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| Chignik Harbor 9 15 2015 |
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| A tranquil moment after the 2015 salmon season |
The Historic Vessel ALEUTIAN EXPRESS
| ALEUTIAN EXPRESS at King Cove, Alaska 7 10 2016 |
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| Waiting to offload at Peter Pan Seafoods dock |
| ALEUTIAN EXPRESS at John Wayne Marina 6 2016 |
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| After the Port Townsend shipyard preparing to head to King Cove |
| Chignik Bay Alaska |
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| at the dock 9 8 2012 |
Chignik Alaska June 2009
| ALEUTIAN EXPRESS at John Wayne Marina 6 2016 |
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| Sequim Bay Washington |
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| The Express and Cornelia Marie at Kodiak Alaska 8-5-09 |
| conserving fuel and reducing CO2 emmissions |
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| Motorsailing from Kodiak to Port Orchard, Washington 10-5-08 |
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Aleutian Express Inc is
committed to minimizing the carbon footprint while operating in ecologically sensitive areas. The historic iron vessel ALEUTIAN EXPRESS
began service in 1913 as the Portland Oregon fireboat "David Campbell" which was oil fired and steam
driven. Replaced in 1927 by 3 more modern gasoline powered fireboats (one of which was also named David Campbell, and
is still in service today), was renamed "Chief "and Purchased by the Foss Launch & Tug Company.
In 1928 the vessel was sold to Kanaga Ranching Company and redesigned by naval architect H.C. Hanson in which conversion took
place at Lake Union Seattle to a two masted auxillary sail/diesel power cargo schooner renamed "Aleutian
Native". In 1932 the vessel was purchased by Petroleum Navigation Company and converted to an oil tanker in
1935 for service to Alaska, changing the name to EXPRESS in 1939. It was reportedly active in the Battle of
the Aleutians as an oil tanker durring WWII and took part in the evacuation of some of the islands. She was converted to an
ocean going towboat and became a combination towboat/ tanker/ Bering Sea king crabber in 1953(one of the first and is the
oldest operating US flagged big Bering Sea crabber begining with Wakefield trawlers inc. operating out of Akutan, Alaska
using drag gear) which was documented in a Pacific Workboat magazine article in October 1954 and a Seattle Times article
from Jan 1970 (3 page Sunday special edition). Purchased in 1956 by the Upper Columbia River Towing Company, the vessel began
towing rafts of logs from Oregon to Southern California durring the post war housing boom among other activities until it
was again sold in 1962 to m/v Express Inc and returned to Bering Sea crabbing (this time using pot gear) from 1963 to 1972
operated by Michael Lynch, and Miles Rice . In 1973 the Express was converted to a salmon processor and later a tender/towboat
by Tom and Mike Kent. As the vessel plates are Iron alloy on steel frames (Illinois Carnegie), and having been commercially
well maintained over the years, the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS is a remarkably solid and seaworthy vessel with a proven
track record of safety. Today under the ownership and command of Captain John Clutter, the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS is enjoying a complete
renovation and refitting to a similar rigging as she looked in 1929 as the ALEUTIAN NATIVE with a more modern interior
and deck setting,while borrowing from the concepts of previous owners. With usable roller furling sails, 12 volt LED Lighting
and a smaller more fuel efficient house generator while anchored and not working at full load, the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS can
reduce nearly half of it's previous carbon footprint, and sail silently without power if necessary. This is a great benefit
in acoustical studies such as whale research, or in seabird rookery areas to minimize pollution in ecollogically sensitive
areas. With the newer design and most of the remodel complete after a drydock at Port Townsend, Washington in May
2016 the new and old names were combined reflecting the vessels rich history while giving it the distinction of a newly redesigned
vessel with new purpose for future work in the 21st Century as the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS.
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We are proud supporters of the following organizations: Alaska Marine Conservation Counsel,
Kodiak Maritime museum, Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, San Fransisco Maritime Museum, San Diego Maritime Museum,
Oregon Maritime Museum, Honolulu Maritime Museum, Ocean Institute of Dana Point, Scripps Birch Aquarium, Audibon
Society, Birdlife International, Nature Conservency, National Geographic Society, American Red Cross, Amvets, USO, Shriners,
St. Judes Childrens' Research Hospitals, Make a Wish Foundation
| The Roosevelt was Captained by Robert Bartlett |
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| It is a commitment of Aleutian Express Inc to conserve, preserve, and serve with respect. |
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The ALEUTIAN EXPRESS is scheduled to operate in the Chignik/Kodiak Salmon districts for the 2019
Salmon season as a fish tender vessel (recieving from catcher vessels in chilled seawater and transporting to processing locations)
for Ocean Beauty Seafoods. Four months of extensive major shipyard repairs at Port Townsend Washington were completed in late
June 2018 which extended into the salmon season of the failed chignik district salmon run of 2018 where the vessel was contracted
to operate resulting in a cancellation of operations. The 2017 salmon season was with Silver Bay Seafoods at Bristol Bay and
Prince William Sound and Peter Pan Seafoods for the 2015 and 2016 Alaska salmon fisheries operating at Bristol Bay, the Bering
Sea and along the soutwestern Alaska Peninsula as we were for the 2014 and 2013 Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet and
Kodiak salmon fisheries for Icicle Seafoods. In 2011 and 2012 were under contract with Trident Seafoods along
the Alaska Peninsula for tendering salmon in the Chignik seine fishery in addition to towing of a stranded vessel
from Chignik to Homer and hauling cargo from Kodiak to Chignik Lagoon that year before crossing the Gulf of Alaska directly
to Cape Flattery and on to Port Orchard, Washington for winter repairs. On completion of a newly remodeled interior and
other renovations including machinery overhaul and upgrades, the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS will be available for long-range scientific
research charters on a 12 person maximum basis after the Alaska salmon and cod fishery activities. Rates are dependant
on service, scope, time of year and area of operation. The future research focus for the vessel will be to explore the depths
of the ALEUTIAN TRENCH, seamounts and hydrothermal vents from the Aleutians to the Line Island group. The PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA
Marine National Monument waters activity durring winter months are future planned winter operation areas which include the
Northwest Hawaiian Islands and Palmyra.
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| Dillingham Alaska 7 11 2015 (New shelter & crane) |
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| Offloading Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon at Peter Pan Seafoods dock |
| Motorsailing out of Bristol Bay 7-20-2017 |
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| Leaving Egegik for Prince William Sound |
| At the Seattle Museum of History and Industry |
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| AMAZON Campus construction cranes 12-2017 |
This website is still evolving! |
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