Dockside commercial fishing vessel exams are coming to Cordova Sept. 18-21.
The U.S. Coast Guard will commercial fishing vessel safety decals to all those who successfully complete the exam.
Since all commercial fishing vessels are required to comply with the commercial fishing vessel safety regulations, the Coast Guard is encouraging marines to request the free dockside safety exame, for a thorough check of all safety equipment required on their vessel, said Lt. Cmdr. Walner Alvarez, chief of the prevention department at MSU Valdez.
Fishing vessels five net tons and over are required to be documented with current Certificate of Documentation. Some vessels, including those used to pursue halibut individual fishing quotas, are required by the National Marine Fisheries Service to have a valid decal prior to carrying their mandatory NMFS observer board. In addition, auxiliary gasoline engines located inside the cabin that are not intended for indoor use will prevent a decal from being issued, the Coast Guard advised.
Examinations in Cordova will be on a limited basis, so vessel owners should be prepared for their scheduled exam by reviewing applicable requirements and purchasing the necessary equipment for their vessel in advance.
Fishermen are encouraged to visit http://www.fishsafewest.info/and click the link to the “Checklist Generator”. This application accepts input on the fishing vessel, such as length, persons aboard, where it operations and more, and generates a list of requirements that apply to that specific fishing vessel. This will allow owners to know exactly what Coast Guard dockside examiners will look at before their official examination.
All commercial fishermen wishing to complete their annual exam in Cordova should contact the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Valdez at 907-255-8724 before Sept. 16, supplying heir preferred date and time, slip number, type of vessel, size, name, color of vessel and owner contact information. For additional information, contact Coast Guard Petty Officer Adam Rodd, at 907-835-7226.
