WSR 97-03-119
OFFICE OF MARINE SAFETY
[Filed January 21, 1997, 3:55 p.m.]
The following accepted industry standards for fishing vessels were
developed and approved by the Fishing Vessel Inspection Advisory Council.
The advisory council was convened by the Washington State Office of
Marine Safety in October 1996 in accordance with WAC 317-31-230. The
council met monthly from October 1996 through January 1997. Council
members represented the fishing industry, environmental organizations,
Native American tribes, the public at large, and state government.
The accepted industry standards form the basis for the Office of Marine
Safety fishing vessel inspection program. The inspection program is
designed to identify vessels that pose a substantial risk to the
environment, and public health and safety. When a vessel has been
identified as a substantial risk, the accepted industry standards serve
as guidelines for the vessel owner or operator to help reduce that risk
to an acceptable level.
The Office of Marine Safety will accept public comment on the following
standards until March 7, 1997. The office intends to incorporate the
standards into the fishing vessel inspection program beginning in April
1997. Comments may be sent to:
Office of Marine Safety
Attn: Stan Norman
P.O. Box 42407
Olympia, WA 98504-2407
The following standards apply to all fishing vessels 300 gross registered
tons and larger operating in state waters:
I. OPERATING PROCEDURES
Owners and/or operators should require that each navigation watch on a
fishing vessel 300-1600 gross tons consist of at least one licensed deck
officer and one lookout.
In addition, the navigation watch on fishing vessels larger than 1600
gross tons should include a helmsman. Vessels larger than 1600 gross
tons that are designed and equipped with an integrated bridge system
which allows a licensed deck officer to adequately perform the functions
of safe navigation, collision avoidance, and communications do not
require a helmsman as part of the navigation watch. Integrated bridge
systems meeting this criteria will be approved by the Office of Marine
Safety.
Lookouts may be assigned no other duties that would interfere with the
maintenance of a proper lookout in accordance with the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
Owners and/or operators should require each vessel master to have written
procedures or standing orders for safe navigation practices and operating
in restricted visibility conditions.
Gyrocompass and magnetic compass courses should be logged at least once
every 6 hours, or more often if necessary.
Daily vessel logs and records should be maintained that include vessel
position, weather observations, and gyrocompass and magnetic compass
courses, at least once every six hours.
Owners and/or operators should require a documented voyage planning and
readiness system that includes the following preparations by vessel
licensed officers prior to commencing a voyage:
1. Review of general waterway characteristics as described on current charts, navigational publications, and notices to mariners.
2. Review of navigational aids available, including buoys, lights, ranges, and the Global Positioning System (GPS).
3. Review of expected environmental conditions (weather and currents).
4. Review of expected vessel traffic and vessel traffic services (VTS) procedures and communications.
5. Tests or inspections of all navigation, communications, bridge control equipment and alarm systems in accordance with 33 CFR 164.25 no more than 12 hours prior to entering or operating in state waters. Tests or inspections should be logged.
6. Comparison of the gyrocompass and magnetic compass and comparison of the master gyrocompass and all repeaters. Determination of radar range error if practicable. Errors should be logged and posted for the use of navigation watchstanders.
7. Procedures for response to loss of propulsion, steering, and
electrical power should be reviewed.
Owners and/or operators should require vessel anchors to be operational
and ready to drop at all times. A crew member should be available to
drop the anchor immediately if required.
Owners and/or operators should require a properly trained crew member to
be standing watch and monitoring nearby traffic, communications, the
vessels position, and ground tackle while anchored in state waters.
Owners and/or operators should require security rounds of vessels to be
conducted and documented at least once every six hours while underway or
anchored in state waters. Security rounds should be conducted at least
daily when moored. Vessels in lay-up status are not affected by this
standard, if adequate monitoring for fires and flooding is provided.
Vessel masters should designate spaces on the vessel to be visited during
security rounds. Steering gear should be checked during each security
round when underway. The primary purpose of security rounds is to detect
and report fires, flooding, or other emergency conditions.
Owners and/or operators should require that a licensed engineer or
properly trained engineer be on watch in the engine room or immediately
available to respond to machinery space problems while operating in state
waters.
Daily vessel logs and records should be maintained that include major
equipment operating conditions, such as pressures and temperatures, at
least once every six hours.
Owners and/or operators should require all critical vessel propulsion, steering and electrical systems, to be tested or inspected in accordance with 33 CFR 164.25 no more than 12 hours prior to entering or operating in state waters. All machinery tests and inspections should be logged.
Procedures for response to loss of propulsion, steering, and electrical
power should be reviewed.
Fuel and oil tank levels should be determined and recorded no more than
12 hours prior to entering or operating in state waters.
Owners and/or operators should require a stability information system
complying with 46 CFR 28.530, regardless of the date the vessel keel was
laid or date of conversion.
Stability information books and documents should be easy to read and
understand, and include samples of various loading conditions.
Owners and/or operators should require emergency instructions outlining
crew member responsibilities for firefighting, flooding, abandon ship,
heavy weather and man overboard in accordance with 46 CFR 28.265. Fire
plans containing the general arrangement of the vessel and the location
of all firefighting equipment should be posted on board.
In addition, written procedures should be required for responding to:
1. Oil spills.
2. Loss of propulsion.
3. Loss of steering.
4. Loss of electrical power.
5. Being towed in an emergency. The emergency towing procedures should
clearly indicate the specific equipment on board the vessel that
will be used for being towed.
Owners and/or operators should require vessels to have a damage control
kit or locker with sufficient equipment to control unintentional minor
flooding. Each vessel should carry at least two complete firemans
outfits, including Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) and two
spare cylinders as described in 46 CFR 28.205.
Vessel engine rooms and interior passageways should have installed
emergency lighting.
All personnel assigned to emergency duties should be trained for the
operation of all emergency equipment.
Owners and/or operators should require safe access, with appropriate
lighting, to be provided while vessels are moored alongside a dock or
pier, or moored outboard of another vessel, in accordance with 29 CFR
1915.74 and 1918.21. Where practical, a gangway or accommodation ladder
should be provided.
Fire plans containing the general arrangement of the vessel and the
location of all firefighting equipment should be located at or near the
access point(s) for vessels in port.
II. PERSONNEL POLICIES
Owners and/or operators should require vessel navigation and engineering
watchstanders to be off watch at least 10 hours per day, except in an
emergency or to participate in a drill, while operating in state waters.
At least 6 hours of off watch time each day should be consecutive and
uninterrupted.
In addition, owners and/or operators should require a system for
documenting off watch periods in order to monitor and reduce fatigue.
Owners and/or operators should require policies prohibiting the use of
alcohol and/or dangerous drugs by vessel crew members and document
compliance with federal regulations for testing programs, training, and
employee assistance programs.
Owners and/or operators should require orientation training to be
conducted and recorded for each crew member that has not received
previous orientation training on that specific vessel prior to getting
underway. Training should include the provisions outlined in 46 CFR 28.
265 and 270(a), plus the applicable provisions of the international
convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
Position-specific orientation training should be required for navigation
and engineering watchstanders for the proper operation of navigation,
propulsion, steering, and electrical power equipment.
Owners and/or operators should require a drills and instructions program
that complies with 46 CFR 28.265 and 270 and includes semi-annual drills
and instruction in oil spill response and being towed in an emergency.
Owners and/or operators should require all navigation watch officers and
crew members standing anchor watch to be sufficiently proficient in the
English language to accomplish their duties safely.
III. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The owner and/or operators management system should include the company-wide exchange of environmental protection and public health and safety
information, and participation by vessel and corporate management.
In addition, the management system should include management oversight
that requires vessel visits by a management representative at least semi-annually. The management representative should review operating and
management issues, and consult with the officers on the vessel.
Owners and/or operators should equip vessels with spill containment and
clean-up equipment to respond to a one-half barrel on-deck spill. The
equipment should be adequate for preventing the spill from entering the
water.
Each vessel master should require that an oil record book and garbage
logs be maintained in accordance with MARPOL.
Owners and/or operators should require a documented maintenance program
for vessels. The program should include planned maintenance and periodic
equipment tests or inspections, as appropriate, for all propulsion,
steering, electrical, dewatering, and firefighting systems.
Vessels should also be inspected by a third party surveyor or an operator
representative at least annually.
Owners and/or operators should require vessel structural modifications to be evaluated and approved in advance by qualified management personnel. Watertight bulkheads and fire separators should be maintained as originally constructed or per the most recent major conversion. Bulkhead, deck, and hull penetrations should be properly sealed.