Crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley are back in Kodiak, after a 35-day Bering Sea winter patrol during which they saved five lives, including a 20-month-old King Cove child suffering from respiratory distress.
Cmdr. Brian Whisler, commanding officer of the 282-foot medium endurance cutter, said he is incredibly proud of the crew’s accomplishments on this patrol. Another of the lives saved was a person experiencing chest pain at Akutan. The crew also conducted domestic fisheries enforcement, the five search and rescues and at-sea evacuations from the Bering Sea fishing fleet.
The crew maintained a law enforcement presence throughout the Aleutian Chain to prevent the illegal harvesting of domestic fish stocks. They also conducted seven fisheries boardings, investigated reports of two fishing vessels suspected of fishing in a closed Steller sea lion rookery and issued one violation for improper recordkeeping.
During a port call at Unalaska, the crew assisted the Unalaska Public Library with a major remodeling project. They cataloged books, rearranged furniture, and helped reorganize the space, creating a better public resource for the community. The crew also helped the local high school clean their cafeteria and food preparation spaces.
