Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Alaska Regional Office
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2000
CONTACT: |
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Carol Tocco,
PAO
(907) 586-7032
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SEIZED FISHING VESSEL TO BE SOLD BY UNITED STATES
The F/V ARCTIC WIND, seized in May for illegal high seas driftnet
fishing, will be sold by public auction, announced NOAA's Office
of General Counsel and National Marine Fisheries Service. The formerly
Korean-owned 125 foot vessel with its furniture, electronics and
related equipment will be sold by public auction on October 16
at 2:00 p.m. NOAA will also be accepting sealed bids for the vessel.
The sale will be held at the United States District Courthouse,
222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, room 135. Further information
concerning the ARCTIC WIND, including the complete Notice of Public
Auction, photographs and a recent condition and valuation survey,
can be found at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/.
Interested parties may contact Joseph McCabe, Paralegal Specialist,
NOAA General Counsel at (907) 586-7414, ext. 33 or joe.mccabe@noaa.gov
for more information concerning the auction and to receive a sealed
bid package, which will include the necessary forms and instructions
to submit a sealed bid. NOAA will accept only sealed bids that
have been submitted pursuant to the information and directions
contained in the package. The vessel will be sold to the highest
and best bidder. Minimum starting bid for the vessel is $70,000.
The ARCTIC WIND is located in Seward, Alaska. Stephen Meyer, the
Special Agent in Charge of NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Enforcement Division,
is the duly appointed and acting custodian of the vessel. Interested
persons may arrange with Meyer to board, inspect, examine or survey
the vessel on a business day during daylight hours, prior to the
day of the sale. Any such boarding and inspection shall be done
at the sole expense and risk of the person making the inspection.
Meyer can be reached at (907) 586-7225.
Under current documentation regulations, forfeited vessels may
be eligible for U.S. Certificate of Documentation and/or a fishery
endorsement provided other applicable eligibility requirements
are met (i.e., citizenship, etc.). Potential buyers can contact
the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) for information
concerning their qualification for U.S. Certificate of Documentation
and/or a fisheries endorsement. The NVDC can be reached at (800)
799-8362. Potential buyers with questions regarding the vessel's
eligibility for participating in Alaska fisheries should also contact
the licensing offices of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
and of NOAA Fisheries.
NOAA Fisheries conducts scientific research and provides services
and products to support domestic and international fisheries management,
fisheries development, trade and industry assistance, enforcement,
and protected species and habitat conservation programs.
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