Savoonga, located on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea has a population of 643 people. Centrally located between mainland Alaska and Siberia, Savoonga is one of the more remote locations that NSE served. As in many isolated Alaskan villages basketball is a very popular winter time activity. The installation of new Interkal telescopic bleachers enables villagers and student athletes the opportunity to enjoy the game!
To get the bleacher components from Kalamazoo MI to the school required some logistics and creativity. The entire bleacher package was shipped in a 40’ container to Seattle, then by barge to Anchorage with transshipment by barge to Savoonga. As there is no dock facility the barge was basically beached and a large forklift was used to transport the container to the school construction site. Our installer, Andy, employed local Yupik people to assist him with the construction of the new bleacher system.
The local economy consists largely of subsistence hunting for walrus, seals, fish, and bowhead whales; the city calls itself the “Walrus Capital of the World”. Most people on St. Lawrence Island speak Siberian Yupik, while some of Alaska’s people are losing their native languages. Andy is shown at left with polar bear. The diversity of the people, cultures, and geographies we serve is very rewarding.
