U.S. Coast Guard Issues Two Safety Alerts

Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship issues MARINE SAFETY ALERTS 12-08 (Watertight Doors) and 11-08 (Fishing Vessel Stability). • 12-08 (WATERTIGHT DOORS) This Safety Alert addresses the importance of properly maintaining and closing watertight doors. Unfortunately, marine casualties, often resulting in loss of life and property, continue to be linked to improperly maintained or closed watertight doors! One of the contributory factors in a recent major marine casualty on an uninspected commercial fishing vessel was the failure to properly maintain and keep closed watertight doors on the vessel's weather deck. In this incident one watertight door was not properly dogged down, permitting it to open and let water flood a space below the main deck. Another watertight door on the vessel's main deck was not maintained and as a result, it leaked, permitting water to enter an adjacent space. Over 42% of all marine casualties on fishing vessels involve flooding that in most cases could have been prevented or minimized by the proper use of watertight doors. Two safety alerts have been issued in the past two years emphasizing the importance of maintaining watertight doors and keeping them closed at all times while underway except when actually being used. As a result of this incident and due to other related casualties, the U. S. Coast Guard *** strongly recommends *** vessel owners and operators to: Regularly inspect the condition of all watertight doors on their vessels including the gasket and knife-edge to ensure that the doors close properly when dogged down securely. Watertight door gaskets should not be painted; any paint discovered on the gasket should be removed. Excessive gaps between the gasket ends should be avoided and repaired upon discovery; Periodically perform either a chalk or light test on all watertight doors to ensure that the knife edge makes contact with the entire door gasket; Ensure that all dogs or closing assemblies move freely and close securely. Routinely lubricate all watertight door fittings and hinges to ensure fluid operation; and Ensure that vessel masters provide regular training on watertight door operation and maintenance to their crews. Watertight doors should be closed at all times while a vessel is underway except when transiting from space to space. Please access http://marineinvestigations.us Safety Alerts > General Operations > "Securing Watertight Doors" and "Maintaining Vessel Watertight Integrity" for additional related information. This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational or material requirement. Developed by the Office of Investigations and Analysis, United States Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC. • 11-08 (FISHING VESSEL STABILITY) This Safety Alert addresses the issue of unsafe loading practices onboard commercial fishing vessels. One contributory factor in a recent major marine casualty on an uninspected commercial fishing vessel was improper loading of the vessel's fuel, water, fishing gear and catch. In this instance, the vessel's crew relied on an outdated stability book to determine the safe loading condition of the vessel. The stability book being used failed to account for heavy fishing equipment that had been removed from the vessel as well as new fish processing and equipment additions when it changed fishery operations. As a result of this incident and due to other related casualties involving commercial fishing vessels, the U. S. Coast Guard * strongly recommends * vessel owners and operators to: Review their stability book and ensure that it reflects the vessel's current design, equipment, and operations. Stability books, even when not required by regulation, should be maintained and used to ensure proper vessel loading. Many commercial fishing vessels are not required to be inspected or have load lines but still may have stability information that discusses how the vessel should be loaded and how fuel should be burned. If the vessel details provided in the stability book do not match the actual vessel, the recommended loading procedures in the outdated stability book could negatively alter the stability; Conduct a new stability review when a vessel changes operations (e.g. new fisheries) if such operations are not already accounted for in the vessel's stability book. For example changing fishing operations from shrimp to King Crab may involve significant equipment changes on a vessel that results in a much greater load which could alter the vessel's stability; Conduct a new stability review if significant weight changes are made to the vessel as a result of adding or removing equipment. For example, changing the material that fishing pots are composed of may change the weight of each pot. Depending on the type of fishing being conducted, hundreds of pots could be carried. The resulting weight difference and storage location of the pots could alter the vessel's stability; Ensure that vessel masters and engineers are familiar with the contents of their vessel's stability book and understand how to use the loading information. Stability information is useless unless put into practice. Vessel masters and engineers must be familiar with this information to ensure that their vessel is loaded as designed at all times.

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These safety alert(s) are provided for informational purposes only and do not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational or material requirement. Developed by the Office of Investigations and Analysis, United States Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC.