Kodiak Daily Mirror: Sen. Murkowski stresses importance Coast Guard in defending the Arctic

Sen. Murkowski stresses importance Coast Guard in defending the Arctic

In an April visit to Coast Guard Base Kodiak and Air Station Kodiak, Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, discussed funding for two new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which will be homeported in Kodiak. The move is part of her ongoing effort to secure funding to bolster the Coast Guard capabilities in Alaska.

In a July 23 interview with the Kodiak Daily Mirror, Murkowski highlighted the growing importance of the Coast Guard’s role in defending the Arctic, admitting that more work should be done to boost their capabilities.

“The more water there is, the more for the Coast Guard to be engaged and involved with,” Murkowski said. “All that is taking place within the Arctic at a time when we are seeing diminishing sea ice, when we are seeing more traffic, commercial traffic either coming down from the northern sea route or going up the Northwest Passage, there is a reality that the Coast Guard will take up a stepped-up role when it comes to the Arctic.”