Employ technology, communications and local expertise to enhance safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime operations in Alaska's Arctic waters.
Our hearts are heavy for Savoonga and the people of St. Lawrence Island. We are mourning the lives lost following the tragic boating incident and extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and the entire community. In Alaska’s close-knit coastal communities, a loss like this reaches far beyond one family—touching an entire village, region, and all those who call these waters home.
We are grateful that one young person was brought home alive, and thankful for the mariners, responders, and community members who came together during an incredibly difficult search.
To our friends and partners in Savoonga: our thoughts are with you, and we stand with your community during this time of grief and healing. ...
Editor's note: The following errors from the previous version have been corrected:The survivor's age has been corrected to 15 years old.Unit and asset information has been corrected to identify:The
A group of four from the Marine Exchange of Alaska recently travelled to Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island to connect with local leaders and community members to discuss Arctic Watch initiatives. The objective of the trip was to gauge community interest in building out VHF-FM capabilities across the island, upgrade existing Marine Safey Site infrastructure, and support local stewardship efforts.
From a highly engaged community meeting and beach cleanup to productive conversations with the Tribal Council, Corporation representatives, and Search & Rescue leaders, we saw strong local support for efforts to improve communications and expand maritime domain awareness. Conversations highlighted a shared priority: ensuring residents, hunters, boaters, and first responders have access to reliable information and communications in a challenging and remote Arctic environment. The collaboration and support expressed by community leaders reinforced the importance of building systems that are guided by local knowledge and community priorities.
Work also included critical infrastructure upgrades. In Savoonga, the team rebuilt and modernized a weather and Aid-to-Navigation site that had been damaged during a winter storm, adding enhanced Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities. Additionally, site surveys were conducted to explore opportunities for future installations. In Gambell, weather, navigation, and communications systems were also upgraded.
A lot of work and planning still needs to be done to build out VHF-FM communications on St. Lawrence Island, but we are motivated and excited about the potential, and grateful for the warm welcome and support from the residents and leaders of Savoonga. To the Native Village of Savoonga, thank you for your time and warm hospitality. Our mission is only possible with shared local wisdom and experience.
Arctic Watch recently funded the deployment of a fully operational Marine Safety & Security Site at the Alaska DOT airport maintenance building in the community of Wales. The capabilities of this new site include VHF-FM communications, DSC, AIS receive and transmit, and a live weather sensor.
This installation expands reliable connectivity and real-time data in one of Alaska’s most remote locations—marking a major step forward for maritime safety, weather monitoring, and communications in the Arctic.
To see live weather conditions at this location and many more visit: blueview.mxak.org ...
What does it take to build a Waterways Safety Committee?
Last week in Nome, community leaders, Tribal representatives, mariners, industry stakeholders, and government partners came together to begin answering that question.
After discussions, outreach, and webinars, participants expressed strong interest in moving forward with a Bering Strait Waterways Safety Committee—a forum designed to bring waterway users together to share information, identify concerns, and work toward solutions.
No single organization can solve every challenge facing the region. But as Captain Steve White of the Marine Exchange of Alaska shared during the meeting: "This is really where you say, 'Hey, who's on the water and how do we work together on the water?'"
That spirit of collaboration, communication, and mutual respect was at the heart of the discussion. Thank you to all who participated in this important conversation. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and working together toward practical solutions for safe, sustainable, and collaborative use of Arctic waterways.
Check out the Nome Nugget's coverage of the meeting - ...
A quick reminder that we’ll be hosting our next Arctic Watch webinar tomorrow at 12:00 PM (AKDT).
This session will continue the conversation on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees as we build toward the May 19 meeting with the Coast Guard.
If you missed the first webinar, the recording is now available on this page—we encourage you to take a look and join us as we keep the discussion moving forward.
📍 Via Zoom (same link – see flyer for details) We hope you can join us!Join Us Next Thursday – Arctic Watch Webinar
Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week’s Arctic Watch webinar—we appreciated the thoughtful discussion, questions, and community perspectives shared.
We’re continuing the conversation with a second webinar on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees as we build toward the upcoming May 19 meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard.
📅 Thursday, April 30 🕛 12:00 PM (AKDT) 📍 Via Zoom (same link as last week – see flyer for details)
Whether you joined us last time or are new to the discussion, we welcome you to be part of this ongoing effort to inform, engage, and shape solutions together. We’ll also be sharing the recording from our first webinar soon—so stay tuned.
Arctic Watch Webinar Recording Now Available - 4/16/26
Thank you again to everyone who joined our Arctic Watch webinar. We appreciated hearing from our panelists who helped provide context on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees—and more importantly, from community members who shared perspectives, questions, and ideas for how this could work in the region. These conversations are exactly what help move us forward.
If you weren’t able to attend, we invite you to watch the full recording at your convenience and join the discussion in your own time. If you have any questions or thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we value your input.
We look forward to continuing the conversation at our upcoming webinar next Thursday (4/30) at noon. ...
Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week’s Arctic Watch webinar—we appreciated the thoughtful discussion, questions, and community perspectives shared.
We’re continuing the conversation with a second webinar on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees as we build toward the upcoming May 19 meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard.
📅 Thursday, April 30 🕛 12:00 PM (AKDT) 📍 Via Zoom (same link as last week – see flyer for details)
Whether you joined us last time or are new to the discussion, we welcome you to be part of this ongoing effort to inform, engage, and shape solutions together. We’ll also be sharing the recording from our first webinar soon—so stay tuned.
We’re looking forward to gathering with community members, partners, and friends for our upcoming Arctic Watch Webinar this Thursday.
We’ll be joined by our partners from the U.S. Coast Guard and several Arctic Watch members to discuss what a Harbor / Waterways Safety Committee is, how it can support the region, and how you can get involved ahead of the May 19 meeting in Nome.
This will be an informative, welcoming conversation with time for questions, ideas, and community discussion as we continue working together toward safe, resilient, and responsive waterways across the region. Please see the flyer for Zoom details, and help us spread the word — we hope you’ll join us! ...
It’s been a little while since our last update, and we’re excited to reconnect.
Please join us next Thursday the 16th at noon for an upcoming Arctic Watch webinar focused on Harbor & Waterway Safety Committees and what they could mean for the region.
We’ll be joined by guests from the Coast Guard to help kick off the discussion, with plenty of time for questions, community input, and conversation.
We’ll share the webinar link as we get closer — in the meantime, please help us spread the word to anyone interested in joining this important conversation. We look forward to seeing you next Thursday. ...
Our hearts are heavy for Savoonga and the people of St. Lawrence Island. We are mourning the lives lost following the tragic boating incident and extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and the entire community. In Alaska’s close-knit coastal communities, a loss like this reaches far beyond one family—touching an entire village, region, and all those who call these waters home.
We are grateful that one young person was brought home alive, and thankful for the mariners, responders, and community members who came together during an incredibly difficult search.
To our friends and partners in Savoonga: our thoughts are with you, and we stand with your community during this time of grief and healing. ...
UPDATE: Coast Guard locates missing boaters near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
www.news.uscg.mil
Editor's note: The following errors from the previous version have been corrected:The survivor's age has been corrected to 15 years old.Unit and asset information has been corrected to identify:The2 CommentsComment on Facebook
A group of four from the Marine Exchange of Alaska recently travelled to Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island to connect with local leaders and community members to discuss Arctic Watch initiatives. The objective of the trip was to gauge community interest in building out VHF-FM capabilities across the island, upgrade existing Marine Safey Site infrastructure, and support local stewardship efforts.
From a highly engaged community meeting and beach cleanup to productive conversations with the Tribal Council, Corporation representatives, and Search & Rescue leaders, we saw strong local support for efforts to improve communications and expand maritime domain awareness. Conversations highlighted a shared priority: ensuring residents, hunters, boaters, and first responders have access to reliable information and communications in a challenging and remote Arctic environment. The collaboration and support expressed by community leaders reinforced the importance of building systems that are guided by local knowledge and community priorities.
Work also included critical infrastructure upgrades. In Savoonga, the team rebuilt and modernized a weather and Aid-to-Navigation site that had been damaged during a winter storm, adding enhanced Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities. Additionally, site surveys were conducted to explore opportunities for future installations. In Gambell, weather, navigation, and communications systems were also upgraded.
A lot of work and planning still needs to be done to build out VHF-FM communications on St. Lawrence Island, but we are motivated and excited about the potential, and grateful for the warm welcome and support from the residents and leaders of Savoonga. To the Native Village of Savoonga, thank you for your time and warm hospitality. Our mission is only possible with shared local wisdom and experience.
#ArcticWatch #MaritimeSafety #sivuqaq #savoonga #stlawrenceisland #beringsea #Alaska ...
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Big upgrade in Wales, Alaska!
Arctic Watch recently funded the deployment of a fully operational Marine Safety & Security Site at the Alaska DOT airport maintenance building in the community of Wales. The capabilities of this new site include VHF-FM communications, DSC, AIS receive and transmit, and a live weather sensor.
This installation expands reliable connectivity and real-time data in one of Alaska’s most remote locations—marking a major step forward for maritime safety, weather monitoring, and communications in the Arctic.
To see live weather conditions at this location and many more visit: blueview.mxak.org ...
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
What does it take to build a Waterways Safety Committee?
Last week in Nome, community leaders, Tribal representatives, mariners, industry stakeholders, and government partners came together to begin answering that question.
After discussions, outreach, and webinars, participants expressed strong interest in moving forward with a Bering Strait Waterways Safety Committee—a forum designed to bring waterway users together to share information, identify concerns, and work toward solutions.
No single organization can solve every challenge facing the region. But as Captain Steve White of the Marine Exchange of Alaska shared during the meeting:
"This is really where you say, 'Hey, who's on the water and how do we work together on the water?'"
That spirit of collaboration, communication, and mutual respect was at the heart of the discussion. Thank you to all who participated in this important conversation. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and working together toward practical solutions for safe, sustainable, and collaborative use of Arctic waterways.
Check out the Nome Nugget's coverage of the meeting - ...
Spurred by increased marine traffic, efforts are afoot to create a Bering Strait Waterways Safety Committee
www.nomenugget.com
Tribal representatives and stakeholders from the region, along with outside commercial entities met with the U.S.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Arctic Watch Webinar Tomorrow at Noon
A quick reminder that we’ll be hosting our next Arctic Watch webinar tomorrow at 12:00 PM (AKDT).
This session will continue the conversation on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees as we build toward the May 19 meeting with the Coast Guard.
If you missed the first webinar, the recording is now available on this page—we encourage you to take a look and join us as we keep the discussion moving forward.
📍 Via Zoom (same link – see flyer for details) We hope you can join us!Join Us Next Thursday – Arctic Watch Webinar
Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week’s Arctic Watch webinar—we appreciated the thoughtful discussion, questions, and community perspectives shared.
We’re continuing the conversation with a second webinar on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees as we build toward the upcoming May 19 meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard.
📅 Thursday, April 30
🕛 12:00 PM (AKDT)
📍 Via Zoom (same link as last week – see flyer for details)
Whether you joined us last time or are new to the discussion, we welcome you to be part of this ongoing effort to inform, engage, and shape solutions together. We’ll also be sharing the recording from our first webinar soon—so stay tuned.
We hope you can join us! ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Arctic Watch Webinar Recording Now Available - 4/16/26
Thank you again to everyone who joined our Arctic Watch webinar. We appreciated hearing from our panelists who helped provide context on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees—and more importantly, from community members who shared perspectives, questions, and ideas for how this could work in the region. These conversations are exactly what help move us forward.
If you weren’t able to attend, we invite you to watch the full recording at your convenience and join the discussion in your own time. If you have any questions or thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we value your input.
We look forward to continuing the conversation at our upcoming webinar next Thursday (4/30) at noon. ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Join Us Next Thursday – Arctic Watch Webinar
Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week’s Arctic Watch webinar—we appreciated the thoughtful discussion, questions, and community perspectives shared.
We’re continuing the conversation with a second webinar on Harbor & Waterways Safety Committees as we build toward the upcoming May 19 meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard.
📅 Thursday, April 30
🕛 12:00 PM (AKDT)
📍 Via Zoom (same link as last week – see flyer for details)
Whether you joined us last time or are new to the discussion, we welcome you to be part of this ongoing effort to inform, engage, and shape solutions together. We’ll also be sharing the recording from our first webinar soon—so stay tuned.
We hope you can join us! ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Join us this Thursday at Noon!
We’re looking forward to gathering with community members, partners, and friends for our upcoming Arctic Watch Webinar this Thursday.
We’ll be joined by our partners from the U.S. Coast Guard and several Arctic Watch members to discuss what a Harbor / Waterways Safety Committee is, how it can support the region, and how you can get involved ahead of the May 19 meeting in Nome.
This will be an informative, welcoming conversation with time for questions, ideas, and community discussion as we continue working together toward safe, resilient, and responsive waterways across the region. Please see the flyer for Zoom details, and help us spread the word — we hope you’ll join us! ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
It’s been a little while since our last update, and we’re excited to reconnect.
Please join us next Thursday the 16th at noon for an upcoming Arctic Watch webinar focused on Harbor & Waterway Safety Committees and what they could mean for the region.
We’ll be joined by guests from the Coast Guard to help kick off the discussion, with plenty of time for questions, community input, and conversation.
We’ll share the webinar link as we get closer — in the meantime, please help us spread the word to anyone interested in joining this important conversation. We look forward to seeing you next Thursday. ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook