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United States Coast Guard Reports

US Coast Guard provides safety checklist, answers queries on foreign-built fishing vessels

USCG to watermen: Cold water months still in effect, be safe

Dockside exams have unexpected benefits

What is a marine casualty and when should you report one?

US Coast Guard provides safety checklist, answers queries on foreign-built fishing vessels

Warm weather is on its way. Now is the time to check your fishing vessel safety equipment, order new equipment to replace any worn or outdated gear, and clean or overhaul the rest. Here are some items you should check to get your vessel in compliance with the regulations, and most importantly, to keep you safe.

1. Gasoline engine – Is your backfire flame control operable?

2. Lifejackets – Do you have the proper amount? Are they in good condition? Do they have the correct markings?

3. Ring life buoy – Is it in good condition? Do you have the vessels name marked on it and have retro-reflective tape on four points?

4. Survival Craft (if required) – Is it in good condition and marked properly? Stowed correctly?

5. Distress signals – Have they expired? Are they stowed in a watertight container?

6. Epirb (if required) – Have you tested it at least once a month? Is it registered with NOAA?

7. Fire extinguishers – Do you have the correct amount onboard? Have they been serviced recently? Are they mounted correctly?

8. Injury placard – Do you have it mounted onboard?

9. Waste management plan – Do you have one onboard? (It is required for vessels over 40 feet that operate more than three nautical miles offshore.)

10. Marine sanitation device – Is it secured at the overboard discharge side "y" valve? (This is required if operating inside three nautical miles from shore.)

11. Navigation rules – Do you have a copy onboard?

12. Navigation lights – Do they work? Do they show the correct arc of visibility?

13. Oil pollution placard – Is it posted onboard?

14. Pollution equipment – Do you have the ability to remove oil from the bilges? (Bucket, sponge, absorbent pads.)

15. Garbage placard – Is it posted onboard?

16. Registration/numbering – Is it the proper size? Is it readable?

17. Sound producing device – Do you have one onboard? Is it functioning?

I have received many questions lately about documenting commercial fishing vessels, especially those built outside the U.S. Here are some general guidelines:

• All commercial fishing vessels 5 net tons or greater must be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard.

• All commercial fishing vessels 5 net tons or less must be state registered.

• Vessels 5 net tons or over built outside the U.S. can not be legally documented in the U.S.

• Vessels 5 net tons or over built outside the U.S. can not be used for commercial fishing.

Now is the time to schedule your free dockside exam. Give us a call here at Activities Baltimore at (410) 576-2634 or call your local Coast Guard station. We would be glad to schedule an exam at your convenience.

USCG to watermen: Cold water months still in effect, be safe

By CWO3 STEPHEN OAKLEY

Uninspected Vessel Safety Coordinator

Coast Guard Activities Baltimore

There are a few safety factors that are essential for the safe operation of your commercial fishing vessel. Not complying with them can risk your vessel being terminated by the Coast Guard, or more importantly, put you and your crew in danger. Here are some of the major items that Coast Guard personnel look for during boardings and dockside exams:

1. Operation without sufficient lifesaving equipment on board. This may include:

a. Insufficient number of personal flotation devices (PFDs) or immersion suits, or PFDs and immersion suits which are in disrepair.

b. No survival craft onboard, not enough capacity for the number of crew onboard, or a survival craft in unserviceable condition.

2. No radio or Epirb onboard, or radio or Epirb inoperable or unable to call for help or send signal for help.

3. Operation without adequate firefighting equipment onboard, fire extinguishers inoperable or inaccessible, or fire pump inoperable.

4. Volatile fuel or fuel vapors in the bilge, or gasoline, diesel fuel, paint or solvents in the bilges.

5. Overloading, putting too much weight in the vessel causing a lack of freeboard, or overloading with crab pots, fishing gear, etc.

6. Intoxicated operator: A commercial fishing vessel operator is by law considered intoxicated when he or she has a blood alcohol level of .04 by weight in his/her blood, or the person's manner, disposition, speech, muscular movement or general appearance indicate intoxication.

7. Inoperable bilge pumping system, or no bilge pumping system onboard.

8. No navigation lights or navigation lights that do not work, especially during low visibility.

9. Flooding or uncontrolled leakage.

10. Watertight closures missing or inoperable.

These are the major items that can put you or your crew at risk, so keep a weather eye out and be safe!

Just a reminder: The cold water months for the Chesapeake Bay are November 1-May 31. So, if you are over 36 feet in length you are required to have a survival craft onboard. If you carry 3 or less crew, you need a buoyant apparatus onboard, or you must comply with the exemption which states you must have immersion suits for all onboard, flares, a vhf radio and a current dockside exam decal. If you carry 4 or more crew, you need an inflatable buoyant apparatus, or you must comply with the exemption which states you need a lifefloat, immersion suits for all onboard, a vhf radio and a current dockside exam decal.

Don't forget to get your free voluntary commercial fishing vessel dockside exam. Just call (804) 441-3285 in Virginia and (410) 576-2656 in Maryland.

Dockside exams have unexpected benefits

By CWO3 STEPHEN OAKLEY
Uninspected Vessel Safety Coordinator
Coast Guard Activities Baltimore

Due to the large number of casualties associated with commercial fishing, and the large number of injuries, the Coast Guard started the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program. The Commercial Fishing Vessel Dockside Exam Program was designed to assist you in keeping you and your vessel safe. It does this by allowing you to check the material condition of your vessel and amount of safety equipment you have onboard. With the help of the Coast Guard examiner you go over the required safety equipment and discuss some common sense safety tips. It is easy and painless! The Coast Guard has been actively promoting this program for years with good success, but not everyone is taking advantage of it. So here are a few more reasons why you should get your dockside exam:

Did you know that if you receive a citation during a Coast Guard boarding, your fine could be reduced or eliminated by obtaining a dockside exam? You have 30 days from when you receive a citation to get your exam completed. If you receive a decal, this information will be passed to the Coast Guard Atlantic Area where your case will be decided, and can result in a lesser fine or no fine at all.

All Coast Guard boarding officers will consider if you have a decal (or not) when choosing who to board. This doesn’t mean you will not be boarded, but if the boarding officer sees that you have a valid decal they will only conduct abbreviated boarding. So, in addition to your vessel being safer, there are other benefits of obtaining a dockside exam.

There is another program I would like to mention. The Uninspected Passenger Vessel Program. This program is for vessels that carry six (6) or fewer passengers for hire and is designed to keep you and your passengers safe. This exam is also voluntary and when completed you receive a decal, which can be posted on your vessel. Whether you are taking parties sportfishing, or sea duck hunting, this program is for you. You receive the same benefits from this program that you receive from the commercial fishing vessel program. Remember both of these programs are free! Stop by our booth at the show and we will be glad to answer any questions you have or give you any information you need.

These exams are meant to be educational, they will give you the ability to keep yourself safe. The examiner will discuss with you what needs to be corrected and return when it’s done to give you your decal. It’s that easy. Remember these are free exams.

Call and request an exam. For Maryland areas call Coast Guard Activities Baltimore at (410) 576-2634 or (410) 576-2619 and for Virginia areas call Coast Guard MSO Hampton Roads (757) 441-3285.

Remember the whole purpose of these programs is to keep you safe and working on the water.

What is a marine casualty and when should you report one?

By CWO3 STEPHEN OAKLEY

Uninspected Vessel Safety Coordinator

Coast Guard Activities Baltimore

One of the most misunderstood Coast Guard requirements for commercial waterman is the one that says you must report to the Coast Guard any marine casualty. Well, what does that mean? In this month’s column we will define marine casualty and clarify the reporting requirements. What is a reportable marine casualty?

The following circumstances are reportable marine casualties:

1. An unintended grounding, or an unintended strike of a bridge.

2. An intended grounding or an intended strike of a bridge, that creates a hazard to navigation, the environment, or the safety of a vessel.

3. A loss of main propulsion, primary steering, or any associated component or control system that reduces the maneuverability of the vessel.

4. A loss of life.

5. An injury that requires professional medical treatment (treatment beyond first aid) and, if the person is engaged or employed on board a vessel in commercial service an injury that renders the individual unfit to perform his or her routine duties.

6. An occurrence causing property damage in excess of $25,000.00. This damage including the cost of labor and material to restore the property to its condition before the occurrence, but not including the cost of salvage, cleaning, gas-freeing, dry-docking or demurrage.

If any of these happen to you, after addressing immediate safety concerns, report it to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety Office or Coast Guard Group Office.

When you report a marine casualty you should give the following information:

1. Name and official number of the vessel involved.

2. Name of the vessel’s owner or agent.

3. Nature and circumstances of the casualty.

4. Location of casualty.

5. Nature and extent of injury to persons.

6. Damage to property.

In addition to a verbal report, the owner, agent, operator or person in charge shall within 5 days, file a written report of any marine casualty. This written report is in addition to the immediate notice required by 46 CFR 4.05-1 and must:

1. Be delivered to a Coast Guard Marine Safety Office or Activities Office.

2. Be provided on Form CG-2692 (Report of Marine Accident, Injury or Death). For each marine casualty required to be reported, the marine employer shall determine whether there is evidence of alcohol or drug use by individuals directly involved in the casualty and include in the written report, Form CG-2692, information which:

1. Identifies those individuals for whom evidence of drug or alcohol use, evidence of intoxication, has been obtained.

2. Specifies the method used to obtain such evidence, such as personal observation of the individual, or by chemical testing of the individual.

I hope this will clear up the reporting requirements for marine casualties. If you have any questions give me a call or talk to your local Coast Guard station.

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