JUNEAU, Alaska — The 17th Coast Guard District began their annual buoy tender roundup in Juneau Sunday with the arrival of cutters based in Alaska, Washington and British Columbia.

This year’s roundup brings together the crews of six buoy tenders: SPAR, Fir, Maple, Henry Blake and Anthony Petit, and the Canadian coast guard vessel Bartlett.

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.

Crews aboard Coast Guard buoy tenders in Alaska service 1,250 navigational aids along 42,000 miles of coastline while actively participating in search and rescue, environmental protection, and law enforcement missions.

Source: USCG