Russia watch

The following is from a U.S. Coast Guard enforcement report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting this week in Anchorage.

U.S./Russian Maritime Boundary Line (MBL) Enforcement

During the reporting period, there was medium to high foreign-flagged longline and trawl fishing on the Russian side of the MBL. In the month of June, there were 88 potential FF/V incursions by 13 different Russian fishing vessels detected via electronic means. CGC ALEX HALEY patrolled the MBL in response to this activity, and no further potential incursions were detected. Coast Guard Arctic District patrols the MBL using both C-130 aircraft and surface vessels to deter and detect illegal incursions. No vessels were observed fishing over the line by Coast Guard aircraft or cutters. Coast Guard Arctic District contacted the Russian Border Guard (RBG) about each potential incursion. RBG responded to all reports of potential incursions and indicated that their investigation resulted in administrative penalties for two vessels that crossed the MBL due to Force Majeure but failed to notify the Russian government in accordance with Russian laws. All other potential incursions were noted to be too brief or limited in depth to be confirmed MBL crossings by Russian standards. RBG also indicated that their investigation confirmed no Russian vessels were engaged in fishing actively while transiting in the U.S. EEZ.

USCG reports Southeast sinking, helicopter rescue

Details and a video here.

National ensign at half-mast for Dolly Parton

Here's a bulletin from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard seizes 'unreported' pollock roe

The crew of the cutter Waesche seized more than 5 metric tons of pollock roe, worth over $65,000, after uncovering "significant violations of federal fishing regulations" aboard the factory trawler Northern Eagle, says this U.S. Coast Guard press release.

Five hoisted from distressed boat in Aleutians

More details in this press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Look out for the ladder cops

A fishing vessel owner tells Deckboss he was surprised a few days ago when a U.S. Coast Guard boarding team issued his skipper a ticket for lack of a pilot ladder onboard.

The owner shared a copy of the ticket with us.

The ladder regulation hadn't been enforced previously — boarding teams never asked for a ladder during numerous boardings, he said, and no one ever asked to see one during dockside exams.

The boat involved in the Jan. 21 boarding was a 58-footer fishing cod in the Bering Sea out of False Pass. The boarding team was from the Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley.

The boarding team told the skipper they were "starting now" to enforce the ladder requirement, the fishing vessel owner said.

A pilot ladder is a flexible ladder lowered over the side of a vessel to aid people coming aboard.

Such ladders are helpful, as it's always perilous to climb from boat to boat.

This recent enforcement action begs the question: Are we seeing a crackdown on the pilot ladder requirement?

The vessel owner noted that pilot ladders are bulky, and expensive.

Scott Wilwert, the Coast Guard's fishing vessel safety program manager for Alaska, told us he was not aware of any big enforcement push on pilot ladders.

But fishermen should be aware that if their vessel has more than 4 feet of freeboard, federal regulations require a boarding ladder to assist law enforcement personnel and fishery observers, Wilwert said.

Freeboard can change considerably depending on whether the fishing vessel is tanked down, he noted.

The False Pass vessel had a freeboard of 5 feet, 6 inches, the ticket said.

Two hoisted from boat in distress off Kodiak

Details and a photo in this press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

9 reportedly rescued from grounded boat in Bering

The Anchorage Daily News has the story.

From Coast Guard headquarters

The U.S. Coast Guard today confirmed its military service members will receive their mid-month paychecks for Oct. 15.

More in this press release.

USCG is changing key emergency phone numbers

Details in this press release.

Nearly $1.2M penalty imposed in pollution case

Details in this press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard focuses its recruiting — in Omaha

"We are modernizing how and where we recruit — ensuring we're reaching the best talent in communities across the country, not just on the coasts," says one Coast Guard officer.

More in this press release.

Coast Guard gushes over 'big beautiful bill'

"This historic investment marks a new era for the Coast Guard," the acting commandant, Adm. Kevin Lunday, says in this press release.

USCG District 17 is now the Arctic District

The U.S. Coast Guard is changing from numerical to geographical names for its operational districts.

So, for example, District 17, which covers Alaska, will now be the Arctic District.

For more details including a national map, see this press release.

Update on the ship fire south of Adak

Here's a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard on the response to the car carrier Morning Midas abandoned, ablaze and adrift in the North Pacific.

Coast Guard news

Here are some interesting items from the U.S. Coast Guard.

• The Coast Guard responded to a ship fire about 300 miles south of Adak. All 22 crewmembers safely abandoned the 600-foot vessel laden with thousands of vehicles including some EVs.

• The new cutter Storis departed on her maiden voyage.

• To help boost recruiting, the Coast Guard is giving youth the chance to take "orientation flights" aboard its aircraft. "Exposure to Coast Guard Air Operations is sure to inspire and energize potential recruits by offering a rare opportunity to fly alongside our nation's top aviators, flight mechanics, and rescue swimmers," said a Coast Guard bulletin sent today.

Cutter Mustang exits

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mustang, photographed here in 2009 in Seward, was decommissioned Tuesday during a local ceremony honoring nearly 40 years of service. The 110-foot Mustang was stationed in Seward her entire career. She responded to more than 200 search and rescue cases and completed more than 2,000 law enforcement sorties, the Coast Guard said. The service is replacing aging Island-class patrol boats such as the Mustang with Sentinel-class fast-response cutters. Wesley Loy photo

Washington watch

Here are two notes of interest from the nation's capital.

• U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and colleagues have introduced legislation to help seafood processors meet labor needs.

• U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, is cosponsoring a bill to establish "a dedicated secretary of the Coast Guard, providing the service with the same level of leadership and representation as the Army, Navy and Air Force."

Public asked for help in Wind Walker case

U.S. Coast Guard investigators are appealing for further information regarding the fishing vessel Wind Walker, which sank on Dec. 1.

The bodies of two crewmembers were recovered, but three others remain missing.

A new cutter for Kodiak

Here's a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.