ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of the 40-foot commercial fishing vessel Resolution for a safety violation during a boarding in Marmot Bay near Kodiak City Tuesday.
A Coast Guard boarding team from the Cutter Mustang found the vessel master operating with a four-month old child on board and no immersion suit available for the infant. The Coast Guard requires commercial fishing vessels to operate with an appropriately sized immersion suit available for each individual. The Coast Guard Sector Anchorage commander directed the termination of the voyage.
“It deeply concerns me that a commercial fishing vessel would operate with an infant on board,” said Capt. Mark Hamilton, commander Sector Anchorage. “Furthermore, to operate without the appropriate survival gear on board for all individuals is a clear violation. I highly encourage all operators to contact the Coast Guard for a commercial fishing vessel safety exam. The exam is a courtesy, it’s free and our examiners can ensure the vessel meets all the requirements and is less likely to be terminated at sea.”
The vessel was escorted by the Mustang to Kodiak Harbor. They instructed the master of the vessel not to get underway with the infant again until an immersion suit can be provided for the infant.
The vessel has 3,000 pounds of pacific cod on board. The Resolution is a longliner homeported in Homer.
The 110-foot Island Class Patrol Boat Mustang is based out of Seward. They were underway conducting random commercial fishing vessel boardings in the vicinity of Kodiak Island in support of the Coast Guard’s on going living marine resource protection mission.
For a free commercial fishing vessel safety exam contact the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment.