tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216840252009-03-23T20:46:25.271-08:00Information of interest in boating safety, harbor management, rural development and unique aspects of Alaskan life. Links to writers, blogs and thoughtful sites.Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-65967443794615420462009-02-26T07:30:00.001-09:002009-02-26T09:20:32.863-09:00

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports in a new study that marine shipping accounts for up to half as much particulate matter pollution as cars and trucks. Coastal residents living near busy ports are affected by these impacts to local air quality.According to the University of Colorado at Boulder sponsored study, commercial vessels emit 0.9 teragrams, or about 2.2

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-60402233918447577172008-12-18T20:21:00.003-09:002008-12-18T20:25:59.632-09:00

Alaskan’s have become increasingly aware of the relationship between mercury and fish consumption. Much of this awareness is the result of efforts made by activists like Dr. Jane Hightower MD, who recently had her book Diagnosis Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison published. State public health officials continue to emphasize how important the benefits of eating wild Alaska seafood is to

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-28120441701912376192008-10-04T10:47:00.004-08:002008-10-04T10:53:59.690-08:00

The Yukon Port of Skagway serves as the historic gateway to the Yukon Territory. The Yukon Government released a report in 2007 titled the Yukon Ports Access Strategy focused on development of port facilities and related transportation corridors needed to ensure continued growth in the Territory's resource development efforts. The Municipality of Skagway took the recommendations of the Yukon

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-11592821101449056642008-09-22T20:38:00.001-08:002008-09-22T20:41:36.551-08:00

The Port and Municipality of Anchorage is hosting this year's annual conference of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) from September 21st to the 25th. The Association membership encompasses ports from all of the Americas. Seven hundred port delegates from South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States are in attendance.Venues for the conference

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-32771801130785186872008-09-06T11:30:00.004-08:002008-09-06T11:37:45.382-08:00

One of my professional pastimes is conducting port development and planning studies. The Municipality of Skagway working with industry partners and the Yukon Government has been engaged in a port development master planning effort for the last few months. A steering committee of key stakeholders has been guiding the efforts of our consultants, CH2M Hill, KPMG and Sandwell. The draft report was

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-84488005770831183602008-07-15T09:16:00.005-08:002008-07-15T09:34:16.913-08:00

Press Release from the National Federation of Press Women: Alan Sorum of Skagway has been named a national winner in the annual National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. Sorum received second place for "Clean Boating", a booklet produced for the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the category of manuals and handbooks. The publication was produced for the Alaska Seas and

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-33209562619630687522008-07-12T12:00:00.000-08:002008-07-12T12:01:07.718-08:00

ONCE upon a winter’s eve, I found my person walking upon the snowy banks of some mountain carving river midway into the heart of Alaska’s Chugiak Mountain range. The air was crisp and sharp in winter’s thrall and the heavy laden branches swayed and groaned under their silvery burdens. The sky overhead shone faintly as father Sun prepared to make his bed in a hanging glacial valley far behind the

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-85502719587120749262008-06-02T13:06:00.003-08:002008-06-03T14:30:25.929-08:00

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-80061741287013185022008-05-26T09:53:00.004-08:002008-05-26T22:37:04.221-08:00

This is the eulogy given for Nicklaus Sorum who left us too soon. The photo is of Nick on Smith Island in Prince William Sound taken while he was working from the M/V Auklet.--The Extreme Nicklaus James SorumJune 29, 1986 – May 22, 2008Nick came into this world in Prescott, Arizona on the date that was known to wild land firefighters as the “big fire day”. It was named due to large fires

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-4814617293713319352008-01-05T15:08:00.000-09:002008-01-05T15:14:41.304-09:00

After several years of effort and innumerable public meetings of the Port Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Council, the City of Valdez finally approved their Waterfront Master Plan on 3 December 2007. This master planning effort began as effort to address future growth along the Port Valdez waterfront. The Port Commission could see the danger of unplanned coastal development

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-19951815023641408492007-11-06T17:25:00.000-09:002007-11-08T16:54:23.846-09:00

I take part in a blogging activity known as the Absolute Write Blogchain. It's a process were each participant takes a previously posted blog entry from another person playing in the effort and carries the thread forward with their own thoughts. The results can be entertaining and thought provoking. Shauna at Playing With Words relates her experience with a recent job interview where she

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-58958285734614019112007-10-12T16:08:00.000-08:002007-10-12T16:20:09.676-08:00

I had a chance last week to participate in an awards ceremony with recipients of the Superior Outreach Award from the National Assembly of Sea grant Extension Program Leaders (ASGEPL). Three Louisiana Sea Grant/LSU AgCenter Extension Agents, Albert "Rusty" Gaude' from Plaquemines Parish, Kevin Savoie from Southwest Louisiana, and Mark Schexnayder from Southeast Louisiana were honored for their

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-20818324389111577232007-10-07T11:59:00.000-08:002007-10-07T12:17:24.707-08:00

Gillian at Food History says in her post for Absolute Write Blogchain No. 11, "I think this calls for chocolate. Eat it while fully focused and aware of every microsecond of smooth richness, then breeze on over to A View From The Waterfront, to see where this chain goes next." This combined with Jim Melvin's introspection at The Death Wizard Chronicles and a love for chocolate leaves me to make a

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-92190256364831655412007-09-21T13:08:00.000-08:002007-09-21T13:17:36.008-08:00

Anan Creek is internationally known as one of the most productive Pink salmon streams in North America, making it by default a unmatched location for viewing both Black and Brown bears. Anan Creek is located on the north shore of the Cleveland Peninsula, just south of Wrangell Island and north of Ketchikan. Wrangell resident Bonnie Demerjian has authored Anan: Stream of Living Water, an

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-13247482873459100012007-08-15T12:00:00.000-08:002007-08-15T13:21:00.421-08:00

I just had a work published by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program on Clean Boating as part of their Alaska Seas & Coasts series. The publication is available in print form for the cost of mailing or can be downloaded at the ASG Website. The Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program (MAP) is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Funding comes

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-75005226511129159392007-07-08T12:01:00.000-08:002007-07-08T12:15:44.455-08:00

I have launched an on-line magazine that will deliver focused articles on things unique to Alaska. Articles will be on the towns, sights, rivers, wildlife and adventures found in the Great Land. It is called Information About Alaska (IAA) and I will write about places I have personally experience here in Alaska. The first two articles stem from a recent trip to Kennecott and McCarthy, historic

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-31257034199106587772007-06-17T12:51:00.000-08:002007-06-17T13:35:45.167-08:00

I have been on a high technology safety kick at Suite101 with a focus on man overboard devices. Topics comprise man overboard alarms, personal locator beacons (PLB), the MOB Guardian System and engine kill switches There is growing interest in this field and new ideas are arriving everyday. Your own crew situation will dictate the most effective solution available for your vessel. Single-handed

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-16765840888339818212007-06-08T07:50:00.000-08:002007-06-08T21:15:27.082-08:00

Gillian took us through a twisting, if not torturous path concerning comfort food. Was it a lack of sleep? Alas, there is no macaroni and cheese to be found. It seems so unfair. If I followed the path presented correctly, the discussion leads from comfort food to possibly food safety or food security. I know it’s a bit of stretch, but I'll still take it.Many people live on the coast of Alaska

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-79190395146837894082007-05-22T23:48:00.000-08:002007-05-23T07:50:59.349-08:00

I had a huge surprise today at a luncheon hosted by the USCG Valdez Marine Safety Unit. I was given the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award. Outside the awards given for lifesaving, this is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian by the Commandant. The recognition is good, but seeing your work affirmed by someone else is great. The citation for the award is found below.--

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-6517069678519128192007-04-27T10:25:00.000-08:002007-04-27T11:04:03.328-08:00

Support for responsible travel continues to grow. In Alaska, the cruise ship industry was surprised to see grassroots support of a legislative initiative taxing their passengers to pay for port infrastructure and environmental compliance oversight. Travelers have concerns over the impact their vacations may cause to the environment. I have written several articles on responsible, clean boating

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-85140638778462096022007-02-08T19:08:00.000-09:002007-02-07T09:13:59.301-09:00

I've had a major change in my life occur here. I've just been hired as City Manager in Skagway, Alaska. After seven years as Harbormaster in Valdez, it's time to expand my horizons. Skagway is located in northern Southeast Alaska and is a major cruise ship destination. It was the jumping off point of the Yukon gold rush and has preserved much of the history from these major events of over a

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-62311744291449232482007-01-14T15:41:00.000-09:002007-01-16T16:07:03.225-09:00

We had a close call with a 28-foot sport boat last night. Snow buried the vessel and its bilge pump was inoperative. About four feet of snow have hit Valdez Harbor within as many days, placing a great deal of weigh on the unshoveled vessel. The aft through-hull fittings were underwater and luckily, they didn't provide additional problems for the boat.The boat was listing to one side and had a

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-34909573186943693042006-12-28T00:32:00.000-09:002006-12-28T12:22:26.104-09:00

We had a sport fishing charter boat sink in the small boat harbor this last week. The vessel Double Trouble seems aptly named now. After insuring there was no risk from oil pollution by placing an adsorbent boom around the boat, harbor personnel removed the vessel from the water. An investigation revealed the failure of a flexible bilge pump hose connected to a thru hull fitting located a

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-36485509758252498472006-12-08T09:20:00.000-09:002006-12-10T18:15:32.053-09:00

A group of freelance writer's at Absolute Write (AW) have actively participated in what we call the Absolute Write Blogchain. There are many benefits for those that play a part in the experience. We operate under these basic guidelines: First person in the chain finds the last post of the last post and takes an element from that to base their blog post on so that the previous chain and this chain

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21684025.post-4666906201169345482006-12-07T22:09:00.000-09:002006-12-07T22:17:05.006-09:00

I had my first article published in the December 2006 issue of Pacific Fishing magazine. It was on infrastructure improvements made by the City of Valdez to better support the commercial fishing industry. We have been doing a lot to improve harbor facilities and encourage fishermen to deliver here and work out of our harbor.I have a couple more articles in the mill for Pacific Fishing including

Harbormasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165193433509649154harbormaster@gmail.com5