Unalaska, AK – The cargo vessel Golden Seas left Unalaska today after a week of inspections and repairs. The vessel will continue to its original destination of the United Arab Emirates to deliver a shipment of rapeseed, which is used to make Canola oil.

The Golden Seas arrived in Unalaska on Tuesday, after experiencing a turbocharger failure on December 3 that initially left it without power and without the ability to steer. The vessel later regained partial power and was brought part of the way to Unalaska by the Shell-operated icebreaker Tor Viking II. Last Wednesday, the Coast Guard filed a deficiency report on the vessel, which meant that it also needed to undergo third party inspections. Repairs were completed Sunday, and an at-sea test was conducted today by the Coast Guard's Unalaska Marine Safety Detachment.

Unalaska, AK – Last Wednesday, Michael Fernandez, 18, was arrested for two counts of sexual assault in the second degree.

The crimes were alleged to have taken place on Saturday, December 4 at the aquatics center. According to court documents, Fernandez has been accused of engaging in sexual contact with a 16-year-old without her consent, while the two were working together as lifeguards. In a police interview, Fernandez admitted to quote "wrestling" with the victim, groping her, and attempting to remove her swimsuit. One witness was present.

Unalaska, AK – Yesterday, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council announced the 2011 total allowable catch for groundfish at its meeting in Anchorage.

The TAC for pollock in the Bering Sea got a 54% boost and has been set at 1.25 million MT. The TAC is a marked increase over the rates set in recent years. In 2009, the TAC was only 813,000 MT. This year's TAC is also just slightly less than the allowable biological catch of 1.27 million MT recommended last month.

Unalaska, AK – On Thursday, a group of two dozen community leaders from the Northwest Arctic and North Slope Boroughs traveled out to Unalaska to examine Shell's oil spill response fleet. The federal government has agreed to process Shell's application to drill an exploratory well in the Beaufort Sea next summer, and now the company is addressing environmental and social concerns held by local officials and tribal representatives.

Unalaska, AK – Last night, the Kulluk mobile drill rig was brought to its new home. The Shell oil rig has been anchored in Captains Bay for over three months, and in the meantime Offshore Systems Inc has been working to build a new dock that is custom-fitted for the rig.

While a few finishing touches remain, the dock was deemed ready for the Kulluk on December 5. The Gyrfalcon and Michael Leary brought the Kulluk to the dock at 2 a.m., with help from the Shell-operated icebreaker Tor Viking II.

Unalaska, AK – Cindy Gay Jones pleaded guilty to one charge of theft in the second degree from the Unalaska Senior Citizens on Thursday. The other 11 charges against her, including five counts of forgery, have been dismissed.

In July, Shirley Marquardt, who serves on Unalaska Senior Citizens' board, reported that funds had been stolen from the center's accounts. When interviewed, Jones admitted to stealing over $8,000 to buy cocaine. She wrote checks to herself and others from the Senior Center's account and forged Lynn Lewis's signature. A $500 check was made to Diamond Taxi for cocaine as well.

Unalaska, AK – Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service released its final biological opinion on the western stock of Steller sea lions. The BiOp looks at the effect that the commercial groundfish fisheries have endangered sea lion's diet and concludes that their current management could jeapordize their existence.

NOAA has issued a final interim rule that would close the Atka mackerel and Pacific cod fisheries in the Western Aleutian Islands starting January 1, 2011.

Unalaska, AK – Yesterday, the 738-foot cargo ship Golden Seas was successfully towed into the Port of Dutch Harbor, four days after issuing a distress call. Now, the state of Alaska and conservation groups alike are reconsidering emergency preparedness in the Aleutian Islands.

On Friday, the Golden Seas lost power and went adrift while 70 miles north of Adak. There was initial concern that the vessel, which was carrying approximately half a million gallons of fuel and oil, could run aground and cause a spill within 36 hours of the turbocharger failure. Though the Golden Seas ultimately regained partial power, an ocean-going tug was still needed to assist the vessel and tow it to a port of refuge. The icebreaker Tor Viking had been moored in Unalaska, and was able to reach the Golden Seas within a day.

Unalaska, AK – The 738-foot cargo ship Golden Seas was successfully towed into Broad Bay at 1pm on Tuesday. The icebreaker Tor Viking towed the vessel 500 miles after connecting with the ship near Atka Island in the Western Aleutians, and it was escorted by the Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley.

The Golden Seas is owned by the Greek shipping company AllSeas Marine, and it was traveling from Canada to the United Arab Emirates when it lost power about 70 miles north of Adak on Friday and went adrift. The Golden Seas later regained limited power and was able to steer away from land. The icebreaker Tor Viking II was then reached the distressed vessel on Saturday.