Safety

October 20, 2013 — Good Samaritans aboard the 98-foot Seattle-based fishing vessel Aleutian Beauty, responding to a Coast Guard issued urgent marine information broadcast, rescue five uninjured fishermen from a life raft in the Bering Sea off the Alaskan coast Oct. 20, 2013.

The mariners set off their emergency position indicating radio beacon, prompting a Coast Guard response, and abandoned ship into the life raft from the 59-foot Kodiak-based fishing vessel Western Venture after it caught fire 69 miles west of Adak. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

View the video here

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — October 21, 2013 — The following was released by the Fishermen's Partnership:

On Friday, October 25, 2013, a free drill conductor certification class for Captains and Mates who have attended our one day basic safety training class within the last year will be held at the USCG Station in Gloucester beginning at 8:00 AM and ending at 4:00 PM.

The law requires all documented commercial fishing vessels who fish beyond the U.S. Boundary line to conduct monthly emergency drills: Man Overboard,Fire, Damage Control and Abandon Ship. These drills must be conducted by a certified drill conductor. To become certified, you must attend a course given by a Coast Guard Certified Marine Safety Instructor. Our instructors are all Coast Guard Certified. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, you will receive the Drill Conductor Certification that meets the Coast Guard requirement. The course builds on the training of the basic one day course and involves 5 hours of classroom training followed by on board drills.

For more details, contact:

– Mass Fishermen's Partnership office at 2 Blackburn Center, Gloucester, MA
– Online at www.fishingpartnership.org
– Contact Nina Groppo at ngroppo@fishingpartnership.org or at 978-282-4847.

Read the release from the Fishermen's Partnership

September 27, 2013 — JUNEAU, Alaska — The last Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew forward deployed to Cordova for the summer is scheduled to return to Kodiak Monday.

Throughout the deployment, which started May 1, 2013, aircrews out of forward operating location Cordova flew on 26 cases, saved 11 lives and assisted 18 other lives.

Air Station Kodiak personnel deploy to Cordova every summer in response to the increase in maritime traffic in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound.

“The FOL allows us to reduce the distance aircrews have to travel when responding to emergencies in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound,” said Lt. Francis Wolfe, a pilot with Air Station Kodiak. “Even in the summer, the Alaskan environment can be dangerous and unpredictable, making quick response times an absolute necessity when disasters occur.”

Watch the video and read the full release from the US Coast Guard

September 27, 2013 — The following was released by Fishing Partnership:

Free training will be held on Friday, Oct. 11 at UMASS Dartmouth – SMASS – 706 Rodney French Blvd. from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This free hands on training is conducted by Coast Guard certified fishing vessel safety instructors. Cape VNA will provide free vaccines including flu and tetanus during lunch break.  Registration at Hercules (SLR) 44 South St. New Bedford, MFP office, 114 McArthur Bld. New Bedford, on-line at www.fishingpartnership.org or contact Deb Kelsey at 508-991-3043 or dkelsey@fishingpartnersip.org.

View a PDF of the announcement

 

JUNEAU, Alaska — September 18, 2013 — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa assisted the crew of the fishing tender Express after it suffered an engine casualty in the Gulf of Alaska, 70 miles west of Hoonah, Tuesday.

The crew of the 110-foot cutter safely towed the 125-foot fishing tender, with two people aboard, to Hoonah.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center received a call Sunday from the master of the Express, reporting that the vessel had suffered an engine casualty and was disabled and adrift. The watchstanders then issued a marine assistance request on behalf of the vessel master.

With no vessels available to tow the tender and deteriorating weather conditions forecasted the watchstanders directed the crew of the Anacapa to get underway, rendezvous with the vessel and tow it 90 miles to port.

Read the full story at Defense Video & Imagry Distribution System

September 17, 2013 — The U.S. Coast Guard held a Commercial Fisherman Drill Conductor Course in Astoria and Warrenton Thursday and Friday.

It offered the course through a partnership with Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and Englund Marine. Fishermen learned skills to help them survive maritime emergencies.

Organizers said the course emphasizes the relationship between equipment, training and attitude, otherwise known as the ‘survival triangle’.

Read the full story at The Daily Astorian 

 

CAPE MAY, N.J. — September 16, 2013 — The sinking of the scallop boat Lady Mary may remain mired in controversy four years later, but the death of six Cape May County fishermen who were aboard March 24, 2009, is leading to sweeping changes in commercial fishing safety regulations.

The Coast Guard issued 45 recommendations in its recently released report on the sinking covering issues including training, vessel stability, licensing, inspections, watertight features, electronics, drug testing and many others. Some of those recommendations are being implemented now. They represent the first proposed major changes to fishing vessel safety in decades.

"It's a tragic case, and I still feel for the families. That's why we're doing what we're doing," Coast Guard Cmdr. Kyle McAvoy said.

Lady Mary's owners continue to blame the sinking on a collision with a cargo ship, but the Coast Guard said there is no evidence of a collision. Instead, the USCG blames the sinking on unsafe conditions and an improperly trained crew.

Both sides, however, support efforts to learn from the tragedy.

McAvoy headed the Marine Board of Investigation inquiry into the sinking and has been promoted since to chief of the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance for the Coast Guard. He's now in charge of trying to institute many of the recommendations he made during the inquiry. Some already have made it into the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, though they have not been turned into regulations yet.

The inquiry was completed two years ago, but was not released to the public until August. McAvoy said it took two years to get clearance to release the report.

Jack Kemerer, chief of the Fishing Vessel Division in the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, said the Lady Mary's sinking already has influenced the first major changes to fishing vessel safety since 1988, when the first federal law was enacted.

Read the full story from The Press of Atlantic City

September 16, 2013 — KENNEBUNK, Maine — A memorial mass to honor the life of William “Billy Mac” McIntire was held Sunday at the Franciscan Monastery, where more than 500 friends and family members gathered from near and far to say goodbye to a friend, family member and fisherman.

McIntire, who lived in the Cape Neddick section of York, was lost at sea on Aug. 22 just off Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. He was a tuna fisherman, and authorities say he went out on his boat, The Clover, that night with friends, jumped in and was never seen again.

After an opening prayer, McIntire's sister, Kim McIntire, shared memories of her brother.

“We are here today to not be sad and grieve but to remember all the good about Billy,” she said.

Kim McIntire, the only daughter growing up in a family with three brothers, went on to describe her brother as good at everything he tried.

“He could do anything he wanted to and he would excel at it,” said, ending her tribute to her brother with this message spoken directly to him: “Billy, all of our love forever. Mom and Dad, Bobby, Shane, Savannah, Jordan and Kimmy.”

McIntire's niece, Jordan McIntire, also spoke about her uncle at the service.

“He always put others before himself … and even though he was my uncle, I always thought of him as my friend — because he sometimes acted my age,” she said to laughs and smiles. Jordan concluded by saying, “He was the best uncle in the world and I am going to miss him.”

Read the full story at Seacoast Online

September 10, 2013 — Hull, MA — Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS) is offering free safety and survival training for New England fishermen on Friday, September 13th at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, 93 Main Street, in Hull MA. This hands-on training is conducted by US Coast Guard certified Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors and will begin at 7:30 AM and end at 3:00 PM. The day-long session includes training and instruction including on-board fire fighting, man overboard procedures, damage control, flooding and pump procedures, donning and using immersion suits, flares and EPIRB’s, life raft deployment, helicopter hoist procedures and emergency communications and first aid.

Bobby Martin of the F/V RESOLVE out of Sandwich Marina said “I took the training in New Bedford this past February and found it to be a real eye opening experience. I thought I was prepared but I was not. This is a great session with really important hands-on training.  I really believe all commercial fishermen would benefit greatly from this training and you get real information about how to save the lives of you and your crew. It is free and I will definitely take the course again.”

Registration forms can be obtained at the US Coast Guard Station at Point Allerton or the Mass. Lobsterman’s Association office, 8 Otis Place, Scituate. Or you can go online at www.fishingpartnership.org or call Lori at 781-635-0011.

The training session is supported by the US Coast Guard, the Massachusetts Fishing Partnership and the Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Team. Lunch is being provided courtesy of the Ocean Marine Insurance Agency.

The Fishing Partnership is a free membership non-profit corporation organized to provide educational programs and services related to the health care, medical treatment and wellness of New England’s fishing community and their families.

September 6, 2013 — MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin from Sector Humboldt Bay rescued two people from a 47 ft fishing vessel taking on water 35 miles off the coast of Punta Gorda in northern California.

At 2:38 p.m. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay received a garbled Mayday call from the Crescent City fishing vessel “Kellan A” 35 miles west of Punta Gorda that was taking on water in 8-12 foot seas and 20 knot winds. Shortly after making the Mayday call, both crew members donned survival suits and evacuated to a life raft. Less than 30 minutes later, Sector Humboldt Bay had launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the Arcata Airport, as well as two 47-foot motor lifeboats from Station Humboldt Bay and Station Noyo River.

Read the full story here