Co-owners and co-captains Andy Craig and Seawan Gehlbach are former fisheries biologists who have spent over 30 years working in Southcentral Alaska’s commercial fisheries, emergency response, and other related industry stakeholder groups. Their extensive insight and experience have helped them build relationships with numerous regulatory and industry partners. This professional background—along with Andy and Seawan’s dedication to continuing education, training, and maintaining the highest industry standards—create the foundation of Alaska Marine Response.
Alaska Marine Response owners Andy Craig and Seawan Gelbach have lived and worked in Prince William Sound for over three decades. Their commitment to the area and wide-ranging community involvement have led to a deep and intimate knowledge of the land and waters in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.
Andy is AMR’s chief operating officer and fully-licensed boat captain. He arrived in Cordova from upstate New York in 1990, after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University. He worked as a Fisheries Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. In 1999, Andy began commercial fishing in the Area E Drift Gillnet fishery. Seeing the need on the water for professional dive, salvage and tow services, Andy started building AMR in 2009 from the ground up. He is fleet captain of the company’s four response vessels and leads a certified crew on all types of marine emergencies and marine contracting projects. Andy serves on the City of Cordova Harbor Commission. He also sits on the governor-appointed Oil Spill Recovery Institute Advisory Board (www.osri.us), which funds and performs scientific research on oil spill dispersants, mechanical recovery, and the latest trends in spill response. Along with his background in fisheries and tourism, serving on the OSRI Board affords Andy additional opportunities to network and communicate with other industry partners and governmental agencies.
Seawan is AMR’s administrator. She was born and raised in Juneau and moved to Cordova in 1993, after earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of New Hampshire. Seawan worked as a Fisheries Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game before she and Andy launched Cordova Coastal Outfitters, an outfitting company for kayakers, hunters, and eco-tourists. In 2019, Seawan planted the first seeds of the family’s nearby oyster farm, Simpson Bay Oyster Company. (IG @simpsonbay.oysters FB @SimpsonBayOysterCompany) She manages this successful mariculture business, harvesting and selling the popular bivalves. Seawan served many years on the Cordova Chamber of Commerce Board and the City of Cordova Ambulance Response Team. She is a board member and past president of the Alaska Shellfish Growers Association. (www.alaskashellfish.org) She also runs Salvage Central, AMR’s home office, located in the Cordova Harbor.
Andy and Seawan got married in Cordova in 1999 and have raised their two children in this Southcentral Alaska community. When not at work, they enjoy recreating on the water and exploring the Copper River Delta, traveling to new places, and visiting family and friends in the “Lower 48.”
Credentials and Training
- United States Coast Guard License / Merchant Mariner Credentials MMC
- Captain Andy Craig holds a 100-ton near-coastal license with assistance towing endorsement
- Captain Seawan Gehlbach holds a 100-ton inland water license with assistance towing endorsement
- USCG pre-approved vendor
- USCG Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) maintained at all times
- Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS): annual training & certification
- OSHA Marine Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER): annual training & certification
- Inter-agency Area Committee Meetings for Prince William Sound: tabletop drills, regional updates, resource updates
AMR is privileged to serve as your experienced partner in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska. During the summer fishing season, the fully-staged S/T Betty remains on standby in Prince William Sound. A complete salvage response platform is rigged and ready to go in case of a marine emergency, including trash pumps, lift bags, dive gear, oil spill boom, and other critical equipment. Expert crew are on standby as well. In addition to responding to emergencies at sea, AMR is also able to provide professional assistance on a wide array of marine contracting projects. Call us to discuss your needs.