Maritime News

Published on: April 6, 2025

Coast Guard Urges Safe Use and Registration of Emergency Beacons

Every April 6th marks “406 Day,” a nationwide effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to educate mariners about Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). EPIRBs are critical life-saving devices that send out distress signals to rescue teams when someone is in danger on the water.

EPIRBs work by transmitting a recognized distress signal via satellite, quickly alerting search and rescue (SAR) teams to the location of an emergency. However, for these devices to effectively save lives, it’s crucial that they are correctly registered, regularly tested, responsibly used, and properly disposed of when no longer in use.

The Fifth Coast Guard District highlighted the need for responsible EPIRB management by sharing these 2024 statistics: they responded to 830 EPIRB alerts. Of these, only 18 were genuine distress signals. 386 alerts were confirmed as false, and another 426 were unknown or suspected false alerts. These unnecessary alerts resulted in over 40 hours spent on surface searches, more than 45 hours on air searches, and over 2,550 command center man-hours.

Published on: April 1, 2025

Air Station Sitka Helicopter Crew Rescues Woman from F/V Nekton

by Nigel Stacey

On March 26, 2025, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka successfully conducted a medevac of a 37-year-old woman experiencing a medical emergency in Sitka Sound, Alaska. The woman, who was aboard the fishing vessel NEKTON, required immediate medical attention.

The aircrew responded swiftly to the distress call. After arriving on the scene, they skillfully maneuvered the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter above the fishing vessel to safely execute the hoist operation. Despite challenges posed by the weather and the vessel’s movements, the U.S. Coast Guard team efficiently transported the patient aboard the aircraft.

Following the successful hoist, the helicopter crew transferred the woman to awaiting local emergency medical personnel in Sitka. The patient received further evaluation and care upon arrival, highlighting the seamless collaboration between the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency responders.

Published on: March 26, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Naushon Retired After 40 Years

by Nigel Stacey

In a ceremony celebrating nearly four decades of service, the U.S. Coast Guard officially decommissioned the Cutter NAUSHON on Friday March 21^st, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Presiding over the event was Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard District 17, who honored the vessel’s long standing commitment and its crews’ significant contributions to national security and community safety.

Commissioned on October 3^rd, 1986, the NAUSHON was placed into active duty as the 11th vessel in the Island-Class patrol boat fleet. Throughout its service, the NAUSHON exemplified the versatility and dependability that the Island-Class cutters are known for. The cutter played a crucial role in safeguarding Alaska’s challenging coastal waters and provided crucial assistance in marine law enforcement, environmental protection, national defense operations, and numerous lifesaving missions.

Since 2016, when it began operating from Homer, Alaska, the NAUSHON significantly strengthened maritime safety along Alaska’s rugged coastline. While stationed in Homer, the vessel and its crew answered the call in over 50 critical search-and-rescue missions, providing essential assistance to mariners in distress. The NAUSHON also completed nearly 900 law enforcement missions, underscoring its vital role in maintaining maritime security and enforcing federal maritime laws across Alaskan waters.

Published on: March 3, 2025

Imposter Hijacks $8 Million Fishing Vessel with Crew Aboard

by Nigel Stacey

In a highly unusual maritime theft, an imposter successfully took control of an 80-foot commercial fishing vessel in Westport, Washington while the crew was still aboard.

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police, the imposter hijacked the F/V JAMIE MARIE, an $8 million groundfish vessel, and steered it into the Grays Harbor bar before the crew realized something was very wrong.

WDFW Sergeant Alexander, who was on patrol at the time, overheard a radio call about a “vehicle theft” in progress. However, the stolen vehicle in question wasn’t a car or motorcycle, but a full-scale fishing vessel.

Published on: February 25, 2025

Alaska Governor Dunleavy Proposes Legalizing Finfish Farming

by Nigel Stacey

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has introduced a bill that could mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to aquaculture by legalizing finfish farming in controlled environments. The proposed legislation, House Bill 111 (HB 111), would authorize closed-system finfish farms, ending Alaska’s longstanding ban on the practice.

Currently, Alaska prohibits all finfish farming except for private nonprofit salmon hatcheries, many of which are operated by Indigenous communities to support wild salmon populations. This restriction was enacted in 1990 to safeguard the state’s wild fish stocks from risks such as disease, pollution, and genetic interbreeding with escaped farmed fish.

In a statement accompanying the bill’s introduction, Governor Dunleavy framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to enhance Alaska’s food security. “Alaska can join other regions of the world by raising fish that can be sold and consumed here in Alaska and be available for export,” he said. “This legislation will yield new jobs, economic growth, and a new food source for all Alaskans.”

Published on: February 25, 2025

Genetic Testing Uncovers High Infection Rates in Commercially Vital Bering Sea Crabs

by Nigel Stacey

A recent study using advanced genetic testing has revealed alarmingly high infection rates of bitter crab disease in Tanner and snow crabs, two commercially important species in the Bering Sea. Scientists estimate that up to 42 percent of Tanner crabs and 36 percent of snow crabs were infected during the study period, considerably higher than previous estimates.

Bitter crab disease, caused by microscopic parasites, has been shown to be lethal in a lab setting. Traditional detection methods which relied on visual observations and blood sample analysis, suggested infection rates of less than 10 percent. However, the more sensitive genetic methods used in this study show a drastically different situation.

“That is a nearly four-fold increase in the annual prevalence levels previously detected,” said Erin Fedewa, a fisheries biologist at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

Published on: February 17, 2025

Investment in Peter Pan Seafood Ends in Financial Loss and Economic Struggles

by Nigel Stacey

Alaska’s Permanent Fund trustees invested over $29 million in Peter Pan Seafood, a seafood processing company in King Cove, Alaska, as part of an effort to support local businesses. However, the company shut down, leading to financial losses for the state and economic hardship for the community.

The Permanent Fund, valued at approximately $80 billion, is a crucial part of Alaska’s economy. It provides annual dividends to residents and helps fund public services. Traditionally, the fund has focused on investments in global markets, but in recent years, state leaders have pushed to use the fund to support Alaska-based businesses. Peter Pan Seafood became one of the major investments under this new strategy.

Peter Pan Seafood had a long history in King Cove, where its seafood processing plant was a primary source of employment. However, in recent years, the company faced increasing financial difficulties due to aging infrastructure, rising operational costs, and shifting seafood markets. In 2021, McKinley Capital Management, an Anchorage-based firm, helped arrange the acquisition of Peter Pan Seafood using funds from the Alaska Permanent Fund. With limited experience in private equity and corporate restructuring, this raises concerns about whether the investment was properly vetted.

Published on: February 4, 2025

Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluates Alaska’s Seafood Industry

by Joseph Stacey

In response to mounting economic challenges within Alaska’s seafood sector, the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry has released a preliminary report. The report identifies critical issues affecting the industry and proposes policy recommendations to address them.

Key Challenges Identified

The task force report highlights several pressing challenges:

Published on: January 28, 2025

78-Foot F/V Northern Endurance Runs Aground Near Unalaska

by Nigel Stacey

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the 78-foot F/V NORTHERN ENDURANCE ran aground near Little Priest Rock, approximately three miles from Unalaska.

The City of Unalaska Fire Department initially arrived on the scene, then relinquished control of the situation to U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit. A representative from the Fire Department confirmed that the vessel’s captain had assured authorities that all crew members were unharmed, and there were no immediate environmental hazards to report.

The following morning, Resolve Marine, a local salvage operation, was successful in freeing the F/V NORTHERN ENDURANCE, according to Lt. Lawrence Schalles, who heads the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit in Unalaska. The vessel has been secured near Unalaska’s spit for a thorough inspection.

Published on: January 14, 2025

Washington’s Dungeness Crab Season Opens South of Klipsan Beach

by Nigel Stacey

Washington’s commercial Dungeness crab season is set to begin January 15^th, 2025 for coastal areas from Klipsan Beach on the Long Beach Peninsula south to Cape Falcon, Oregon, including the Columbia River and Willapa Bay. However, the opening date for the remainder of Washington’s Pacific Coast remains undecided.

The Dungeness crab fishery represents the state’s most lucrative commercial fishery. The 2023-24 season brought in $66.8 million, second only to the record $88.2 million catch during the 2021-22 season.

The annual start of the season is determined collaboratively by fish and wildlife departments in Washington, Oregon, and California as part of a tri-state agreement to manage the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery. Opening dates depend on test fishing results, which assess the condition of the crab population. Detailed results can be found at psmfc.org/crab.