The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to Kodiak Sunday following a successful 70-day deployment patrolling more than 10,800 miles throughout the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.
Alex Haley, known as the “Bulldog of the Bering,” departed Kodiak on Dec. 1, 2014, and spent the last 70 days conducting law enforcement and community outreach operations in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. During the deployment, Alex Haley’s crew performed 41 at sea domestic fisheries enforcement boardings and covered more than 5,000 square miles in search efforts for the sunken Korean fishing vessel 501 Oryong.
The Alex Haley crew visited Akutan, Alaska, on Dec. 23, 2014. The crew disembarked Santa who delivered warm winter clothes collected by the crew and the base chapel to the community.
“A very special thanks to all the families, friends and shipmates from other Coast Guard commands who sent care packages, Christmas cards, presents and baked goods to make our holidays special,” said Cmdr. Stephen White, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley. “The sheer amount of stuff received was astonishing. There is no doubt this is the best Coast Guard serving the greatest country in the world.”
Alex Haley is a 282-foot medium endurance cutter that has been homeported in Kodiak since 1999. Alex Haley routinely conducts operations in the Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska. These operations occur under the tactical control of the 17th Coast Guard District in Juneau. The 17th Coast Guard District encompasses the entire state of Alaska, as well as the coastal and offshore waters seaward over several thousands of miles.