Can you hear me?

A new report says the U.S. Coast Guard should prioritize upgrades to its Alaska maritime search and rescue communications system, which has been plagued with outages.

Coast Guard loses one of its own

The U.S. Coast Guard says Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Obendorf has died from injuries suffered during a November response to a disabled fishing vessel in the Bering Sea.

ASMI — semper paratus

The guy retiring as head of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is a former U.S. Coast Guard officer.

And the guy who's coming in to replace him? You guessed it, a former Coast Guard officer.

Here's the press release:

Aug. 13, 2012

ASMI announces new executive director

JUNEAU — Following an extensive nationwide search, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors has selected retired U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Michael Cerne to replace Executive Director Ray Riutta.

Cerne will begin working in the ASMI Juneau office in September to allow for several months of overlap before Riutta retires in December.

"While it will be difficult to replace someone the caliber of Ray Riutta, I'm very happy with the board's decision and we are quite confident that Mr. Cerne will be an effective leader at ASMI for years to come," said board Chairman Joe Bundrant of Trident Seafoods.

"I've known Michael and his good work for years. His combination of skills and experience will make him a very good addition to ASMI," Riutta said.

Cerne served in the Coast Guard for 31 years and retired in 2011 with the rank of captain.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in marine science. He also has a master of marine affairs degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Cerne served on five Coast Guard cutters in his career, three of which were based in Alaska, including command of Storis in Kodiak.

Ashore, his assignments included commanding officer of the North Pacific Fisheries Training Center in Kodiak, and chief of fisheries law enforcement from 1998 to 2002 at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Cerne's final assignment was at the Coast Guard district office in Juneau where he managed Alaska fishery patrol operations and served on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the North Pacific Research Board and a number of international fishery management organizations.

He is currently completing a project with the United Nations to improve the management of global tuna fisheries.

Cerne is married to the former Holly Hagerty of North Carolina. They have two children, Kathryn, 18, and Sarah, 16.

Coast Guard leadership to change in Anchorage

A new man takes over Friday as commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage and as captain of the port for Western Alaska.

Capt. Paul Mehler III will relieve Capt. Jason Fosdick, who will report to a new post in Alameda, Calif.

Commanding Sector Anchorage is no small job.

The sector has the largest area of responsibility in the nation, covering Cook Inlet, Kodiak Island, the Aleutian chain, the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

Hurt fisherman hoisted off boat, on way to Kodiak

This just in from the U.S. Coast Guard.

State records show the vessel involved is a 48-foot seiner belonging to Knud Olsen of Shoreline, Wash.

July 7, 2011

Coast Guard conducts medevac 218 miles southwest of Kodiak

KODIAK — The Coast Guard this evening is airlifting a man from the fishing vessel Heidi Linea 218 miles southwest of Kodiak.

The Coast Guard received a call at 5:20 p.m. via satellite phone reporting Anthony Imas, 50, residency unknown, was suffering from severe back pain as a result of a fall aboard the vessel.

A rescue helicopter arrived on scene and safely hoisted Imas in stable condition at 9:45 p.m.

They are expected to arrive in Kodiak around midnight.

Weather conditions at the time of the rescue included 23 mph winds and 4-foot seas.

USCG conducts distant medevac for captain

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter this afternoon medevaced the 61-year-old captain of the fishing vessel Sea Bird.

The 167-foot vessel was far out in the Gulf of Alaska, 253 miles southeast of Kodiak.

The captain, whose name was not released, was reported to be suffering "symptoms of gastrointestinal distress," a Coast Guard press release said.

He was taken to a hospital in Kodiak.

A Coast Guard C-130 aircraft accompanied the helicopter, which was operating at the edge of its range.

Sea conditions on the scene were calm.

The Sea Bird's chief mate will bring the vessel into Kodiak, the Coast Guard said.

The boat's hailing port is Seattle.

Abby Louise update

The U.S. Coast Guard says the fishing vessel Abby Louise, which partially sank a few miles outside of Cordova over the weekend, has been raised and towed to the harbor. Here's more.

Trouble in Orca Inlet

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and two good Samaritan boats helped rescue three crewmen off the 44-foot fishing vessel Abby Louise, which partially sank early Saturday about seven miles southwest of Cordova. The Miss Emily radioed the Coast Guard about the sinking, and the Lady Samantha took the crewmen aboard shortly before 1 a.m. and delivered them to Cordova. A Coast Guard helicopter earlier carried dewatering pumps to the Abby Louise, but apparently to no avail. The Coast Guard's Valdez office is investigating the incident. USCG photo

After power loss, Southeast boat calls for help

From the U.S. Coast Guard:

June 1, 2011

Coast Guard cutter tows disabled boat to Ketchikan

The Coast Guard cutter Naushon on Tuesday towed the disabled 33-foot fishing vessel Ocean Point to Ketchikan from 16 miles south of Duke Island.

Sector Juneau command center watchstanders received a call via VHF-FM channel 16 from the operator of the Ocean Point reporting he lost engine power after setting out his fishing gear.

The watchstanders issued a Marine Assistance Request Broadcast and the good Samaritan crew of the 34-foot fishing vessel Thomasina responded, reporting they were willing to assist the Ocean Point.

The Thomasina began towing the Ocean Point to Ketchikan, but two hours later they reported to Sector Juneau they were not making progress and were concerned about being pushed in the wrong direction during the tide change.

The cutter Naushon crew got under way at 12:30 p.m. to assist the Ocean Point.

The Naushon crew began towing the Ocean Point at about 3:26 p.m. and safely moored the Ocean Point in Ketchikan at 10 p.m.

Captain of tug that hit Bligh Reef in 2009 was playing video games, U.S. Coast Guard report says

Tug Pathfinder, moored in Valdez after grounding. USCG photo

NOTE: This post has been revised to include a link to the Coast Guard investigative report, and to fix a headline error.

The captain of an oil industry tugboat that ran aground in December 2009 on Bligh Reef, spilling 6,410 gallons of diesel, was playing video games at the time of the mishap, a U.S. Coast Guard investigation has found.

The Coast Guard report says the crew of the tug Pathfinder, part of the Crowley Maritime oil tanker assist and escort fleet at Valdez, violated company policies, and the captain and second mate were unclear as to "who had the conn."

Bligh Reef is a charted navigational hazard that gained infamy when the Exxon Valdez hit it in 1989, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil.

The Coast Guard report says the captain of the Pathfinder, Ronald Eugene Monsen, had just changed course and sped up the tug, doing so without verifying the position of the vessel. He then turned to a computer to play video games, his back to the forward bridge window.

Monsen "deliberately violated company policy and used the vessel's computer to play hearts or other games, directly after changing course and speed. The Master's actions left the vessel's position unknown, other than an assumption made by the Master on the vessel's previous course," the report says.

Read the full report here.

Be advised that the document is very large and might take some time to load unless you have a blazing fast Internet connection.

Also, be aware that the document is really two reports in one. The top part looks at the role of the Coast Guard's Vessel Traffic Center in the Pathfinder incident.

Fair warning: The report is quite cumbersome to read.

On patrol

The U.S. Coast Guard's 418-foot national security cutter Bertholf, homeported in Alameda, Calif., will patrol Alaska waters until June. Check our sister blog, The Brig, for details on some of the cutter's enforcement activity thus far. USCG photo

Shattered femur, severed fingers and 'crab asthma'

Who you gonna call? USCG photo

The U.S. Coast Guard last week briefed the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on search and rescue cases from the past few months. Here are a few select items. They're raw, with lots of annoying acronyms and abbreviations. Some provide significant new details on cases we've previously reported here on Deckboss.

Date: 12/8/10
Vessel: Izzy B
Sector Juneau received a radio call out from the vessel Death Barge reporting that there was a vessel on fire in Port Santa Cruz, Southeast Alaska. The vessel Stellar Sea reported all persons previously on board the vessel on fire are now safely aboard the BJ. Sector Juneau issued a BNM and requested an over flight at first light. Owner of the vessel on fire contacted Sector Juneau and stated the name of the vessel was Izzy B and had approx 300 gallons of diesel fuel on board. Owner anticipates the Izzy B burning to the water line. Case closed.

Date: 12/23/10
Vessel: Siberian Sea
D17CC was notified by Health Force Partners that the F/V SIBERIAN SEA had a 25 yom crewmember with possible kidney failure. Crewmember awoke with severe swelling in lower extremities. The flight surgeon, along with Health Force Partners, suspected that the over-usage of ibuprofen, due to an earlier injury, possibly overtaxed his kidneys and caused high blood pressure and swelling. The flight surgeon determined the patient to be stable with the medications onboard and recommended the vessel continue with the plans to transport the patient to St. Paul. D17CC placed the F/V SIBERIAN SEA on a 4 hour communications schedule and monitored the patient's conditions during the transit. The vessel arrived at St. Paul at 251300v Dec 10. Closed.

Date: 1/20/11
Vessel: Independence
District Seventeen received a request from the C/P INDEPENDENCE for the maritime MEDEVAC of 03 crewmembers who were involved in an accident, most notably one who was suffering from a broken femur. The duty flight surgeon was consulted and recommended MEDEVAC of the shattered femur patient, along with the other two members if operations allowed. Air Station Kodiak was unable to respond to the vessel due to extreme low visibility in Kodiak, so the M/V EASTERN WIND embarked the 03 patients, the ship medic and a translator and transported them to Kodiak without incident. The patients were evaluated at Providence Hospital and there were no further requests for USCG assistance. Case Closed.

Date: 2/2/11
Vessel: Siberian Sea
D17 Command Center called by the master of the F/V SIBERIAN SEA regarding a crewmember onboard suffering from possible drug/alcohol withdrawal. The 24 YOM was lying on the deck in convulsions and vomiting. Health Force Partners- Seattle and the duty flight surgeon conferenced in and agreed that the patient was going to be fine onboard the vessel. At 2330V the vessel transferred their patient to St. Paul and the duty PA there examined him and found him medically fine. The patient will be commercially transferred to his home of record when next able. Case Closed.

Date: 2/8/11
Vessel: TerriGail
District 17 Command Center was notified by MORGENTHAU that they overheard mayday traffic from the F/V TERRI GALE who had lost power and propulsion off the west coast of Unalaska Island. Master was trouble-shooting engine and did not request any assistance. Due to poor comms and remote location MORGENTHAU was diverted to assist and arrived on scene at 0830V. Tug REDEEMER from Dutch Harbor was hired by the vsl owner and has an ETA of 1530V. F/V TERRI GALE attempted to anchor with long line gear and anchors as well as with installed anchor with no success. MORGENTHAU passed a tow line messenger to the F/V but the vsl was unable to haul the hawser onboard in the conditions and the line became tangled in the cutter's port prop. MORGENTHAU cleared her propeller but was unable to reattempt towing due to proximity to shoal. CG6504 launched from Dutch Harbor and transported the 05 POB from TERRI GALE to MORGENTHAU. TERRI GALE is now hard aground with 800 gal of diesel onboard. CG-6504 scheduled for first light flight with FOSC and MSD Unalaska to assess salvage and MEP plans. Case pends for MEP.

Date: 2/11/11
Vessel: Midnite Sun
Sector Anchorage was notified by the Good Sam SEA WARRIOR that the F/V MIDNITE SUN had run aground and was taking on water ivo West Afognak Island, 36 NM NW of Kodiak city. MIDNITE SUN was an 85' F/V with 05 POB, all in donned immersion suits. The SEA WARRIOR was nearby but was unable to assist due to 18'+ seas. CG-6007 was launched from Air Station Kodiak, proceeded to the vessel, and hoisted all 5 POB off and to Kodiak without further incident. The MIDNITE SUN's engine room had flooded, the vessel began to break apart and it was beginning to turn on its side prior to the crew being hoisted off. An over-flight is scheduled for today, weather pending, to determine whether the vessel can be salvaged at all. There were 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel onboard the MIDNITE SUN between 4 non-integral tanks.

Date: 2/15/11
Vessel: Lilli Ann
D17 CC received a request from Health Force Partners - Seattle for the maritime MEDEVAC of a 43 YOM onboard the F/V LILLI ANN who had experienced a severe laceration to his right foot. The Duty Flight Surgeon was consulted and recommended a MEDEVAC due to the possibility of the crew member losing his large toe if he could not make it in to surgery in time. CG-6014 launched from FOL St. Paul with CG-6011 flying cover, safely hoisted the crew member and returned to St. Paul where awaiting EMS took over care of the crew member until transferring to a Life Flight aircraft. Case Closed.

Date: 2/19/11
Vessel: Baranof
Phone call from company of F/V BARANOF concerning a crew member requesting MEDEVAC of a crew member suffering from "crab asthma" 35 NM NW St Paul, AK. The flight surgeon was consulted and he recommended that the patient was not in need of immediate MEDEVAC and should be watched throughout the night. The vessel transited into St. Paul Harbor safely and offloaded the crewmember to awaiting St. Paul Clinic EMS without further incident. Case Closed.

Date: 2/21/11
Vessel: Laura
MILPO in Kodiak contacted D17 relaying a report of an injured fisherman with two severed fingers on board the F/V LAURA. The vessel is underway in Shelikof Strait. D17 contacted the vessel and the Captain stated that the crewmember was stable and the bleeding isolated. After briefing the F/S MEDEVAC was recommended due to the possibility of a hand surgeon in Kodiak conducting repairs to the hand that could greatly improve future use of the appendages. After further investigation the Hand Surgeon is not available at this time and MEDEVAC would not benefit the crewmember to the level warranting a MEDEVAC. D17 F/S now does not recommend MEDEVAC and D17 will monitor this via COMSCHED as a MEDICO. 210337V: Master advised that the vessel is now dockside in Kodiak and the subject has been transported to the hospital. Case Closed.

Nice save

The U.S. Coast Guard safely airlifted the three-man crew of the fishing vessel Ruffian to Whittier this morning after the boat began taking on water north of Latouche Island in Prince William Sound. The crew, which reportedly was fishing for Pacific cod and skate, beached the boat on purpose to keep it from sinking. The Ruffian is a 42-footer out of Homer. USCG photo

Vessel owner criticized in Alaska Ranger report

Don McManman, editor of Pacific Fishing magazine, kindly sent this report on today's release of the U.S. Coast Guard investigation into the Alaska Ranger tragedy.

Nearly three years after the deadly sinking, the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday had brutal words for owners of the F/V Alaska Ranger.

The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation determined the vessel sank in the Bering Sea because of the "poor material condition of the vessel," said Capt. John P. Nadeau, chairman of the board, in answer to a question from the press.

The sinking — and five deaths — "could have been prevented," Nadeau said during a Seattle news conference.

The Alaska Ranger sank in the early hours of Easter morning on March 23, 2008. The head-and-gut catcher-processor had 47 workers on board. More would have died if not for "exceptional" efforts by the Alaska Warrior, a sister ship also owned by Fishing Company of Alaska, and Coast Guard helicopter and cutter crews, Nadeau said.

Immediately after the sinking, the Coast Guard named a Marine Board of Investigation, which held hearings in Dutch Harbor, Anchorage, Seattle and Boston. During the hearings, the panel promised a full report by the end of 2008.

When asked about the delay, Nadeau said the investigation had been very complex. In addition, the original board chairman had retired in 2009.

The board's report also focused on the alternative compliance program initiated after the F/V Galaxy burned on the Bering Sea in 2002. Safety standards on vessels such as the Galaxy and Alaska Ranger were not fully addressed by federal regulations. To address such lapses, the Coast Guard and vessel owners agreed to a set of standards outside the normal government regulatory process.

The alternative compliance program did not function well in its early months, Nadeau said. It was understaffed and underfunded, he said. Even so, the Alaska Ranger failed the minimal standards enforced in early 2008, Nadeau said.

The vessel had emerged from a major refit in a Japanese shipyard only three months before it sank. But structural deficiencies aboard the Ranger "had not been addressed," said Nadeau.

The Coast Guard confirmed that flooding began in aft compartments and, while it's impossible to prove, the initial catastrophic hull failure likely was caused by weakened struts designed to support the Ranger's Kort nozzle, Nadeau said.

The vessel flooded from aft and, shortly before 4:30 a.m., rolled and sank.

After the Ranger sank, the Coast Guard was faced with a decision of whether to "ditch" the alternative compliance program, Nadeau said. But the Coast Guard commandant chose to "reinvest" in the program, tripling the number of inspectors and improving guidance, Nadeau said.

Such alternative compliance programs are central to new safety regulations imbedded in the Coast Guard authorization bill passed by Congress last fall.

To read the complete 192-page report on the sinking of the Alaska Ranger, click here.

USCG: doomed boat not properly maintained

Here's a press release summarizing U.S. Coast Guard findings in the Alaska Ranger sinking.

Coast Guard to release Alaska Ranger findings

The U.S. Coast Guard says it will hold a media briefing tomorrow afternoon in Seattle to release its investigative report into the Easter 2008 sinking of the Bering Sea trawler Alaska Ranger.

You might recall that the National Transportation Safety Board already released its conclusion on the sinking, in which four crewmen died, one remains missing and 42 were rescued.

To the rescue

Here's some nifty U.S. Coast Guard video of the disabled bulk carrier Golden Seas and the stud tugboat that's dragging the ship to Dutch Harbor.

Semper paratus

A chopper from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sherman conducts a rescue drill with a dummy yesterday at Dutch Harbor. The training is for Friday's start of the Bering Sea crab season. Jim Paulin photo

Semper paratus

A portrait of U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Sean D. Krueger, along with an aviator helmet, flight suit and boots, are displayed at a memorial service today inside the hangar at Air Station Sitka. Krueger was among three members of a Sitka-based rescue helicopter crew who died in a crash July 7 off the coast of Washington state. Petty Officer 1st Class Adam C. Hoke and Petty Officer 2nd Class Brett M. Banks also perished. The memorial service drew top Coast Guard brass along with Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. To donate to the families of the fallen aircrew, go to coastguardfoundation.org. USCG photo

3 dead, 1 survivor in Coast Guard helicopter crash

Here's the latest news from the U.S. Coast Guard on today's tragedy involving a Sitka-based helicopter crew:

July 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m.

Coast Guard responds to Washington helicopter crash

JUNEAU — The multiple agency response to recover the crewmembers from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crash that occurred today in the waters near James Island, Wash., has concluded.

Four Coast Guard Air Station Sitka members crashed while flying from Astoria, Ore., to Sitka.

One survivor and three deceased have been recovered.

The survivor is at a Seattle hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

"I grieve with a heavy heart at the news of the death of three members of our Coast Guard family," said Rear Adm. Christopher Colvin, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District. "May friends and our Coast Guardsmen around the country bring strength and comfort to the families and crew of Air Station Sitka during this difficult time. My first priority is to ensure the family and members of Air Station Sitka are provided the support needed to endure this tragedy."

The Coast Guard is not releasing the condition of the survivor or the names of the crewmembers until next of kin notification is complete.

The next step of this response is the salvage and investigation phase. The investigation can include survivor interviews, witness interviews and review of information from the flight data recorder.

The search began at approximately 9:45 a.m. when the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka crew did not perform a routine radio check-in.