The Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk conducting a living marine resource patrol, enforcing fishing and safety regulations on commercial fishing vessels working off the coast of Oregon. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley
The three member crew, fishing for crab, aboard the 39-foot fishing vessel Dusky was safely escorted to Winchester Bay, where the vessel was ordered to remain until the crew fixed the especially hazardous safety condition of an expired life raft and replace the expired flares which were found on board.
A crew from Coast Guard Station Umpqua River verified that the Dusky crew addressed all violations, allowing the crew to return to sea with their vessel Tuesday.
“While we will send someone back to port for a safety issue, we would rather work with mariners prior to their departing port,” said Curt Farrell, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River fishing vessel safety coordinator. “Because of this, we offer free vessel safety examinations where we will come to your boat to check that it meets all applicable rules and regulations. A Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Decal is awarded for those meeting the safety standards.”
Passing a Coast Guard fishing vessel examination will become mandatory on Oct. 15. Any fishing vessel crew operating beyond three miles off shore will need to have completed their safety examination and received a commercial fishing vessel safety decal which is displayed on the vessel.
Due to the upcoming mandatory examination date, fishing vessel crews are encouraged to start scheduling their examinations now. For inspections along the Oregon coast from Brookings to Westport, Washington, contact Curt Farrell at 503-240-9373. For inspections along central Washington Coast and the Puget Sound, contact Martin Teachout at 206-217-6187.
The Cuttyhunk is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Port Angeles, Washington.
