PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Crewmembers aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, an inland river tender, release a drop board to set a buoy in the Mississippi River here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

River buoys must be set in the correct position to ensure vessel traffic has the safest river channel to transit.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - U.S Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, an inland river tender, pushes through fog while underway here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

The Kanawha makes one last buoy run before the end of the year to ensure the channel buoys along the Arkansas, White and Mississippi Rivers are in the correction position.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Moran, a damage controlman aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, watches carefully eye during a buoy evolution here Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006.

Moran is one of 14 crewmembers aboard the Kanawha, an inland river tender, who patrols the river to repair and replace navigational aids.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Jesse Biggers conducts an annual service on a navigational aid along the White River here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

All navigational beacons along the White River are required to have annual service to ensure the lights and dayboards are working properly.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Moran, a damage control specialist aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, conducts underway maintenance here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

A cutting torch allows Moran to conduct small maintenance while aboard the Kanawha.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Crewmembers aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, an inland river tender, enjoy some downtime between working buoys here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

While underway, the crew conducts training, small tender maintenance and underway watchstander rounds.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Lohman, a food service specialist, prepares the evening meal for the crew of the Kanawha here, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006.

Lohman prepares three meals each day for the 14 crewmembers stationed aboard the Kanawha.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Jesse Biggers, a smallboat coxswain aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, pilots a skiff to one of the Kanawha’s lighted aids here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

The skiff is one of two smallboats the crew of the Kanawha utilizes to service navigational aids in shallow water along the rivers.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Lussier, the deck supervisor aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha, secures a range tower base to the deck of the work barge in the White River here Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

Range towers are one type of the 98 shore aids personnel from the Kanawha are responsible for maintaining within their area of responsibility.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Seaman Peter Mellin records information on a Federal Aid Information Document sheet here Monday, Dec. 18 2006.

The document includes characteristics of the aid, weather conditions during the service, battery serial number and other information needed to conduct the service and is completed with each annual service.