JUNEAU, Alaska -- The six contenders in this year's Buoy Tender Olympics stand ready in Juneau. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant DeVuyst)
The Olympic action this summer will begin early in Alaska. Five USCG buoy tenders — SPAR, Fir, Maple, Henry Blake and Anthony Petit, and the Canadian coast guard vessel Bartlett — moor Sunday (7-16-12) at Juneau’s Coast Guard dock for the annual Buoy Tender Roundup. The five-day event will allow crewmembers to receive specialized training in areas such as engine repair, buoy maintenance, safety equipment maintenance, first aid, and personnel management. The roundup also includes a mid-week competition, the buoy tender Olympics, highlighting skills required to perform aids to navigation maintenance. Apologies to web surfers misdirected from the London Olympics: This event has no royals, and only regulation hats. Boo-yah MAPLE!!!
