Crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley have returned the 52-year-old medium endurance cutter to its homeport in Kodiak after a seven-month dry dock maintenance period in Seattle, with over $6 million in repairs completed.
The list of 76 work items included major overhauls on the cutter’s controllable pitch propeller system, speed reducers, rudders and boilers, plus inspections of fuel, sewage and water tanks.
Renewal of the Alex Haley’s flight deck, navigation systems, and electronics were also completed, including painting and ensuring small boat operational readiness.
When not directly involved in repairs, the crew took advantage of temporary duty training opportunities to increase their technical proficiencies.
Crewmembers were sent to southern California to aid in migrant operations, supported scientific missions in the Arctic and played a key role in the Rim of the Pacific 2022 Naval Exercise, to strengthen US relationships with 33 partner nations.
The entire crew also attended advanced damage control schools hosted by Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington. Crewmembers were taught plugging, patching and dewatering techniques in the classroom then went hands-on, applying their knowledge to simulated flooding in a wet trainer.
After dry dock work the Alex Haley is now able to continue operations as the Coast Guards primary asset in the Bering Sea. The crew routinely operates throughout the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Pacific Ocean. The Alex Haley’s ability to operate in extreme weather conditions provides the mission flexibility necessary to perform search and rescue, fisheries law enforcement, and vessel safety inspections across Alaska.
