July 21, 2009
Tuesday

Juneau, Alaska - The Seventeenth Coast Guard District is once again hosting its week-long annual District Buoy Tender Roundup in Juneau. The roundup which began Monday includes cutters homeported throughout Alaska, Oregon and Canada.

This year's roundup brings seven U.S. Coast Guard buoy tenders from Kodiak, Cordova, Petersburg, Sitka, Ketchikan, Homer, Astoria, Ore., and one Canadian vessel together for five days of training. Participating are the Coast Guard cutters SPAR, Sycamore, Elderberry, Maple, Hickory, Anthony Petit and Fir along with the Canadian vessel Provo Wallis, a 209-foot Ice-Strengthened Medium Navigational Aids Tender.

The event allows more than 250 Coast Guardsmen the opportunity to receive specialized training during the week in areas such as engine repair, buoy maintenance, first aid and more. The roundup gives buoy tender crews the opportunity to exchange ideas and build camaraderie. Due to the remote locations in Alaska which the cutters operate, this mission-essential training would be nearly impossible to complete otherwise and has proved successful for more than 20 years.

During the week-long training, the Buoy Tender Olympics will be held Wednesday at Coast Guard Station Juneau from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Cutter Fir will also be hosting public tours Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Crews aboard Coast Guard buoy tenders in Alaska service 1,250 navigational aids along 33,000 miles of coastline while actively participating in search and rescue, environmental protection, and law enforcement missions.

Source of News & Photographs:

USCG
www.uscg.mil

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