Free Coast Guard dockside examinations for Commercial and Recreational Vessels

US Coast Guard ^ | 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY

FISHING VESSEL SAFETY ACT OF 1988

On September 9, 1988, President Regan signed into law the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-424) as the first comprehensive safety legislation ever enacted specifically for commercial fishing vessels in the United States.

This act required the Coast Guard to issue new regulations for safety equipment and operating instructions for fishing, fish tenders, and fish processing vessels.

These regulations gained final approval and were printed in the Federal Register on August 14, 1991 with an effective date of September 15, 1991 and are now incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations.

The best way for fisherman to ensure that their vessels are in compliance with these federal regulations is to request a free dockside examination prior to leaving port.

DOCKSIDE EXAMINATIONS

At your request, a Dockside Examiner will conduct an examination of your vessel to determine compliance in accordance with the applicable regulations. These voluntary Dockside Examinations are free of charge. The Exam will identify possible at sea violations that could result in penalty fines. Any discrepancies found during the free dockside examination will not result in citations. If the fishing vessel passes all applicable regulations, a "DECAL" will be awarded indicating full compliance. Commercial Fishing Vessels that have a valid decal are considered to be a low boarding priority while at sea.

TYPICAL EXAMINATION ITEMS

The following are some of the typical items to be examined during a free dockside examination:

Lifejackets	Flares	Fire-Extinguishers
Survival-Craft	EPIRB	Navigation-Equipment
Communication-Equipment	Guards	Emergency-Drills
	Structure & Watertight Integrity

For more information or to schedule a free dockside examination,
Please CLICK HERE
Or Call the Commercial Fishing Vesssel Examinier at:
1-800-368-5647
Choose Option 1 then Option 6 for
Commercial Fishing Vesssel Exams

What is a Recreational Vessel Safety Check (VSC)?

A Recreational Vessel Safety Check is a courtesy examination of your boat (Vessel) to verify the presence and condition of certain Safety Equipment required by State and the Federal regulations. The Vessel Examiner is a trained specialist and is a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They will also make certain recommendations and discuss certain safety issues that will make you a safer boater.

This is not boarding or a law enforcement issue. No citations will be given as a result of this encounter.

We will supply you with a copy of our evaluation so that you may follow some of the suggestions given. Vessels that pass will be able to display our distinctive VSC decal. This does not exempt you from law enforcement boarding, but you can be prepared to make this a positive encounter.

To check to see if your recreational vessel
has the required safety equipment
Click Here.

To contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary
for a free recreational vessel check
Click Here.

[Lady Jag]

1) Looks real yucky, hence GROSS
2) Port as in WINE Any more questions? LOL

Yeah, I said "Tonk", not "Tom".

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

LOL!!!

[fatima]

Tonk as in TonK Bump.:)

[kilowhskey]

http://www.vic56.co.uk/detail.htm

The above link will show you what a 100-ton steamship looks like. In the US, we called them coastal freighters.

RE: PORT In the early days of sail, the rudder, then called the steering board, was hung on the right side of the vessel. To protect the rudder, ships always tied up to the pier on the opposite side, called the larboard (lard board: the side of the vessel on which the food came aboard). Over time, skippers discovered that, in a 40 knot wind, larboard and starboard sounded too much alike. Thus, the larboard side became the port side. The starboard side remained the starboard side, despite the design evolution which moved the steering board to the center of the vessel's stern.

Kerry the Old Sea Dog

[WelshLass]

Great news Tonk! You are someone all can look up to and admire. Keep up the grand work.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Webmaster and Plank Owner
Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examiners Association



Commercial fishing is one of our nation’s most hazardous industries.
The Coast Guard is committed to increasing safety in the fishing industry.
The main objective is to increase compliance
with the minimum safety requirements found in
Title 46 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 28—
Requirements for Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels.

"...Between 1999 and 2003, for the US, a total of 528 uninspected commercial fishing vessel
were lost and 291 fishermen died.

“These figures clearly demonstrate that the death rate for the uninspected commercial fishing vessel industry is unacceptable in comparison to other segments of the maritime industry and the American workforce in general,” the analysis stated.

Furthermore, data compiled from voluntary dockside examinations “show conclusively” that increased survival rates of both fishermen and vessels are directly proportional to the proper equipping and maintenance of safety gear on vessels, “particularly when the crew has been properly trained to use these systems effectively in emergency response scenarios.”

Yet the Coast Guard estimates that only six percent of the approximately 90,000 uninspected commercial fishing vessels in the US today have had the voluntary dockside examination..."