Fishing Vessel

A new bill introduced this week by Sen. Mark Begich and Rep. Don Young fires a shot across the bow of pirate fishing, giving federal authorities several options to dispose of foreign vessels seized for that offense -- including sinking them in live-fire training exercises. If passed, the Pirate Fishing Vessel Disposal Act would also let the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard hand over foreign vessels seized during illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to other governments to be used in fisheries enforcement.

We're checking in with people around Western Alaska throughout the day to track the storm's impact. Send us photos or information at web@ktuu.com or via our Facebook page.  UPDATE UNALAKLEET 3:22 pm: Channel 2 reporter Ted Land and photojournalist Carolyn Hall Jensen have flown into Unalakleet to cover the storm and report that people are boarding up windows and getting ready to possibly evacuate to higher ground if...

The U.S. Coast Guard says it has awarded a Dutch Harbor firm a contract to cleanse and repair a rat-infested fishing vessel seized 2,600 miles southwest of Kodiak last month on suspicion of illegal fishing. Magone Marine will tow the Bangun Perkasa out to sea from Dutch Harbor, using live traps and anti-coagulant agents aboard to remove the rats while making repairs to prevent the vessel from becoming a threat to the environment of the Aleutian Islands. In addition, refrigeration will be maintained to preserve the ship's cargo of 30 tons of squid.

The U.S. Coast Guard has seized an illegal fishing vessel, infested with rats, from an unknown country that was caught illegally drift netting in high seas 2,600 miles southwest of Kodiak. An official with Customs and Border Protection identified the fishing vessel as the "Bangun Perkasa. " Its country of origin is not clear. The Coast Guard cutter "Midgett," is escorting the boat to Dutch Harbor, but because of the rats the boat will be anchored a few miles away from the island.

Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard spent Saturday searching for a Perryville man who fell off a fishing vessel near Chignik Lagoon early Friday morning. According to crew of the Antoinette Renee, 43-year-old Moses Kosbruk Jr. was last seen aboard at about 3 a.m. Friday. He was reported to troopers as missing at about 5 p.m. A Coast Guard helicopter was sent Friday evening to search the water near Chignik Lagoon, a community of about 100 people on the Alaska Peninsula.

Three fishermen have been rescued by the Coast Guard after their fishing vessel, the Ruffian, began taking on water near Latouche Island in Prince William Sound. The Coast Guard reached the vessel at 11:20 and transported the men safely to Whittier. According to the Coast Guard, there was no pollution attributed to the ship and a salvage operation is underway. An emergency signal was received from the 42-foot fishing vessel Ruffian at 12:44 a.m. A Kodiak-based Jayhawk rescue helicopter was sent to the scene at 1:45 a.m., but rough weather  kept the crew of the helicopter from locating the vessel.

It's been a busy year in Alaska for the U.S. Coast Guard, from rescuing more than 100 people to saving millions of dollars in property -- and officials want to share five of their favorite moments from 2010 with Alaskans. “The Coast Guard's got a very diverse mission in Alaska, and our crews do a fantastic job documenting what they do when they're out serving the people of Alaska,” said the Coast Guard’s Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley. In March, a Kodiak-based C-130 Hercules was dispatched to help out the sailing vessel California, stranded in the Pacific Ocean 1,250 miles south of Kodiak.

A dedicated group of Alaskans are trying to arrange a homecoming of sorts for a piece of maritime history, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea. People like to think that after a lifetime of hard work and public service, retirement would be a time to celebrate one's accomplishments. But that's not always the case. “It’s kind of sad to just think of her sitting down in a mothball fleet and possibly eventually just going away,” said retired Coast Guardsman Brett Farrell.

by The Associated Press Friday, July 30, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Coast Guard says all fuel has been removed from a grounded fishing vessel in Alaska's Prince William Sound. The Coast Guard say the Seattle-based Cape Cross had a capacity of 3,000 gallons, but was not full when it tipped on its side in Main Bay on Monday. Crews have removed 1,200 gallons of fuel from the 100-foot vessel. Another 600 gallons were recovered from the surrounding water by skimming and using absorbent and boom.