Safe Underway Operations in PWS
Navigating the waters of Prince William Sound requires heightened alertness, deep respect for other mariners, and constant vigilance against wilderness hazards. Because powerboats, sea kayaks, personal watercraft, and massive commercial tankers all share the same bays and channels, understanding underway etiquette and safety is critical.
1. Power Boating Underway Guidelines
Powerboat operators are responsible for their vessels, their passengers, and the waves they create.
- Maintain a Proper Lookout: Assign passengers to help scan the water ahead. Look back and forth constantly for:
- Partially submerged logs and floating debris (deadheads).
- Shallow glacial moraines and low-floating growler ice.
- Sea kayakers, PWC operators, and small fishing vessels.
- Whales, sea otters, and other marine mammals.
- Vigilance in Blind Spots: Pay extra attention when rounding sharp points, navigating narrow winding channels (e.g., Esther Passage), facing directly into a low sun, or when operating in rain, fog, or heavy chop.
- Wake Etiquette: Slow down to minimum wake when approaching paddlers, small skiffs, anchored boats, or vessels resting on gravel beaches. A powerboat’s wake breaking on a shoreline can easily swamp a parked kayak or pull a beached boat out to sea.
- Combat Fatigue: The pounding motion of small boats combined with cold air and engine noise causes rapid physical fatigue. Rotate steering duties and jobs among your crew, and take regular breaks in sheltered coves to maintain situational awareness.
2. Coastal Paddling Underway Guidelines
Sea kayakers are the most vulnerable mariners in Prince William Sound. They ride low in the water, are difficult to spot in heavy chop, and do not show up on marine radar.
- Paddle in a “Pod”: Never string your group out in a long, single-file line. Stay clustered together in a tight group (a “pod”). If a powerboat approaches, wave your paddles overhead to make your collective presence visible.
- Maximize Visibility: Wear bright, high-visibility clothing (yellow, orange, or red) and select bright kayak hulls. Avoid green, blue, or grey gear that blends into the Alaskan water and forest background.
- Stick Close to Shore: Keep close to the shoreline whenever possible. When crossing open water, select the shortest route between two points of land. Never try to outrun bad weather in open water—even the fastest sea kayakers can only maintain speeds of 4 to 6 mph.
- Avoid Busy Shipping Lanes: Keep completely clear of commercial shipping lanes, ferry routes, and harbor channels.
- Secure Your Vessel on Shore: When beaching your kayak to camp or hike, move the boat well above the extreme high-tide line and tie it securely. Many paddlers have been stranded after their kayak floated away on a rising tide or was pulled off the beach by a distant ship’s wake.
3. Personal Watercraft (PWC) Underway Guidelines
PWCs are exceptionally fast and agile, which can lead to rapid-onset emergencies if operated irresponsibly.
- Avoid Collision (Look Behind You): The vast majority of PWC accidents are caused by high-speed collisions. PWC operators frequently develop “tunnel vision” and miss hazards to the sides. Scan the water constantly and always look fully around and behind you before initiating any sharp turns.
- Respect Quiet Anchorages: Do not operate too close to popular wilderness anchorages, State Marine Parks, or wilderness campsites. Respect the peace of other mariners by avoiding running in the same small bay for extended periods.
- Observe Wake Zones: Strictly obey regulatory markers, “No Wake” zones, and harbor speed limits.
- Never Loan Your PWC to Novices: The majority of serious PWC accidents involve operators who do not own the vessel and are inexperienced in marine handling.