NVIC 7-93: Fishing vessel safety instructor and drill conductor training

United States Coast Guard COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 7-93 AUGUST 24, 1993 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 7-93 Electronic Version for Distribution on the World Wide Web SUBJ: GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTANCE OF "FISHING VESSEL SAFETY INSTRUCTORS" AND COURSE CURRICULA FOR TRAINING "FISHING VESSEL DRILL CONDUCTORS"

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety — PURPOSE. This Circular provides information and policy on standards for acceptance of Fishing

Vessel Safety Instructors and course curricula for training Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors in the proper procedures for conducting drills and providing instruction on federally documented commercial fishing industry vessels. The requirement for Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors to be trained was published in the Federal Register on August 14, 1991 (page 40364), as Part 28 of Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and is intended to help improve the overall safety record of the commercial fishing industry.

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety — DEFINITION.

a. Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor - Is an individual that meets the training requirement of 46 CFR 28.270(c) for conducting drills and providing instruction once a month to each individual on board documented commercial fishing industry vessels that operate beyond the Boundary Line. b. Fishing Vessel Safety Instructor - Is an individual that has been accepted by the local Officer-In-Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) to train individuals (Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors) to conduct drills and provide instruction. on federally documented commercial fishing industry vessels that operate beyond the Boundary Line.

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety — DISCUSSION.

a. After September 1, 1994, individuals conducting drills required by 46 CFR 28.270 (Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors) must be trained in the proper procedures for conducting these activities or be an individual licensed for operation of inspected vessels of 100 gross tons or more. b. To be assured of meeting Coast Guard minimum training requirements of 46 CFR 28.270(c), Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors, who are not licensed for operation of inspected vessels of 100 gross tons or more, must be trained by a Fishing Vessel Safety Instructor that has been accepted by the local OCMI. c. The Coast Guard published a supplemental notice of proposed rule making (SNPRM) in the October 27, 1992, Federal Register (57 FR 48670). This SNPRM detailed proposed requirements for acceptance criteria for Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors and course curricula for -training required by Part 28.270. NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 7-93 d. In the absence of significant differences between this NVIC and the final rule, the Coast Guard intends that the curricula need not be revised to meet the final rule for Part 28.275. e. The training requirement for Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors is considered to be a onetime indoctrination course, and is not intended to have an expiration date. f. The OCMI's acceptance of the Fishing Vessel Safety Instructor's credentials and curriculum must be renewed every five years.

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety — IMPLEMENTATION.

a. Enclosure (1) details the guidelines for Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors to obtain U.S. Coast Guard acceptance to train Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors to conduct the drills required by 46 CFR 28.270(a). Those Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors meeting the guidelines and receiving the appropriate certification are authorized state that their courses are accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and meet the established standards for training Fishing Vessel Drill Conductors. b. Officer-In-Charge, Marine Inspections are urged to utilize local safety newsletters, fishing publications and local expositions to give these guidelines the widest possible dissemination.