U.S. COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT of 2010
signed by the President on October 15, 2010
Directly link into HOMEPORT to view the contents of the USCG Authorization Act.
SECTIONS AFFECTING COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY
Section 604: FISHING VESSEL SAFETY
Section 608: SAFE OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
Section 904: MANNING REQUIREMENTS
CLICK HERE TO VIEW AUTHORIZATION ACT 2010 CHANGES TO THE CURRENT REGULATIONS
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THE COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010 WILL REQUIRE COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS TO
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A DOCKSIDE SAFETY EXAMINATION AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.
THIS NEW FEDERAL REQUIREMENT WILL APPLY TO BOTH USCG DOCUMENTED AND STATE REGISTERED
VESSELS THAT COMMERCIALLY FISH MORE THAN 3 NAUTICAL MILES SEWARD OF THE TERRITORIAL BASELINE.
DOCKSIDE SAFETY EXAMS ARE VALID FOR TWO YEARS....THERE'S NO REASON TO WAIT.
CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A FREE DOCKSIDE SAFETY EXAM
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U.S. COAST GUARD PROCEEDINGS MAGAZINE:
FISHING VESSEL SAFETY EDITION
Current Issue: Winter 2010-11
In This Issue:
-New Federal Requirements-
-Commercial Fishing Industry Reports-
-Lessons Learned from Casualty Reports-
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FREE SAFETY TRAINING DVD FROM NIOSH/AMSEA
MAN OVERBOARD: PREVENTION AND RECOVERY
NIOSH, AMSEA, & Alaska Sea Grant have teamed up to create this safety training DVD to help prevent
and respond to man overboard events. It features interviews with man overboard survivors and explains
ways of successfully recovering a person in the water in a timely manner.
REQUEST COPIES OF THIS VIDEO BY SENDING AN E-MAIL TO NIOSH AT pubstaff@cdc.gov.
REFERENCE IN THE SUBJECT LINE:
"MAN OVERBOARD: PREVENTION AND RECOVERY/ pub# 2011-126d"
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ANALYSIS OF FISHING VESSEL CASUALTIES
"A REVIEW OF LOST FISHING VESSELS AND CREW FATALITIES, 1992- 2010"
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Analysis of the casualty data is presented in two parts: vessel losses, and crew fatalities.
Each part begins with overall summaries and descriptive statistics, and then a more detailed
"drill down" analysis is provided on the data. For each of the two groupings, the broad based
information was examined in increasing detail, in order to focus on the most significant factors
involved in these fishing vessel incidents. For the nineteen-year period from 1992 through 2010,
there were 2,072 lost vessels and 1,055 fatalities. Of those fatalities, 564 occured at the same
time a vessel was lost. Overall, this is an average of 109 lost vessels and 56 fatalities per year.
Click here to review USCG Analysis
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FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES:
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO ATTENDED THE 32nd CFSAC MEETING
CFSAC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
SUMMARY:
The Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFSAC) will meet
in Seattle, Washington to discuss various issues relating to safety in the
commercial fishing industry. This meeting will be open to the public.
DATES:
The Committee will meet on November 14, 2011, from 9am- 5pm (PST), and on
November 15-16, 2011 from 8:30am- 5pm (PST). This meeting may close early
if all business is finished. Written materials and requests to make oral presentations
should reach the Coast Guard on or before November 4, 2011.
ADDRESSES:
The Committee will meet at the:
Henry M. Jackson Federal Building (Room 440)
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98174
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Jack Kemerer, Alternate Designated Federal Officer (ADFO) of CFSAC
at 202-372-1249 or via email: Jack.A.Kemerer@uscg.mil
Click here to view the Federal Register Annoncement
Click here to view the list of 2011 CFSAC members
WAIVER OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR
CREWMEMBERS ON COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS
SUMMARY:
The Coast Guard proposes to add to its regulations a description of the
procedures for requesting and processing waivers of citizenship requirements
on commercial fishing vessels. The Coast Guard aims to improve its efforts to
inform the commercial fishing industry of this opportunity by publishing the
application procedure policy into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
DATES:
Comments and related material must either be submitted to our online
docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before November 16, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. David Belliveau, USCG at 202-372-1247
or via email: David.J.Belliveau@uscg.mil
Click here to view the Federal Register Announcement
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS & MANNING
EXEMPTION ON DISTANT WATER
TUNA FLEET VESSELS
SUMMARY:
The Coast Guard announces the availability of Office of Vessel Activities
Policy Letter 11-05 regarding Distant Water Tuna Fleet vessels manning
exemption eligibility and safety requirements. This final policy clarifies the
requirements to allow a distant water tuna fleet vessel to engage foreign
citizens under a temporary manning exemption.
DATES:
This policy will become effective on July, 1, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Jack Kemerer, USCG at 202-372-1249
or via email: Jack.A.Kemerer@uscg.mil
Click here to view Policy Letter 11-05
Click here to view the Federal Register Announcement
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USCG POLICY LETTER 11-11:
ENGINEER OFFICER ENDORSEMENTS ON UNINSPECTED
COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS
"The purpose of this policy letter is to summarize and clarify references as they pertain to
Engineering Officers on Uninspected Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels. There have
been misinterpretations of 46CFR15.820(b) in regards to who must hold an appropriately
endorsed license or Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) authorizing service as a chief engineer
on uninspected commercial fishing vessels. The various grades and types of endorsements
acceptable for engineers employed on uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels can be
confusing, particularly when attempting to cross-reference the requirements in the U.S. Code or
the regulations in 46 CFR. To provide guidance in their application, terms of reference and answers
to questions are provided in Enclosure (1) of this policy letter. This policy letter does not discuss
STCW endorsements because fishing vessels, including fishing vessels which operate as fish
processing vessels. This policy letter does not discuss STCW endorsements because fishing vessels,
including fishing vessels which operate as fish processing vessels or fish tenders, are exempt
in accordance with 46CFR11.202(g)."
Click to view USCG Policy Letter 11-11
FCC ENFORCMENT ADVISORY:
ENFORCEMENT BUREAU REMINDS BOATERS OF MARINE RADIO RULES
"The FCC regulates marine communications in cooperation with the USCG, which monitors marine
distress frequencies continuously to protect life and property. All users of marine radios, whether
voluntary or compulsory, are responsible for observing both FCC and Coast Guard requirements.
Each boating season, the USCG reports a significant number of false distress call and incidents
ranging from a simple lack of courtesy to intentional interference. The Enforcement Bureau intends
to strictly enforce the Rules related to marine operations. Ensuring the integrity of safety and distress
frequencies is vital to safeguarding lives and property."
Click here to view the complete FCC Enforcement Advisory
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SPECIAL NOTICES & MARINE SAFETY ALERTS:
PROVIDING CPR- NO TIME TO WASTE
"This Safety Alert serves as a reminder to the international maritime community that
when it is necessary to provide a patient Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) there
is simply no time to waste. Every second which passes affects the patient's chance of survival."
Click here to read this USCG Marine Safety Alert
MARINERS SAFETY ENDANGERED: WHEN VHF RADIO DISTRESS ALERTS BY
DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC) LACK LOCATION AND ID INFORMATION
"As the Coast Guard's new marine radio network Rescue 21 becomes operational throughout
the U.S., rescue centers can now recieve instant distress alerts from commonly used DSC-
capable VHF marine radios. However, approximately 90% of VHF DSC distress alerts received
by the USCG do not contain position information, and approximately 60% do not contain
a registered identity. The Coast Guard cannot effectively respond to a DSC
distress alert sent from a such a radio"
Click here to read this USCG Marine Safety Alert
DSC-EQUIPPED MARINE RADIOS MUST MEET MORE RIGOROUS TECHNICAL
STANDARDS BEGINNING MARCH 25, 2011
"Beginning on March 25th, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission will prohibit the
manufacture, importation, sale and installation of fixed mounted (non-portable) digital selective
calling (DSC) equipped marine radios that do not meet the requirements of
International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R) Recommendation M.493-11 or higher,
and in the case of Class D VHF DSC equipment only, International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) International Standard 62238. Therefore, after March 25, 2011,
radios built to RTCM Standard SC-101 can no longer be manufactured, imported, sold
or installed; however, previously-installed radios meeting the older standard may continue to bue used."
Click here to see the USCG Special Notice
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ETHANOL & BIODIESEL FUEL FACT SHEET:
In order to encourage good marine practice the USCG has provided a
fact sheet to help vessel owners/operators make informed decisions
regarding the use of fuel alternatives. Improper fuel use onboard
motor vessels can potentially lead to engine failure and subsequent vessel casualties.
The Coast Guard urges vessel owners and operators to
evaluate their fuel selection for the safety of their vessels and crew.
Click here to view the contents of the fact sheet
________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE REPORT:
"Validating Safety on Commercial Fishing Vessels"
In the Fall of 2010, three knowledgable undergraduate students from the
Worcester Polytechnic Institute worked diligently alongside
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Commercial Fishing Vessel (CFV) Safety staff to
construct a report regarding CFV safety
WPI Report's Abstract:
"In 2004, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
co-signed the Memorandum of Agreement on Observer Safety. This document aims to improve the at-sea safety
of National Marine Fisheries Service observers who regularly document catch on commercial fishing vessels.
Through data analyses and interviews, we determined whether or not the expectations
of the agreement have been met. Results of this project will potentially assist the
USCG in continuing their mission of improving marine safety."
Click here to view the entire report
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NEWS RELEASE:
The Coast Guard released its final report of the investigation of what caused
the 189' Fish-processing Vessel ALASKA RANGER to sink
on March 23, 2008 causing the loss of 5 of the 47 people onboard.
Click here to read the full Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation's Report
OTHER NEWS:
Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee
(CFIVSAC)
renamed
Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee
(CFSAC)
The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC)
was reauthorized by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 and renamed as the
Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFSAC).
A new charter for its authorization and operations has been approved
by DHS and submitted to Congress.
There will be future notices posted regarding meetings and solicitation for new members.
Click here to review the CFSAC Charter
On October 13 & 14th the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
held a Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Forum in Washington DC.
Regulating Officials, Industry Professionals, and Representatives from
Commercial Fishing Groups across the nation where on
hand to discuss the passing of the
US COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT of 2010 and the
importance of Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Standards.
Information regarding the Forum & Participants' Presentations are available for viewing at:
http://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/2010/fishing_vessel/agenda.html
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
has released their report of investigation
into the sinking of the F/V KATMAI.
The report is available for viewing at:
http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2011/MAB1103.pdf
Alternate Compliance and Safety Agreement Program
The ACSA Implementation Guide for the "Head and Gut" Fleet have been published. To view the document please click here.
The Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Digest was revised and updated in 2008.
It is available for viewing and/or downloading on HOMEPORT.
Select "CFV Homeport Homepage" at the left, go to the "Publications, Reports & References" topic group.
Schedule Your FREE 'No Fault' Commercial Fishing Vessel Dockside Safety Exam Today!
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Welcome Aboard the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program's home on the World Wide Web.
Visit the recently updated Coast Guard Commercial Fishing Vessels website click HOMEPORT
Information sharing regarding adequate safety training and effective educational tools can help meet the goal of reducing fatalities in the fishing community so that it is no more dangerous than any other segment of the maritime industry. A team of safety oriented and highly motivated individuals manages the program. Thank you for visiting this site-Your help to increase the relevancy of this mechanism by providing beneficial comments for positive improvements will certainly be appreciated. Click here to do so
Homeport Hint: Use Key Words in the Search Box to locate your Fishing Vessel Related Subject [Example: (1) flyer ; (2) examiner; (3) hypothermia; (4) damage control; (5) stability; (6) EPIRB; (7) etc.]
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Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United State Government or any agency thereof.
