An icebreaker leased to Shell sprang a leak and had to return to Dutch Harbor early Friday morning. The MV Fennica carries the company’s capping stack — a critical piece of safety equipment for Shell’s plan to drill two wells this summer in the Chukchi Sea.
Coast Guard spokesman Shawn Eggert says the ship’s crew noticed the problem around 3 a.m.
“The Motor Vessel Fennica was departing from the port of Dutch Harbor, Alaska when the crew discovered that they had water coming in to their Port No. 4 ballast tank. At that point they returned to port and tied up at the Delta Western dock,” he said. “Divers there discovered a one-inch wide by three foot long fracture in the ship’s hull.”
Another cruise ship arrived in Dutch Harbor Friday the Silver Discoverer is carrying 100 passengers. It will be in port only for the day. It’s one of eight ships slated to stop at the Eastern Aleutian port this summer. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Executive Director Cathy Jordan said that number is up from previous years.
"The most ships we’ve ever had were 11 in 2009," said Jordan. "So, we are seeing a rise in ships coming this year.”
Construction season is in full swing on Unalaska and Amaknak Islands. Public Works Director Tom Cohenour expects this year’s summer road work to go a lot faster in comparison to previous years. He expects most of the work to take place this month and in July.
“The roads we’re looking at include the Coast Guard dock is one of the big ones. They’ll be doing salmon way. That’s from the Gas and Go all the way to Sea Lion drive," said Cohenour. "They’ll be doing King Street and West Broadway from Alyeska up to the four way stop and then East Broadway from about Alpha Welding all the way out to Holly Lane.”
Pollock ‘B’ Season opened today in the Aleutian Islands and Eastern Bering Seas Region. Mary Furness is a Fisheries Resource Specialist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau
“The total allowable catch is up for the Bering Sea Pollock fishery this year, about 43,000 metric tons and the allocation is divided by the A season which gets 40% and the B season gets 60%," she said.
A coast guard helicopter aboard the Cutter Sherman medevaced a crewmember from the DS Patriot to the Iliuliuk Family and Health Services Clinic in Unalaska Wednesday night.
The 33-year old man was reportedly suffering from symptoms of pneumonia.
The container ship did not dock in Dutch Harbor, but according to Lieutenant Chris O’Connor, it sailed within 60 miles of the port so the man could be airlifted from the vessel.
Alaska’s Orthodox Bishop, David Mahaffey was in Unalaska last week. He has held his post in Alaska for just over a year. He said in that time, he’s placed more focus on work with the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Training Program, or RADACT, to address issues of substance and alcohol abuse and domestic violence.
“They’re doing more with our seminarians so that when they graduate," he said. "When they go back to villages, they are better equipped to deal with people with these issues. I have petitioned the governor to have more VPSO’s in the villages.”
Unalaska, AK - 38 High School seniors took part in Unalaska City High School’s graduation ceremonies Saturday.
According to Principal Jim Wilson, it’s the second largest class to have ever graduated in Unalaska.
Raul Carpentero Junior delivered this year’s Salutatorian speech to fellow classmates.
“I just want to say how proud I am of each and every one of these 37 students for accomplishing the feat of graduating high school," said Carpentero, Junior. "For one half of our class, I just want to wish you guys good luck. As for the other half, I'll see you guys in Anchorage," he joked.
The Crystal Symphony docked at the Unalaska Marine Center at sunrise on Sunday. (Liam Andersen/KUCB)
Unalaska got its first taste of a record cruise ship season on Sunday.
Around a thousand tourists and crew disembarked from the Crystal Symphony to stretch their legs and do some exploring. And some were surprised by what they found.
The ship arrived in Unalaska around sunrise, after five days crossing the North Pacific.
The early risers went straight to the local cultural sites -- namely, the town’s two museums and the historic Russian Orthodox Church.
