Beginning Oct. 16, 2012, all commercial fishing vessels operating more than three nautical miles offshore must be able to demonstrate full compliance with the existing fishing industry vessel safety regulations found in 46 C.F.R. Part 28, via a mandatory safety examination.
While there are a few options of how to demonstrate this compliance, having a current Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Decal (not more than two years old) is the most straightforward method. Two additional methods include, having a “Form CG-5587” signed by a Coast Guard examiner, or having a signed letter of compliance from an accepted third party organization (marine surveyor) as proof that your vessel passed an examination and is therefore compliant with the current regulations.
The examination requirement is one of several new mandates established by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. While there is additional background on these pending mandates at www.fishsafe.info , the Authorization Act establishes a mandatory examination requirement if you operate beyond three nautical miles of the baseline of the U.S. territorial sea or the coastline of the Great Lakes, regardless of whether your vessel is state-registered or federally-documented.
To schedule a dockside examination contact Mark Jones at (409)723-6590 or visit www.fishsafe.info/docksideexamrequest.htm .
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