Encl: (1) to COMDTINST 16711.13B
GUIDANCE ON TERMINATION OF UNSAFE OPERATIONS
ON BOARD COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS
The following practices are considered to be unsafe and may create especially hazardous conditions
for individuals on board fishing industry vessels. A vessel found with one of these unsafe
conditions, while operating (at-sea), may be considered for termination by a Coast Guard boarding
officer. Termination will result in ordering an individual in charge of a vessel to return the vessel
to a safe anchorage, mooring, or dock until the hazardous condition is corrected, or ordering
cessation of a specific operation until the especially hazardous condition is alleviated or corrected.
This list does not exclude any other conditions which in the opinion of the boarding officer are
especially hazardous. Termination decisions shall be made with the concurrence of the District
Commander.
These items are applicable to United States flag vessels that are commercial fishing, fish
processing, or engaged in a fish tender- ing operation. However, each item may not apply to all
vessels. Certain regulations apply only to limited categories of vessels. In all cases, 46 CFR Subpart
28 and other applicable laws and regulations should be referenced for specific applicability.
UNSAFE PRACTICES
1.
Operation without sufficient lifesaving equipment on board. This may include:
a.
Insufficient quantity of personal flotation devices (PFDs), or immersion suits when
required; or PFDs and immersion suits which are unserviceable. The lack of a sufficient
number of immersion suits, when required, may in itself be a basis for termination.
b.
No survival craft on board, insufficient survival craft capacity for the number of persons
on board, or a surviv- al craft in an unserviceable condition.
2.
Operation without an electronic means of communicating dis- tress when specific equipment is
required in the regulations. A radio or electronic position indicating radio beacon, or both, may
be required by the regulations. The intent of this example is that there be at least one
electronic means of communicating distress.
3.
Operation without adequate fire fighting equipment on board.
4.
Excessive volatile fuel (gasoline or solvents) or volatile fuel vapors in bilges.
Previous Page
