Skip Navigation Department of Commerce Logo - Click to go to the Department of Commerce homepage NOAA Logo - Click to go to the NOAA homepage

Alaska Region Recognition

For the 2nd year in a row, the Arctic Sun has won the Alaska Ship Observation Reporting championship! The Arctic Sun took an Alaska Record 1,216 weather observations in 2002, which was an improvement of 39.5% over their winning total from 2001. This vessel is a Liquified Natural Gas Tanker which makes 18 round trips per year between Nikiski, Alaska and Tokyo, Japan. Pictured left to right: 2nd Officer Dominico Scano, Captain Pasquale Mattera, 2nd Officer Franco Di Cristo, and 1st Officer Gioacchino Masiello. They received their award while in port at Nikiski, Alaska on February 28, 2003. The Arctic Sun 
Crew
Bassett, Dyer Pictured left to right: 3rd Mate Brian Bassett along with Captain Jeff Dyer of the CSX Tacoma received an Outstanding Performance Award while at the Port of Anchorage on January 14, 2003. The CSX Tacoma is a National VOS Award winning boat for 2002; they had their best year ever for transmitting ship observations. They took 44% more observations in 2002 than in 2001, with a total of 638.

The CSX Anchorage finished 3rd in the Alaska rankings for 2002 with an outstanding total of 977 observations. This is a 34% increase over 2001. Pictured here is 3rd Mate Fred Koster receiving a Special Alaska Marine Award on February 4th while in the Port of Anchorage.

Fred Koster
Mike Vanderhorst2nd Mate Mike Vanderhorst of the Westward Venture received a Special Alaska Marine Award for 2002 while in the Port of Anchorage on February 4, 2003. The Westward Venture had an excellent year with 460 weather observations.

Pictured left to right is Anchorage Port Meteorological Officer Larry Hubble presenting a Special Award to 3rd Mate Steve Sottak of the Northern Lights while in the Port of Anchorage Alaska on January 7, 2003. The crew of the Northern Lights took 319 weather observations in 2002, which resulted in a significant increase over previous years.

Larry Hubble, 
Steve Sottak
Mark IrishChief Mate Mark Irish of the Tug Malolo received a Special Alaska Marine Award while in the Port of Anchorage on February 10, 2003. The Malolo took 544 observations in Alaska waters in 2002, which was a 12% increase over 2001.

Captain Larry Ohnemus (on the left) and Chief Mate Steve Illige (on the right) of the Crowley Tug Navigator received a Special Alaska Marine Award while in the Port of Anchorage on February 24, 2003. The Navigator is one of Alaska's Most Improved VOS Boats for 2002 and finished the year in 5th place in the Alaska Rankings. They increased their weather observation count by 510% in 2002 by going from 166 observations in 2001 to 847 observations in 2002.

Larry Ohnemus and Steve Illige
Steve Illige Chief Mate Steve Illige aboard the Crowley Tug Navigator received an Outstanding Performance Award while in the Port of Anchorage on January 21st.

Pictured left to right is 1st Officer Kirk M. Piper and Tote Cargo Supervisor Dale Westerlin from the Greatland, receiving a Special Alaska Marine Award for 2002 while in the Port of Anchorage on February 9, 2003. The Greatland had 503 observations for 2002 and recently was named the Alaska Ship of the Month for January 2003 with 131 observations.

Kirk Pier and Dale Westerlin
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Home Page

Page last modified: