Saturday, May 30, 2009

Buoy bashing

From the U.S. Coast Guard:

May 28, 2009

Navigational aids targeted by vandals, thieves

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard has set numerous seasonal aids to navigation, including the Mendenhall Bar and Holkahm Bay buoys, to aid mariners in safely navigating the waterways.

Coast Guard technicians have conducted regular servicing and discovered aids off their moorings, with batteries stolen or riddled with bullet holes. These and other acts of vandalism waste valuable time and taxpayer funds with repairs and replacement, as well as limit or negate visibility of the aids.

There are over 800 aids facilitating the flow of commerce throughout Southeast Alaska year-round. The Coast Guard aims to ensure that all aids to navigation are on station, displaying proper characteristics.

Persons who vandalize, obstruct or impair the usefulness of aids to navigation in any way are subject to a fine of $2,500 and up to one year in prison.

Vandalism or theft are most often reported in Gastineau Channel, lower Stephens Passage, and Olga and Neva Straits near Sitka.

In 2007, McDonald Rock Lighted Buoy in Stephens Passage was shot by a large-caliber rifle and sunk. The cost of a replacement buoy was over $28,000.

Boaters who notice discrepant, missing or damaged aids, or witness anyone vandalizing or stealing aids, are requested to contact the nearest Coast Guard unit or the District 17 Command Center at (907) 463-2001.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Stateroom attack

From the Unalaska Advertiser:

Assault, May 23 — A drunken man broke down a stateroom door and attacked two crewmen on the F/V Alaska Patriot with a half-gallon bottle of vodka, for reasons unclear to any of those involved. Both victims required medical care for their injuries. Geraldo Blanco, 34 yoa, of Seattle, was arrested on two counts of Assault III.

Sportfish guide cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg, AK
Type: Fail to Complete Logbook
On 5-18-09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers on board the patrol vessel Enforcer cited sportfish guide Kurtus Blades, age 25 of Sitka, for failing to complete a saltwater charter logbook. Blades was contacted on board the charter vessel Sikumi at the Baranof Warm Springs dock and was found to be on a multiple day charter. It was found that the clients on board the vessel had fished on 5-14-09 while on the Sikumi and Blades failed to complete a logbook for the fishing activity as required. Blades was given an optional court appearance date of 6-4-09 in the Juneau District Court.

Your buoy marked?

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Gear Identification
On 5/14/09, Jose Rubio, 66, of Cordova was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova post for commercial fishing on the Copper River Flats aboard the F/V Risky Business, ADF&G #64513. Rubio didn't have his buoy properly marked with his ADF&G# as required. Rubio's arraignment date was set for 5/27/09 in the District Court of Cordova.

Cordova crackdown

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Fail to record personal use fish
On 5/15/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova post cited Kevin Corcoran, age 53, of Cordova, for failing to record commercial fish taken for personal use on his fish ticket. Arraignment is scheduled for 5/27/09 in Cordova District Court.

Location: Cordova
Type: Fail to record personal use fish
On 5/15/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova post cited Leslie Allen, age 40, of Valdez, for failing to record commercial fish taken for personal use on his fish ticket. Arraignment is scheduled for 5/27/09 in Cordova District Court.

Location: Cordova
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 5/11/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Brian S. Asplund, age 49, of Circle, for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Wally Noerenberg Hatchery terminal harvest area. Arraignment is scheduled for 5/27/09 in Cordova District Court.

Location: Cordova
Type: No vessel license
On 5/14/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited William Bailey, age 63, of Cordova, for operating F/V Shiloh without a 2009 vessel license or number plate on board. Arraignment is scheduled for 5/27/09 in Cordova District Court.

Location: Cordova
Type: No picture ID
On 5/14/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Iona Reutov, age 23, of Wasilla, for operating a drift gillnet without picture I.D. onboard. Arraignment is scheduled for 5/27/09 in Cordova District Court.

Location: Cordova
Type: No ADF&G numbers
On 5/14/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Ilia Kuzmin, age 49, of Stayton, Ore., for operating the F/V Teremok without contrasting 12-inch ADF&G numbers. Arraignment is scheduled for 5/27/09 in Cordova District Court.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Even wastrels gotta eat

From the Unalaska Advertiser:

Trespass, May 15 — A local wastrel was found helping himself to food in the UniSea galley. The man idly told the officer that it’s only appropriate for him to eat UniSea food if he’s attempting, albeit unsuccessfully, to find work on a UniSea boat. The officer issued a trespass advisement per UniSea management.