17th District Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March 20, 2006
Contact: Petty Officer Christopher D. McLaughlin
(907) 487-5700

After 4 p.m. Alaska Standard Time, (907) 463-2000

Press Release

Coast Guard terminates fishermen's voyage 

KODIAK, Alaska - Coast Guard boarding team members from the cutter Anacapa terminated the voyage of a 38-foot fishing boat near Sitka Sound today.

The boarding team found no immersion suit type Personnal Flotation Device (PFD) aboard the 38-foot Flatlander. The two crewmembers are required to return to port, aquire the PFDs and receive a dockside Coast Guard boarding before they will be allowed to get underway.

Coast Guard Members aboard the cutter Anacapa are escorting the crew of the Flatlander to Sitka.

To avoid loss of valuable fishing time, commercial fishing vessel operators are encouraged to get a fishing vessel safety dockside exam before getting underway. The no cost exams are done as a service to ensure all of the required safety equipment is on board and in good condition.

If the vessel has all the required equipment a decal will be issued. This decal indicates to any future Coast Guard boarding personnel that the vessel has all the required saftey equipment.

Getting a courtesy dockside exam can save time during a boarding and reduce the risk of the vessel's voyage being terminated. Mariners interested in the dockside exam program can contact  the Coast Guard's Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator at 1-800-478-7369 or (907) 463-2810.