Commercial Fishing

US Coast Guard Fishing Vessel Safety Examinations Now in Force

USCG's mandatory commercial fishing vessel safety examinations for those operating more than three miles from the territorial sea baseline take effect. This requirement, which affects commercial fishing fleets nationwide, comes as a result of Congress' passing of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. To help fishermen come into compliance with the regulations that apply to their vessel, the Coast Guard has built an on-line commercial fishing vessel "checklist generator" available here.  This tool will help owners and operators to understand their specific equipment and operational requirements and the checklist can be used to examine the vessel and prepare for the Coast Guard visit. "We are looking to work with the fishing industry in a fair, reasonable and flexible manner to bring all commercial vessels into compliance with these new requirements," said Ken Lawrenson, the Coast Guard District 17 commercial fishing vessel safety coordinator.  “It is in the best interests of all commercial fishermen operating their vessels more than three miles beyond the territorial sea baseline of the United States to contact and start working with their local Coast Guard marine safety unit, if they do not presently have a valid dockside safety exam decal."  

Canada's TSB Reports on Commercial Fishing Safety

The Transortation Safety Board publishes its findings on a broad safety investigation into commercial fishing accidents in Canada Since 1992 the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has made 42 recommendations concerning fishing safety, and many of these recommendations have been acted on. However, despite the efforts of the Board and others in government and the private sector, many of the causes of fishing accidents today are the same as those identified by the TSB two decades ago.

Harris to Manage Go2marine’s Commercial Supply Division

Kal brings to Mariner Supply and Go2marine over 20 years of sales experience in applying marine equipment, along with associated hydraulic powering systems, to the commercial fishing industry, NOAA, Coast Guard, and the US Navy. The new job at Mariner Supply will allow Kal to continue to work closely with commercial customers to solve complex problems in net-hauling, pot-hauling, lifting and anchor handling, along with mooring operations.

F/V Held for Preventable Safety Violations

A USCG Captain of the Port Order will keep U.S. F/V North Command in Dutch Harbor until more than 10 safety hazards and lifesaving deficiencies are corrected, inspectors from Marine Safety Detachment Unalaska said. Inspectors boarded North Command as part of a required USCG post-search and rescue incident boarding. The vessel lost power in heavy seas about 250 miles southeast of Sand Point and had been the focus of a USCG search and rescue operation.

Hispano Radio, WESMAR Dealer in Spain

WESMAR (Western Marine Electronics) of Woodinville, announced the appointment of Hispano Radio Maritima, S.A. as dealer for WESMAR’s commercial fishing, pleasure boat, and government business in Spain. The arrangement is for exclusive representation for WESMAR except for the Galician coastal fishing fleet. Hispano Radio has a large sales and service force. They are headquartered in Madrid and operate eight branch sales and service offices throughout the country

The New Generation of Multibeam Sonars from WASSP

Multibeam sonar manufacturer WASSP Ltd has announced details of the company’s latest range of multibeam sonar’s, now for all commercial applications. WASSP Ltd parent company, ENL Group has invested in the new range to strengthen its number one position in the commercial fishing sector and also to build a product tailored to the survey and workboat market with new features and functions. “Although WASSP was originally designed for commercial fishing

Coast Guard Cites Vessel Master for Safety Violations

A Coast Guard boarding team cited the master of a commercial fishing vessel with safety violations Tuesday off the coast of Atlantic City, resulting in the termination of the vessel's voyage and restriction to A law enforcement boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Ibis boarded the 70-foot commercial fishing vessel Lady Kimberly, fishing for summer flounder, about 63 miles east of Atlantic City. In the course of the boarding

Tugs Pull Boat from Sandbar

A 62-ft. commercial fishing boat that had run aground was dislodged early Saturday, Harbor Patrol officials said. Two tugboats pulled the Emerald Sea to Newport Harbor just after midnight, where Coast Guard officials will inspect it. The boat ran aground on a sandbar near 36th Street on Friday morning. Preliminary reports point to operator error, officials said. Source: LA Times

Coast Guard Enforces Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety

With the tragic deaths of three Massachusetts fishermen last weekend still resonating throughout the community, the Coast Guard continues to enforce boating safety regulations and, when necessary, force vessels to return to port to correct hazardous conditions. Two Bar Harbor, Maine-based fishing vessels, and one Scituate, Mass., based fishing vessel were boarded and consequently escorted back to their respective ports Tuesday after Coast Guard boarding teams discovered multiple safety

USCG Advisory: Upgrade to GPS enhanced EPIRBs

When Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) are activated in emergency situations the system transmits vessel identification information to rescuers. Traditional EPIRBs rely on satellite Doppler Shift to identify the distress location.  There are a wide  variety of Coast Guard approved EPIRBs on the market but many do not have the most up-to-date feature: the  ability to transmit the EPIRB’s GPS location.