Maritime Safety

Published on: April 1, 2025

Securing Maritime Safety through Vessel Maintenance

Proper maintenance and rebuilding of fishing vessels is critical for ensuring the safety and livelihood of fishermen at sea. Regular inspections, repairs, and upgrades not only extend the life of these vessels but also significantly reduce the risk of accidents and equipment failures, ultimately protecting the crews who rely on them.

This is where Fred Wahl Marine Construction in Reedsport, Oregon steps in. The company has established itself as a leading shipyard, specializing in the construction of high-quality commercial vessels known for their exceptional dependability and durability. This is also where fishing vessels from up and down the West Coast come for repairs and upgrades. Recently, the company has been working on vessels from areas such as Long Beach, California, Newport, Oregon, and Sand Point, Alaska.

From Long Beach, the squid seiner PROVIDER, measuring 59 feet by 24 feet, is getting a major update. Although it had new sponsons installed in 2014 to widen its hull, the original wheelhouse remained. Over time, corrosion developed where the old wheelhouse met the newer deck, requiring the entire wheelhouse to be replaced. Additionally, the PROVIDER is scheduled to receive a new stern tube and improved steering components.

Published on: March 26, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Naushon Retired After 40 Years

by Nigel Stacey

In a ceremony celebrating nearly four decades of service, the U.S. Coast Guard officially decommissioned the Cutter NAUSHON on Friday March 21^st, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Presiding over the event was Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard District 17, who honored the vessel’s long standing commitment and its crews’ significant contributions to national security and community safety.

Commissioned on October 3^rd, 1986, the NAUSHON was placed into active duty as the 11th vessel in the Island-Class patrol boat fleet. Throughout its service, the NAUSHON exemplified the versatility and dependability that the Island-Class cutters are known for. The cutter played a crucial role in safeguarding Alaska’s challenging coastal waters and provided crucial assistance in marine law enforcement, environmental protection, national defense operations, and numerous lifesaving missions.

Since 2016, when it began operating from Homer, Alaska, the NAUSHON significantly strengthened maritime safety along Alaska’s rugged coastline. While stationed in Homer, the vessel and its crew answered the call in over 50 critical search-and-rescue missions, providing essential assistance to mariners in distress. The NAUSHON also completed nearly 900 law enforcement missions, underscoring its vital role in maintaining maritime security and enforcing federal maritime laws across Alaskan waters.

Published on: March 18, 2025

Maritime Safety Standards: Every Worker Should Be Safe

by Nigel Stacey

When deckhand Carlos slipped and fell during a routine operation in rough seas, he fractured his arm and was unable to work for months. An investigation revealed inadequate safety protocols, insufficient training, and a lack of clear communication had contributed to the accident. Had the vessel implemented effective training, emphasized clear safety communication, and ensured crew engagement in safety planning, Carlos’s injury might have been prevented.

Owners, workers, families, and communities all want workers to be safe at sea. Yet cultivating a true culture of maritime safety doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a structured effort beginning at the organization’s highest levels then filtering down the chain of command.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) clearly defines an effective safety culture as one where safety is prioritized and managed as meticulously as any other crucial business function. Achieving a culture of safety requires following best practices for safety across the maritime industry.

Published on: January 21, 2025

Coast Guard Rescues Injured Crewman from Fishing Vessel Off Oahu

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard successfully medevaced a 34-year-old crewman from a fishing vessel approximately 40 miles offshore from Oahu on Monday February 20, 2025, following a serious eye injury sustained at sea.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received the initial distress call at 4:30 p.m. Saturday February 18^th, 2025, from the F/V CAPT DAVIS, which was then located about 350 miles southwest of Oahu. U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders consulted with a duty flight surgeon, who determined that the injured crewman required urgent medical evacuation.

Early Monday morning, at 6 a.m., rescue teams from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, including an HC-130 Hercules airplane and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, rendezvoused with the fishing vessel roughly 40 miles southwest of Kapolei, Hawaii. The helicopter crew successfully hoisted the injured man aboard and transported him to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for treatment.

Published on: September 17, 2024

The Dangers of Commercial Fishing Winches

by Joseph Stacey

Within Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, deck machinery has emerged as a leading source of serious injuries, with winches being a major culprit. In a study prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the Journal of Agromedicine, Volume 28, 2023 – Issue 3, injury data from the past 20 years was analyzed and used to highlight the critical need to develop targeted safety measures.

The study reviewed injury claims submitted to the Alaska Fisherman’s Fund (AFF) between January 1, 2000, and November 1, 2020. Researchers identified 125 traumatic injuries caused by commercial fishing winches, revealing alarming patterns of injury and highlighting the need for practical solutions.

The vast majority of winch-related injuries occurred among male fishermen, who accounted for 94% of the cases. A significant proportion (54%) were under the age of 30, emphasizing the vulnerability of younger, less experienced workers. Over 80% of the injuries took place in Alaska’s salmon fisheries, with specific risks depending on the type of gear in use.

Published on: August 13, 2024

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 6 After Mayday Call from Burning Fishing Vessel

by Joseph Stacey

On Sunday August 11^th, 2024, at 8:56 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center watchstanders received a mayday call from the F/V THREE GIRLS stating that the vessel was on fire, and all aboard were preparing to abandon ship. The vessel was located about 105 nautical miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the time of the incident.

The First Coast Guard District command center also received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert from the vessel. The trawler was carrying six people, including a NOAA fishery observer.

At 9 p.m., Sector Northern New England diverted the USCGC William Chadwick, a fast response cutter, to respond. An MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew and a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod was also launched in an effort to provide aerial support.

Published on: February 20, 2024

What Caused the Sinking of the F/V Hotspur?

by Nigel Stacey

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed an inquiry into the 2022 sinking of the F/V HOTSPUR near Prince of Wales Island. The report concludes that an unnoticed leak in an unoccupied area likely caused the vessel to lose stability, capsize, and sink near Nunez Rocks. Bilge alarms failed to sound or alert crew members that there was flooding below deck, which led to the capsizing of the 53-foot purse seiner.

On August 2, 2022, at about 7:35 PM, the captain and senior deckhand saw that the F/V HOTSPUR was listing to the port side while crossing the Clarence Strait. The captain went below to inspect the bilges and the engine room. He reported that everything appeared normal. To correct the listing of the vessel, the captain initiated a fuel transfer from a port-side tank to a starboard day tank. Despite his efforts, the listing persisted, and the senior deckhand noticed water spilling onto the rear deck from the port quarter.

The captain directed the senior deckhand to notify the other crewmembers to ready the life raft for abandoning ship. The captain transmitted a distress announcement via VHF radio. Nearby F/V LADY KODIAK and THE CODFATHER II heeded the call and altered their course to provide assistance.

Published on: January 23, 2024

4 Rescued After F/V Alaska Rose Capsized

by Nigel Stacey

U.S. Coast Guard members, along with the crew of the good Samaritan vessel KYLIA, successfully rescued four individuals from a fishing boat that capsized about 2 miles northeast of Chiniak Island, Alaska.

Watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage were alerted at around 4:31 p.m. on Sunday, January 21^st, 2024, via VHF channel 16 that the 46-foot F/V ALASKA ROSE, was taking on water. Watchstanders broadcasted an urgent marine information message and deployed a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew.

The helicopter aircrew reached the scene at about 4:56 p.m. and located an individual on the overturned vessel. The individual was hoisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, then transported to Air Station Kodiak and awaiting EMS personnel.

Published on: December 19, 2023

Legislators Introduce Bill Ensuring Protection and Welfare of Commercial Fishermen

by Joseph Stacey

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AL), and Edward Markey (D-MA) have spearheaded a bipartisan initiative by introducing the FISH Wellness Act, aimed at enhancing safety, health, and well-being in the fishing industry. This proposed legislation aims to expand upon the successes of the Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research & Training Program. It seeks to tackle a spectrum of occupational hazards encountered by fishermen, including worker fatigue and substance use disorders. The act will boost funding for the program, making research and training grants more attainable by removing match requirements.

During the Pacific Marine Expo this year, a coalition of commercial fishing industry professionals convened to deliberate on approaches to tackle the mental health concerns among commercial fishermen. Across generations, individuals have dealt indirectly with mental health challenges, prompting the newer generation to advocate for a more straightforward approach; talking openly about and resolving mental health issues.

“Providing our next generation of fishermen and women with the mental health and substance abuse care that they need is vital to the success of our industry,” said Andrea Tomlinson, founder and executive director of New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance. “Commercial fishing is the second most dangerous job in the US after logging, and these workers require extra mental and behavioral health support due to the strenuous and challenging conditions of this valuable trade.”

Published on: December 12, 2023

Vessel Citations Issued by U.S. Coast Guard

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing a reminder to commercial fishermen to make certain that they have appropriate lifesaving gear on their vessels prior to leaving the dock.

Several U.S. Coast Guard teams carried out inspections on commercial fishing vessels navigating the Chesapeake Bay area and its tributaries between December 1st and 7th. This operation was strategically aimed at verifying observance of safety regulations by the commercial fishing fleet.

“Operating in the maritime environment can be dangerous, particularly in colder weather,” said Capt. Jennifer Stockwell, commander, Coast Guard Sector Virginia. “Having the appropriate lifesaving equipment onboard will dramatically improve a mariner’s chance of survival if they find themselves in distress.”