Critical Equipment Ready To
Transport To Help Stranded Gulf Fishing Boats
January 25, 2006
Wednesday AM
Last week, in snowy Alaska weather, a 60-ton Marine Travel Lift,
a mechanical harness device to move vessels from shore to sea,
was donated by the City of Valdez, Alaska to aid Gulf of Mexico
fishing industry relief efforts was prepared for transportation.
Technician Dennis Sargent of Marine Travelift was on hand in
Valdez to supervise the dismantling of the Travelift. The lift
was packed onto a flatbed trailer to travel by barge and road.
It is expected to leave Valdez by the end of January, en route
to Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, where an estimated 3,000 commercial
fishing boats were washed ashore during Hurricane Katrina.
Travelift donated by
the City of Valdez, Alaska to aid Gulf of
Mexico fishing industry relief efforts is being prepared for
transportation.
The Alaska Fishing Industry Relief Mission (AFIRM) and the City
of Valdez thank Marine Travelift Corporation of Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin, for the donation of the technician's work. Northwest
Airlines donated the airfare to fly Sargent to Alaska and to
Louisiana for reassembly when it arrives in February. North Star
Terminal and Stevedore Company generously provided the crane
and heavy equipment for the dismantling. AFIRM will cover any
additional travel, lodging, labor and transportation costs to
ensure that the City of Valdez will not incur incidental costs
as a result of its generous donation.
AFIRM is a 100% volunteer,
501 (c) (3) qualified non profit organization of the Alaska seafood
industry. It was organized by Senator Lisa Murkowski and members
of the industry to help the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry in
the wake last Fall's hurricanes. AFIRM is seeking donations from
fishermen, processors, and other fishing industry participants
that recognize the importance of a healthy and unified domestic
U.S. seafood industry. For more information see the AFIRM website
at www.akgulfhelp.org
While arrangements
were being made, residents of Valdez were able to
personalize the donation with an inscription and signatures.
Travelift is loaded
and ready to go. The lift was packed onto this flatbed trailer
to travel by barge and road. It is expected to leave Valdez by
the end of January, en route to Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana,
where an estimated 3,000 commercial fishing boats were washed
ashore during Hurricane Katrina.
Source of News & Photos:
Alaska Fishing Industry Relief
Mission
United Fishermen of Alaska
www.ufa-fish.org
E-mail your news &
photos to editor@sitnews.us
Publish A Letter on SitNews Read Letters/Opinions
Submit
A Letter to the Editor
SitNews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|