BOSTON – The Coast Guard ended a fishing trip in Portland Harbor, Maine, today for failing to comply with safety regulations.
A 47-foot boat crew from Coast Guard Station Portland conducted a boarding, about 4 p.m., on the Lori Emily, a 35-foot fishing vessel from Portland.
The boarding team found the following violations: The vessel’s life raft had expired. The emergency flares and emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) were expired, and the crew had insufficient fire fighting gear onboard.
“The vessel had fire extinguishers, but they were all expired and expended,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Dean Drake, a situation controller at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.
The Coast Guard deemed the boat unsafe for sea due to these violations and terminated the voyage.
“These regulations exist to keep mariners alive,” said Drake. “When we find a mariner out of regulation, it is our job to ensure they correct the violations before they get underway again.”
The Coast Guard escorted the Lori Emily to Vessel Services in Portland and instructed the crew to correct all the violations and pass a Coast Guard exam before getting underway again.
