In advance of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery season the Coast Guard is offering courtesy dockside Free exams at Egegik, Dillingham and King Salmon.
These free examinations at Egegik ran only from June 13-17, but for Dillingham and King Salmon, fishermen may schedule an exam through June 24.
To schedule an exam, call 907-764-5017 for Dillingham and 907-717-6270 for King Salmon.
Coast Guard examiners will address safety issues that may be present before an operator gets underway. The examiners will not issue fines or other penalties for any problems they discover at the dock or before launch. The exams address items such as flares, charts, navigational signals, fire extinguishers, emergency position indicating radio beacons and the serviceability of immersion suits.
These exams ensure compliance with all federal regulations and can reduce the likelihood of getting boarded at sea if you pass and earn a decal, and more importantly, an exam could save your life, said Chef Petty Officer David Schaeffer, a fishing vessel safety examiner at Sector Anchorage.
Fishermen can also choose to signal they are ready for an exam by running a ring buoy up high on the mast or on the anchor/bow in a visible location.
For more information on preparing for vessel examinations, operators may visit fishsafewest.info to complete a checklist generator that will provide a detailed pre-examination checklist.
