dry Bay 30 miles southeast of Yakutat. Local Coast Guard personnel examined the grounded vessel to determine whether it was leaking fuel or presented a danger to navigation. The vessel's Master intends to salvage the fishing boat at the next high tide. photo by AMT1 Merkel

not make its northbound schedule. pick up the Columbia’s northbound passengers and car deck load. depart Wrangell at 10:30 a.m. arrive in Juneau on Tuesday at 10 p.m. cross-Gulf voyage to Yakutat, Valdez, and Seward on Wednesday at 1:30 a.m. rebuild of both of the Columbia’s massive Enterprise engines. starboard engine,” Falvey said. Ketchikan. not available. be activated in late September. service and depart Ketchikan for Juneau Tuesday night at 6 p.m. said. car deck space for 134 average-sized vehicles. passengers, with 44 staterooms, and a car deck for 69 vehicles. service in 1974. The camshaft repair is covered under warranty. for exact departure times for the Kennicott.

A Coast Guard cutter Maple boarding team terminated a fishing vessel’s voyage due to unserviceable safety equipment Thursday. The fishing vessel Duna, a 36-foot vessel from Seldovia, was in the vicinity of Yakutat when a Coast Guard boarding team conducted a safety and law enforcement boarding. The boarding team members discovered that the vessel’s life raft had expired inspection tags. The Maple then escorted the vessel to Yakutat where it will remain until a serviceable life raft is placed on board. Whenever a vessel's voyage is terminated, the vessel’s movements are restricted until the owner is able to correct all of the discrepancies.

M/V Isabella sank two miles west of Ft. Pierce, Fla. USCG Group Miami dispatched a Coast Guard Station (CGSTA) Fort Pierce utility boat (UTB). The crew was removed by the UTB prior to the vessel sinking. Passenger vessel Monarch of the Seas went aground in Saint Philipsburg, Dutch Saint Maarten. The P/V was returning to port because its pumps could not keep up with the flooding after hitting a reef during its departure from port. The National Response Center received a report of a tug pushing three barges that ran aground along the Lower Mississippi River near Helena, Ark. The lead barge experienced damage resulting in the release of 1,700 barrels of unleaded gasoline. The remaining product was removed and the barge was floated off the rocks.