News & Media
Newsletter
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. ⚓
A team from MXAK recently traveled to Savoonga and Gambell on St. Lawrence Island to meet with community leaders, Tribal representatives, Search & Rescue, and residents about future VHF distress communication capabilities and improved maritime safety.
The visit included community engagement, infrastructure upgrades, beach cleanup efforts with local youth, and enhancements to weather, navigation, and communications systems in both communities. We’re encouraged by the strong local support and grateful to everyone who welcomed us, shared their knowledge, and helped shape the conversation.
Together, we’re working toward stronger communications and increased maritime awareness across Alaska’s Arctic waters.
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.
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. 🤩
A crew of two from Field Operations just banged out a bunch of work at several Marine Safety & Security Sites on Kodiak Island.
At Larsen Bay, a new site was installed at the Kodiak Microwave Systems (KMS) Low Site in Larsen Bay. This site provides AIS receive and DSC receive capabilities. Additionally, two new antennas were mounted on the KMS communications building along with a new Starlink as an internet backhaul.
On Spiridon Mountain, a damaged AtoN radio was replaced which resolved GPS failure and improved the receive performance. The Jotron (VHF-FM) radio also received a firmware update.
At Elbow Mountain, an AtoN radio was replaced and the condition and function of the existing coax line and antenna were checked.
On Pillar Mountain, a new Starlink dish was installed at our Jotron site. Initially, only a cellular modem was being used as backhaul but now after installing the Starlink this site has redundant connections in the case one was to fail.
Big upgrade in Wales, Alaska!
We’ve recently launched a fully operational Marine Safety & Security Site at the Alaska DOT airport maintenance building—bringing a complete suite online with capabilities including VHF-FM communications, DSC, AIS receive and transmit, and a live weather sensor.
This installation ensures reliable connectivity and real-time data in one of Alaska’s most remote locations—marking a major step forward for maritime safety, weather monitoring, and communications in the Arctic.
For 25 years, the Marine Exchange of Alaska has worked to help build Alaska’s maritime safety net — connecting mariners, communities, technologies, and partnerships across some of the most challenging and beautiful waters in the world.
What started as a bold idea from Captain Ed Page and a few “friends of Ed” has grown into a statewide network supporting safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible maritime operations across Alaska and beyond.
Along the way, we’ve shared a lot of sea stories, weather reports, close calls, long days in the field, innovative ideas, and unforgettable memories.
As we celebrate MXAK’s 25th Anniversary, we’d love to hear from you:
⚓ Do you have a favorite MXAK memory?
⚓ A photo from the field or out on the water?
⚓ A story about using MXAK capabilities during a voyage or adventure?
Please share your stories and photos with us as we celebrate 25 years of community, partnership, and maritime safety across Alaska and beyond. Thank you for being part of the journey — and for helping us continue to build something special in the Last Frontier.
Last week, our AHOY scholars traded the classroom for a full day exploring the maritime in Ketchikan — and Southeast Alaska delivered the full experience with sunshine, sideways rain, clouds, and everything in between.
Joined by MXAK Executive Director Captain Steve White, our crew visited the hardworking teams that help power Alaska’s Blue Economy. From touring the M/V Matanuska with Captain Hildre and the Alaska Marine Highway System crew, to exploring the busy JAG Shipyard alongside vessels like the M/V Columbia in drydock, students got a firsthand look at the many career paths and opportunities that exist in the maritime world.
The day wrapped up with an incredible visit to U.S. Coast Guard Base Ketchikan, where students toured facilities, stepped aboard Fast Response Cutter Denman, met with crew members, and even got underway on the 29s before being dropped off at the airport just in time for the flight home.
A huge thank you to all of our hosts and partners for sharing your time, stories, and expertise with the next generation of maritime leaders. Experiences like these help inspire curiosity, connection, and opportunity across Alaska’s maritime community.
