NVIC 05-86: Voluntary standards for uninspected fishing vessels

NVIC 5-86 1 Aug 1986 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 5-86 Electronic Version for Distribution Via the World Wide Web Subj: Voluntary Standards for U.S. Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessels

Voluntary Standards for U.S. Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessels — PURPOSE. The purpose of this circular is to establish voluntary minimum standards for U.S.

uninspected commercial fishing vessels. 2 DIRECTIVES AFFECTED: Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars No. 5-85, 6-85, 7-85, 8- 85, and 9-85 are canceled. 3.

BACKGROUND. a.

In response to the poor safety record of uninspected commercial fishing vessels the Commandant of the Coast Guard recommended a Fishing Vessel Safety Initiative to the Secretary of Transportation to reduce the number of casualties.

The program was approved by the Secretary and became one of the Department of Transportation’s' Safety Initiatives. b.

To develop the initiative, the Commandant formed a Fishing Vessel Safety Task Force.

After visits to a number of port areas and soliciting advice and recommendations from industry representatives, government agencies and other Coast Guard personnel, it was determined that a voluntary program dealing with vessel standards and crew safety awareness and education was needed and could be effective in improving safety. c.

The safety awareness and education program was pursued by the Coast Guard in company with the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners' Association (NPFVOA).

A looseleaf "Vessel Safety Manual" was published with chapters paralleling the vessel standards It is illustrated with pictures and diagrams and in a format tailored for fishermen.

Persons interested in purchasing a copy of the guide may do so by writing to NPFVOA Safety Program Office, Suite 207, Building C3, Fishermen's Terminal, Seattle, WA 98U9 (206- 283-0861). d.

The vessel standards program, which this NVIC addresses, originally consisted of a series of five NVICs; Stability (5-85), Radio and Shipboard Navigation Equipment (6-85), Fire Safety Measures (7-85), Lifesaving Equipment and Protection of the Crew (8-85), and Hull, Machinery, and Electrical Installations (9-85).

Many of these NVICs contained specific operational and educational material for fishermen which could be used before the “Vessel Safety Manual” was published; therefore, some material previously contained in any one of the NVICs has been moved to the manual, although some overlap still exists.

NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 5-86 e.

Since input from the fishing industry and other interested parties was essential, we published NVICs 5-85 thru 9-85 as proposed standards and distributed them to over 230 individuals, groups and organizations throughout the U.S. who have an interest in fishing vessel safety.

These groups included safety consultants, marine surveyors, naval architects, insurance underwriters, fishing vessel owners' associations, boat builders, fisheries unions, personnel associated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant program, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Several sent -detailed comments; all expressed a favorable reaction to the standards.

Other methods were also used to inform Coast Guard personnel and the public about the safety initiatives i.e.

District Commander Conferences, District “M” Officer Conferences, Commandant Notice, Commandant's Bulletin, Fish Expo 85', industry sponsored fishing vessel safety seminars and conferences throughout the country, Federal Register notice, and articles in industry periodicals. f.

Enclosure (1) is a consolidation of NVICs 5-85 thru 9-85 taking into account the comments and recommendations received.

For continuity, certain regulatory requirements

(although not voluntary) have been included where appropriate. 4. DISCUSSION. a. Commercial fishing activity has only limited federal regulations dealing with vessel safety. Of significance are existing regulations, found in Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR) Subchapter C, "Uninspected Vessels," which cover minimal lifesaving and firefighting equipment. b. Enclosure (1) includes recommended voluntary standards intended to be used as guidelines for increased safety on board U.S. uninspected commercial fishing, fish processing, and fish tender vessels. Much of the material used to develop the standards already exists; however, it is scattered throughout several different foreign and domestic publications and documents. Enclosure (1) was assembled using a variety of sources including feedback received from persons having an interest in fishing vessel safety, classification society rules; the Code of Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Labor Organization

(ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO); Canadian and United Kingdom fishing vessel requirements; American Boat and Yacht Council's (ABYC) Safety Standards for Small Craft; Coast Guard Publications; applicable industry standards; and appropriate portions of federal regulations.

This NVIC does not modify or supersede any existing or future laws or regulations. c.

This NVIC is one component of an overall safety program aimed at improving the safety record of commercial fishing vessels.

The other components are the NPFVOA/USCG "Vessel Safety Manual" and industry sponsored training courses. d.

Whereas this NVIC focuses on the technical aspects of fishing vessel design, construction and equipment, the "Vessel Safety Manual" is specifically tailored for fishermen and addresses general operational concerns common to all commercial fishing vessels.

Enclosure (2) is a copy of the general table of contents and each chapter index of the NPFVOA/USCG "Vessel Safety Manual".

An order form is also included.

NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 5-86 e.

The "Vessel Safety Manual", as written, is a ready reference guide for masters and their crews operating a variety of vessels in different fisheries nationwide.

Fishing vessel owners, operators, and masters will find that the principles presented in the manual can be adopted to establish safety practices aboard their vessels.

Associations and other interested groups may wish to add to this manual especially if a specific fishery has safety concerns unique to what now exists in the manual.

Those wishing to supplement the NPFVOA/USCG "Vessel Safety Manual" by developing specific local safety recommendations should contact Commandant (G-MTH-F/V), 2100 Second Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20593.

Printing plates for the Vessel Safety Manual can be made available for such purposes. f.

The Vessel Safety Manual in combination with the voluntary vessel standards contained in this NVIC gives persons in the fishing industry the framework necessary to develop and implement safety programs on their own.

These voluntary vessel standards coupled with the NPFVOAIUSCG "Vessel Safety Manual" and private industry training courses, provides the commercial fishing industry with an overall fishing vessel safety enhancement program that will significantly improve its safety record by reduction in the number of injuries and loss of lives and vessels. 5.

ACTION.

The Coast Guard recommends that vessel builders, marine surveyors, insurance underwriters, fishing vessel owners, operators, industry associations, and other interested parties: a.

Adopt and implement these voluntary vessel standards; b.

Develop regional specific safety recommendations and incorporate them into the NPFVOAIUSCG Vessel Safety Manual; and c.

Develop and implement regional training programs using the NPFVOAIUSCG “Vessel Safety Manual" as input into a curriculum outline and reference text.

End: (1) Voluntary Standards for U.S.

Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessels

(2) General Table of Contents and Chapter Index from the NPFVOAIUSCG "Vessel Safety Manual" NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION: C:e Baltimore, Port Arthur, Puget Sound, Miami, Mobile, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Portland OR, Boston, Providence (75); Long Beach, Portland ME, Anchorage, San Diego (50); Alameda (40); Honolulu, Tampa, Juneau, Valdez, Charleston (35); Cleveland (12); Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Paducah, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Savannah, San Juan, Galveston, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Milwaukee (10); Huntington, Wilmington, Corpus Christi, Toledo (5) C:m New Orleans (140); New York, Philadelphia (75); Houston (25); St. Ignace (5); Sturgeon Bay (4). NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 5-86 D:l CG Liaison Officer MILSEALIFTCOMD M-65 STRAT MOB, CG Liaison Officer JUSM&GPHIL (1).