Members of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Task Force (MSTF) recently completed work bolstering security and relationships in Western Alaska and the Arctic, visiting 95 remote communities, monitoring six fuel-to-shore transfers and inspecting 128 fuel storage facilities, 470 commercial fishing vessel exams and five gold dredge exams in 2021.
First initiated in 2019, the task force’s main goal is to advance public safety and marine environment protection efforts year-round. The task force is already planning for the 2022 summer surge season, with a focus on deepening relationships with Alaska communities.
“Tribal and municipal governments throughout rural Alaska often have limited resources to build the adaptive capacity to safeguard their communities from the impacts of climate change,” said Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District.
“Given our expanded relationships that allow routine on-site physical inspections and exams in the maritime environment, our MSTF teams will continue to work with tribal representatives, Alaska Native Organizations, municipalities, the commercial fishing community and our partner agencies to promote sustainable community resiliency, and continued documentation of the impacts of climate change,” Moore said.
