Coast Guard announces "Top 10-Ready For Sea" safety list to help ensure commercial fishing vessels have a safe return
JUNEAU, Alaska- Between 1994 and 1999, 88 fishermen died in commercial fishing vessel accidents in Alaska. Commercial fishing is the most dangerous job in the nation and the Coast Guard is seeking new ways to reduce the number of lives lost.
"The challenge is making sure fishing vessels are ready for sea before they cast off and head offshore to fish," said Capt. Ed Page, chief of the Coast Guard's marine safety program in Alaska. "We see the same pattern over and over again. The well-prepared vessel and crew return safely while those who aren't paying attention to safety issues such as weather, vessel maintenance, crew training and emergency equipment, don't make it through the storms that are so prevalent in Alaska."
"Our 'Top 10-Ready for Sea' safety initiative expands our focus from response and emergency equipment to prevention of accidents," said Page. "We've studied the causal factors of fishing vessel casualties over the last 10 years to come up with a list of the top 10 safety factors that truly make a difference. If a mariner uses this check off list, his or her chance of having a safe voyage greatly improves." The Coast Guard's "Top 10-Ready for Sea" list includes:
1 Weather
Evaluating the weather before getting underway and ensuring the vessel and crew can handle it. Many vessels founder when caught in weather that exceeded their capabilities. Should you go out or wait for the weather to improve? 2 Crew A skilled and trained crew can get a vessel through rough weather, and, if the vessel does sink, they can operate the safety equipment. Crew training and rest is critical. Eighty percent of maritime accidents are attributable to human error.
3 Stability Many vessels are lost due to stability problems. Operators should ensure the catch and deck gear is properly secured, hatches are watertight, and the vessel is not overloaded. Operators should also ensure all scuppers and freeing ports are clear and should limit the accumulation of ice on their vessel.
4 EPIRB and Communications Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon's (EPIRB's) have saved hundreds of lives, but many fishermen have been lost because they failed to carry one or didn't know how to operate the one they had. EPIRB's should be tested and properly armed. Also, carrying back up communications, such as a portable VHF radio or satellite phone, is strongly recommended.
5 Immersion Suits They have saved many lives. Crews must know how to don them, and should ensure they fit properly, are in good condition and are readily accessible before they get underway.
6 Survival Craft Carrying a properly serviced and installed life raft is not required for all vessels, but, is highly recommended.
7 PFDs Worn on Deck Forty-nine fishermen fell overboard and perished in Alaska over the last 10 years. Many would probably be alive today if they had worn some type of flotation with lights. A safe vessel will adopt a policy of wearing personal flotation devices (PFD's) (life vests, inflatable suspenders, etc.) while on deck.
8 Damage Control Many vessels start taking on water at sea due to failed valves, packing glands or hull leaks. A damage control kit and skills in using it can stabilize the situation.
9 Fire Fighting A surprising number of vessels catch on fire at sea. Adequate fire extinguishers and training in fire fighting can save a vessel.
10. Safety Exams Before sailing, the vessel's captain should conduct a deck walk and safety inspection to ensure the vessel is "Ready for Sea." Additionally, the Coast Guard provides free safety exams that are highly recommended.
The Coast Guard is distributing "Top 10-Ready for Sea" check off lists to fishermen through fishing associations and when boarding vessels. In addition, they are sending out Safety Alerts containing lessons learned developed soon after fishing vessel accidents happen to educate other fishermen on what went right and what went wrong. A Safety Alert was sent out following the fishing vessel Raduga sinking near Kodiak. In that case, the vessel suffered a major hull failure and sank. The positive lessons learned were the timely distress call, donning of immersion suits, and the use of a life raft, all of which led to the quick rescue of the three crewmembers. Earlier Safety Alerts were issued following accidents that led to deaths this winter in Southeast Alaska, where extreme weather conditions played a role in the foundering of the vessels.
The Coast Guard is expanding its contact with the fishing community through voluntary dockside safety exams, training sessions and boardings at sea. Emphasis is being placed on boarding vessels that do not have a current fishing vessel safety decal.
"Our objective is to improve the fishermen's attention to safety. When we complete a boarding of a fishing vessel it will be successful if we elevate the safety of the vessel either through identifying a safety discrepancy that can be fixed on the spot or through increasing the crew's attention to safety issues," remarked Page.
"Our ultimate objective is to make fishing safer in Alaska. Our men and women stand ready to put their own lives on the line to save fishermen in distress, but we expect the fishermen to do their part and ensure they're ready for sea. By using the 'Top 10-Ready for Sea' check off lists, the fishing vessel crew should have the proper survival equipment and know how to use it. That should lead to fewer sinkings and more successful rescues," added Page.
The Coast Guard is expanding its contact with the fishing community through voluntary dockside safety exams, training sessions and boardings at sea. Emphasis is being placed on boarding vessels that do not have a current fishing vessel safety decal.
"Our objective is to improve the fishermen's attention to safety. When we complete a boarding of a fishing vessel it will be successful if we elevate the safety of the vessel either through identifying a safety discrepancy that can be fixed on the spot or through increasing the crew's attention to safety issues," remarked Page.
"Our ultimate objective is to make fishing safer in Alaska. Our men and women stand ready to put their own lives on the line to save fishermen in distress, but we expect the fishermen to do their part and ensure they're ready for sea. By using the 'Top 10-Ready for Sea' check off lists, the fishing vessel crew should have the proper survival equipment and know how to use it. That should lead to fewer sinkings and more successful rescues," added Page.
Original Publication: March 15, 2000
Cmdr. John Bingaman
[Seventeenth District] Release #033-00
Cmdr. John Bingaman
[Seventeenth District] Release #033-00
Bill Scanlon
USCG Master 50 GT Inland Waters
Towing & Sailing Endorsements
Lic. # 1092926
Towing & Sailing Endorsements
Lic. # 1092926
1984 Catalina 30
"Ruby"
Std. Rig Hull# 3688
Winthrop (Mass.) Yacht Club
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse
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