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Coast Guard to give free boat survey
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Posted on Jun 02 1999
The Coast Guard law enforcement units will be conducting at sea boardings of vessels engaged in commercial fishing to ensure that such vessel are in compliance with applicable commercial fishing vessel regulations.
If violation of commercial fishing vessel requirements 46CFR Parts 1-28 are found you will be cited and subject to fines.
To prevent you from being cited and subject to a civil penalty for noncompliance, and to assist the commercial fishermen in complying with applicable regulations, the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office has initiated the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program.
The Commercial Fishing Vessel Program is a free voluntary dockside examination, conducted by a Coast Guard Examiner, like a free survey of your boat. The Examiner will meet you, look over your boat and equipment, and identify any discrepancies. In addition to examining your vessel you will be given advice on how to properly outfit your vessel to meet all federal regulation and take advantage of the local equivalencies granted to Saipan’s fishermen. The equivalencies can help you save money without compromising your safety.
This program is totally voluntary and will not result in citations or fines. Since it is voluntary, You must request the free examination. Once the exam is completed, if you meet all requirements, you will be issued a Coast Guard examination decal to show that your vessel passed the exam. This decal will reduce the probability of being boarded at sea by the Coast Guard law enforcement teams.
Anyone who is engaged commercially in fishing, catching, taking or harvesting fish is encouraged to have their boats examined in order to ensure that vessels have adequate safety equipment on board.
Those who will not meet the safety requirements will not be fined or prevented from going fishing.
To avail of the free voluntary dockside safety exams, please call the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office at (671) 339-2001, extension 4 or 233-9495 or fax your request to (671) 339-2005, or 233-9493.
