The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) again called for the Coast Guard to license all captains of fishing vessels.
The NTSB investigation of the November 5th, 1987 sinking of the fishing vessel UYAK II in the Gulf of Alaska in which four crew members were lost, stated that the vessel capsized because the Captain failed to determine the cause of the vessel's list and to take proper corrective action. Contributing to the accident were the failure to repair a small opening in the boat's lazarette which enabled water to seep in; the Captain's fatigue; and his lack of stability training.
Contributing to the loss of life was the failure of the Captain adequately to alert the three deck hands on the after main deck of the serious condition of the vessel, and the lack of a general alarm or communications system between the wheelhouse and the engineroom to alert the Chief Engineer to the dangerous condition.
Between January 1978 and April 1987, the NTSB investigated 207 major marine fishing vessel accidents resulting in 147 fatalities and an estimated property loss of over $165 million. This represented only a small percentage of the total fishing vessel accidents, which account for the loss of 75 lives annually. About 250 fishing boats are lost annually.
In this investigation, the Safety Board again repeated its earlier recommendations to the Coast Guard:
* Seek legislative authority to require the licensing of captains of commercial fishing vessels, including the requirement that they demonstrate minimum qualification in vessel safety.
* Establish minimum safety training standards for all commercial fishermen.
* Seek legislative authority to require that all uninspected commercial fishing vessels be certified and periodically inspected by the Coast Guard or its recognized representative to ensure that the vessels meet all applicable federal safety standards.
* Seek legislative authority to require uninspected commercial fishing vessel captains/owners to provide safety training to all crew members.
Among the nine new recommendations issued in the investigative report were that the Coast Guard recommend that general alarm systems be installed on commercial fishing vessels, and that life preservers and exposure suits be located close to or at emergency stations, or close to the exterior of each vessel to facilitate immediate access in case of a sudden catastrophic event.
Copies of the report identified as PB-88-916408 may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.
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