Boat of the Week: Helenka B </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 9:43 AM on Thursday, June 25, 2009

Boat of the Week: Helenka B

By MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
Staff Writer

At the age of 65, most veterans might retire -- particularly after service in three wars. Not so the USS Surfbird, a World War II minesweeper now wearing her civilian colors as the M/V Helenka B. Captained by Bruce Flanigan, the Helenka B has been in dry dock on the Homer Spit since March getting refitted and repainted. This week she went back into the water -- a monumental task in itself.

Photo by Michael Armstrong

Capt. Bruce Flanigan stands in front of the Helenka B.

To old shipmates in the USS Surfbird Association, the Surfbird had seemed lost to history after being decommissioned in 1970, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1975. A little sleuthing by Ed Fournier in 2003, who served on the Surfbird when she was commissioned in November 1944, connected the Surfbird to her current incarnation. Although shortened from 221 feet to 176 feet, and transformed into an Alaska freight hauler with bow doors and a landing gate, the ship retains some of her features: rows of scuppers, the gunwales rising gracefully to the foredeck and a rounded stern.

The best evidence of the Helenka B's heritage? Stamped above her new name on the stern is the word "Surfbird."

The Surfbird served in the South Pacific during World War II, sweeping mines in the East China Sea. During the Korean War she again swept mines between Wonsan and Hungnam, Korea. In Vietnam, she did patrols off the coast from 1965-70. For her three wars, she earned 13 battle stars.

Sam Brice of Brice Industries, Fairbanks, bought the Surfbird in 1975 and remodeled her by shortening the ship, adding the bow landing craft ramp and doors, and reconstructing the deck house. Brice named the Helenka B after his mother. He sold the ship to Wel-Aska, a Valdez shipping company.

Flanigan bought the Helenka B four years ago when Wel-Aska put it up for sale. He'd been her captain when Wel-Aska owned it.

"I figured I'd have to buy my job," Flanigan said.

Flanigan started Alaskan Coastal Freight, with the Helenka B its main carrier.

Over a million dollars later, he not only has kept his job, but created a large ship dry dock at the Homer Marine Terminal on the Spit. Alaskan Coastal Freight has put $700,000 into the latest repairs and employed up to 20 people on the refitting, Flanigan said.

The Helenka B has hauled freight all over Alaska, from Attu to Point Hope and Little Diomede Island. She also worked on the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup. With a draft of 6.5 feet, she can go right up on beaches. Ice-worthy, the Helenka B can sail in seas other ships shy away from. Flanigan said she takes on following seas with 20-foot waves easily.

"It's tough. It's unbelievable," he said. "If the wind's behind you and you're wanting to go, it's time to go."

For the Helenka B's latest refitting, rather than go to Seward and pay $100,000 for dry dock, Flanigan welded together nine surplus military missile trailers with 128 tires for the mother of all boat trailers. On the north side of Homer Marine Terminal he built a gravel ramp, and on a high tide floated the Helenka B onto the trailer. It took two semi-tractor trailer trucks and a couple of D-6 Caterpillar bulldozers to move the ship onto land. The supertrailer can be used to haul out other large ships, and keep refitting jobs in Homer, Flanigan said.

Anna Flanigan, Bruce Flanigan's wife, said shipmates from the Surfbird periodically call to check up on the old girl. The USS Surfbird Association has a Web site at www.surfbird383.org, with history and photos. The association also plans periodic reunions.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michaelarmstrong.@homernews.com.