Barging on Lake Iliamna
Igiugig Transport is a barge service
operating on Lake Iliamna, the largest fresh water lake in Alaska. It has been
in business since 1998. The barge is made of two fishing boats pushing a
Flexi-Float which is owned by the Igiugig Village Council. The Flexi-Float can
be taken apart, making it a unique and easy way to transport to other bodies of
water. The boats names are Chulyen that means “Raven” and the other one’s name
is 11th Hour, which belongs to Marc Watson. Igiugig Transport takes Mark Watson’s
boat barging and he takes their boat fishing. AlexAnna Salmon is the Manager.
AlexAnna uses a GPS Tracker to see where the barge is and where it’s going.
Igiugig Transport mostly move freight
on Iliamna Lake to the communities of Pile Bay, Pedro Bay, Iliamna, Igiugig,
Kokhanok, and lodges around the lake. The freight is mainly things that can’t
fit on airplanes, such as heavy equipment. Most of the things they barge come
from Homer. It takes anywhere from 3 hours to 8 hours to barge to a different
community depending on the weather. Fall is the worst time to barge because
there is darkness and horrible weather. In late fall the boats get put up at
Naknek, and the Flexi-Floats get put away at Pile Bay or Igiugig. Right
now Terek Anelon is the main captain. Terek loves working on the barge because
he is the boss, although he gets told where to go, and he loves being on the
water. He is barging with Robbie Hill. Usually 1-3 people work on the barge. It’s
a dangerous working place. That’s why the workers get paid a lot. Nobody has
been hurt on the barge in their records. However in 2011 Igiugig Transport sunk
a boat, the Island Runner, and that was their first incident. The largest business expenses are fuel, insurance,
maintenance, and Flexi-Float Rentals. There is a website if anybody has any
questions: www.sayakrentals.com.
Terek Anelon is doing a great job, I must say he likes to travel which makes him to do this job. His job tells that going off the road is also a one way of reaching to the destination. I would like to do the same job one day in my life.Boat transporting
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I didn't know that Lake Iliamna is the largest fresh lake in Alaska, but thanks to your blog I am aware of this. I think it is a good idea to sail in fresh water lake in which you can see your face in water if it is still. The experience will be overwhelming.
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