The Coast Guard has experienced various VHF outages in Southeast and

Southcentral Alaska throughout the summer and into the winter. Extra caution

is advised in areas of Shelikof Strait, Southern Cook Inlet, and offshore

Southeast Alaska. Repairs are ongoing, but due to extreme weather and remote

locations, intermittent outages are expected to continue in various

locations in both Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. Mariners are reminded

that due to mountainous terrain, and limited VHF coverage, even with fully

operational VHF sites, the USCG cannot hear VHF calls in all areas, and

mariners should have secondary means on communications onboard at all times,

file a float plan with a trusted person, and carry safety equipment onboard

in the event you are in a survival situation. The following phone numbers

can be used to reach the US Coast Guard in emergencies. As always, all

boaters should carefully evaluate their ability to assist distressed

mariners, and always relay any heard distress calls to the US Coast Guard.

Sector Juneau Command Center at 907-463-2980

Sector Anchorage Command Center: 907-428-4100

17th District command center: 907-463-2000

CDR Lyle Kessler

D17 External Affairs Officer

907-463-2071 (office)