Marine Exchange of Alaska

10/09/2026

We’re proud to announce the installation of a new VHF-FM radio site in Latouche, enhancing near-100% distress communication coverage and monitoring throughout Prince William Sound. This important addition strengthens the region’s maritime communication network, helping ensure critical distress calls can be received and monitored when every second counts.
Since 2022, we have installed 30 VHF-FM radios across Alaska without any dedicated external funding, filling enormous expanses for the Coast Guard that were once communication deserts. We’re picking up calls for help that would have otherwise gone unheard, and we’re safeguarding lives, property, and the environment in the process. We’re proud of this work and aim to continue to fulfill our mission and support Alaska’s maritime domain. Financial support from the U.S. Coast Guard will be crucial to sustaining and enhancing these systems that mariners depend on every day and that are ubiquitous and taken for granted in all coastal areas of the lower 48. Investments in these networks directly contribute to safer waterways, stronger emergency response capabilities, and better protection of Alaska's coastal communities.
A special thank you to our partners Cordova Telecom Cooperative (CTC) for providing space on their tower and helping make this project possible. Site transportation heros in Prince William Sound from both Ridgline Aviation and Alpine Air Alaska got our Field Ops crews there and back safely. Collaboration like this helps improve safety and support the maritime community across Alaska.

10/09/2026

A pretty incredible visitor to Juneau!

Fresh from her commissioning in Whittier, the USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128) made a stop in Juneau—and a few members of the MXAK crew (along with some potential future crew members!) were lucky enough to climb aboard and see the U.S. Navy’s newest destroyer firsthand.

Named in honor of Alaska’s longtime Senator Ted Stevens, the ship and her 300+ sailors made quite an impression. We toured the decks, visited the bridge, asked plenty of questions—some with understandably classified answers—and had a great time learning about life aboard one of the Navy’s newest and most advanced ships.

Even better was meeting the crew. Sailors from across the country were incredibly welcoming and just as excited to experience Alaska’s mountains, community, and hopefully an aurora show on their journey. We even got to share a little about MXAK and Alaska’s maritime world in return.

Thanks to the officers and crew of the USS Ted Stevens for opening your ship to our community and carrying the name of “Uncle Ted” out to sea. We wish you fair winds and following seas on the long voyage back to Norfolk!

09/23/2026

Juneau high school juniors & seniors — your next adventure could start with AHOY!

Applications are now open for the 5th year of AHOY — Our internship program diving into the Maritime Industry!

AHOY gives students a firsthand look at Alaska’s maritime. Throughout the program, students get out of the classroom to tour vessels and facilities, meet maritime professionals, explore different organizations, and discover the many careers that keep Alaska connected.

You don’t need maritime experience—or even know what you want to do after high school. AHOY is about exploring what’s out there and meeting the people working across Alaska’s maritime industry and blue economy.

Over the past five years, some of our favorite moments have come from watching students discover careers and opportunities they never knew existed!

📅 Apply by the end of October
📧 [email protected]
📞 Or give us a call to learn more.

Come aboard and see what’s out there. We hope you’ll join us!

09/09/2026

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 everyone who calls 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

09/03/2026

Expanding Coverage in the Gulf of Alaska!

Marine Exchange of Alaska is pleased to announce the installation of two new Marine Safety Sites expanding coverage into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound. These sites, located at Cape Yakataga and Katalla fill critical coverage gaps along a huge stretch of highly remote coastline (commonly referred to as the "Lost Coast") with significant offshore traffic. Along with DSC and AIS capabilities, these sites also provide VHF-FM communications with a range stretching from the west side of Icy Bay to Prince William Sound. The same day the Katalla site went live, our 24/7 Monitoring Center based in Juneau successfully tested VHF communications with Seven Seas Explorer, a cruise ship traversing the Gulf of Alaska nearly 50 nautical miles offshore.

These installations wouldn't be possible without the strong, experience-proven partnership we share with Cordova Telecom Cooperative (CTC). With permission to utilize their strategically placed towers to install our equipment, we are now able to reach more mariners at distances that have never been reached before. Our mission wouldn't be possible without these types of partnerships and it's an honor to work with companies like CTC who see the benefit of working together, combining resources and applying unique skills to make Alaska a better, safer, and more connected state.

We'd also like to give a shout-out to Ridgeline Aviation for safely transporting our Field Technicians and all the gear and equipment required for remote installations.

08/07/2026

25 years, countless partnerships, and a whole lot of sea stories.

Our MXAK newsletter is out, and this edition is all about where we’ve been, what we’re building, and most importantly—the people behind the mission.

Inside, we’re celebrating MXAK’s 25th Anniversary, new capabilities and Arctic partnerships, sharing stories from the field and Maritime Operations Center, and looking ahead to the next generation of maritime leaders.

From bold ideas to real-world impact, none of it happens without the agencies, communities, friends, and partners who continue to strengthen Alaska’s maritime safety net with us.

📖 Check out the latest newsletter here: https://conta.cc/4hDxD9d

Give it a read, share it with a friend, and let us know what stood out—or where we can work together. Here’s to the next 25 years of having fun doing great things together. ⚓

08/06/2026

A team of four from the Marine Exchange of Alaska recently traveled to Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island to meet with local leaders and community members to discuss the potential build-out of VHF distress communication capabilities across the island.

Through a well-attended community meeting, a beach cleanup, and discussions with Tribal Council, Corporation, and Search & Rescue leaders, we saw strong local interest in improving communications and expanding maritime domain awareness.

The trip also included important infrastructure improvements. In Savoonga, the team rebuilt and modernized a weather and Aid-to-Navigation site damaged by a winter storm and added Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities. High-site surveys were also conducted to identify potential locations for a comms tower. In Gambell, the Marine Safety Site was updated with a new AtoN, weather sensor, and DSC.

While significant planning and coordination remain before expanded VHF-FM communications can become a reality on St. Lawrence Island, we are encouraged by the strong community support and excited about the opportunities ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to the Native Village of Savoonga and the many community members, leaders, and partners who welcomed us and shared their knowledge and perspectives. Our work is strongest when guided by local expertise, partnerships, and a shared commitment to improving safety and communications throughout Alaska's Arctic waters.

08/04/2026

Happy Birthday, U.S. Coast Guard!

Today, we join our friends across the maritime community in celebrating 236 years of service, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment by the men and women of the Coast Guard.

Since August 4, 1790, Coast Guard members have stood the watch—saving lives, safeguarding our waterways, protecting our marine environment, and ensuring the safe, secure, and efficient flow of maritime commerce. Their motto, Semper Paratus ("Always Ready"), continues to define a legacy of professionalism, courage, and service that inspires us every day.

At MXAK, we are especially proud of our longstanding partnership with the Coast Guard. Together, we work to strengthen Alaska's maritime safety net by improving communications, enhancing maritime domain awareness, supporting search and rescue efforts, and helping mariners safely navigate some of the most challenging waters in the world. We're also honored to have so many current and former Coast Guard members as part of the MXAK family, whose experience and dedication continue to shape our mission.

To every Coast Guardsman—past and present—and to the families and communities who support them, thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering commitment to our nation's maritime.

We look forward to continuing our partnership in support of Alaska and beyond.

Semper Paratus. Always Ready.

07/17/2026

Wow, time flies when you're having fun!

MXAK has been proud to partner with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Center for Arctic Study and Policy (CASP), helping introduce future Coast Guard leaders to Alaska, the Arctic, and the many opportunities and challenges that come with operating in our maritime state.

Over the years, we've hosted several classes of cadets, and many of them have gone on to serve in Alaska after graduation. It turns out that once you get a taste of Alaska, it's hard not to get hooked.

This summer, we're excited to welcome Cadet 1/c Brendan Fant and Cadet 1/c Ben de Ondarza to the MXAK team. Over the past month, they've been diving headfirst into Alaska's maritime world—exploring ports, communities, mountains, marine transportation, Arctic operations, and the partnerships that keep our state connected and moving.

Currently, Brendan and Ben are visiting Prudhoe Bay and the North Slope, learning firsthand about the logistics, infrastructure, and coordination required to support life and industry in Alaska's Arctic.

Brendan is pursuing a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and is passionate about Arctic infrastructure, technology, and improving marine transportation safety. Ben studies Marine and Environmental Science and is particularly interested in the intersection of science, maritime operations, and the blue economy.

They'll be wrapping up their time with us later this month, and we'll share more of their adventures and experiences soon. In the meantime, if you happen to see Brendan or Ben during their travels around Alaska, be sure to say hello and give these outstanding young leaders a warm Alaska welcome!

Fair winds and following seas, Brendan and Ben—we're glad to have you aboard.

06/30/2026

With Alaska’s maritime industry in full gear, Regulatory Compliance has been very busy in the office and the field. In Glacier Bay, we continue to support the National Park Service (NPS) and the cruise industry through our unannounced cruise ship environmental monitoring program. Our Compliance staff will set foot on EVERY ship that visits Glacier Bay this summer to ensure compliance with NPS operational and environmental rules. The weather doesn't always cooperate, but when it does, the views are unmatched. 🤩