Safety Deficiencies Found During Small Fishing Vessel Inspections by Transport Canada
While safety on the water is paramount to all commercial fishers, Transport Canada is reporting that it continues to find deficiencies when conducting recent inspections of small fishing vessels in the Atlantic region.
“Safety is a shared responsibility and it is important that all segments of the fishing industry continue their contribution to the implementation of the safety culture,” said Sau Sau Liu, Senior Communications Advisor for Transport Canada.
Lui said the most common ...
The Saga of Recommendation M16-05
On September 5, 2015, the fishing vessel Caledonian capsized 20 nautical miles west of Nootka Sound, British Columbia.
At the time, the vessel was trawling for hake with four crew members onboard. Following the capsizing, the master and mate climbed onto the overturned hull and remained there for several hours. When the vessel eventually sank, the master and mate abandoned it and the mate swam toward and boarded the life raft.
The Canadian Coast Guard subsequently rescued the mate and ...
PFDs: A Regulatory Disconnect
On September 5, 2015, the fishing vessel Caledonian capsized 20 nautical miles west of Nootka Sound, British Columbia.
At the time, the vessel was trawling for hake with four crew members onboard. Following the capsizing, the master and mate climbed onto the overturned hull and remained there for several hours.
When the vessel eventually sank, the master and mate abandoned it and the mate swam toward and boarded the life raft. The Canadian Coast Guard subsequently rescued the mate and ...
Fishermen Appear to be Onboard with New TC Safety Regulations
Transport Canada says there is a stable compliance rate within the fishing industry with the Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations that came into force on July 13, 2017.
“Since the regulations came into effect, there has been 2,270 inspections of small fishing vessels less than 24.4 metres or 150 gross tonnage (across Canada). A stable compliance rate has been noted, so no penalties have been issued for non-compliance with any of the new requirements of the Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations,...
Vessel Stability Analysis, Guidelines and Procedures
A stability analysis is one of the best procedures owners and operators of fishing vessels can undertake to ensure the safety of their vessel and crew.
This analysis will help the captain and crew understand the operational limits of the vessel as it relates to fishing gear and catch.
Transport Canada recently released a Ship Safety Bulletin regarding stability. The bulletin offers basic safety guidelines as well as the expected obligations of vessel owners and operators.
The inform...
Abandoned and Wrecked Boats A Marine Hazard
The federal government estimates there are more than 600 abandoned vessels, ranging from commercial ships to recreational boats, littering Canada’s waterways and harbours.
Each of them can pose a safety risk to recreational boating and commercial vessel operators, become navigational hazards, pollute marine environments or cause significant removal costs and clean up.
The Marine Institute is working with Transport Canada, as part of its $1.3-million commitment to remove abandoned boats, ...
Organizations Assist in Making Vessel Safety Compliance Easier
Above: Participants listen to the presenters at the Safety at Sea: a Wave of Change seminar at the Eastern Canadian Fisheries Exposition in Yarmouth on Jan. 25. Kathy Johnson photo
Between the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia and Transport Canada, efforts are being made easier for mariners to ensure they are complying with the new federal regulations that came into effect in July 2017.
While that was the main message at the Safety at Sea: A
Wave of Change seminar at the ...
Vessels to Reduce Speed in the Gulf
Today, Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport and Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard issued the following changes regarding concerns over right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“Canada takes the protection, conservation, and recovery of endangered species very seriously. The recent deaths of several North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are extremely concerning.
“There is evidence that the North Atlantic right whales have been ...
Three Pillars of Amendments to Fishing Vessel Inspection Regulations
Transport Canada is in the process of amending the Small Vessel Inspection Regulations in an effort to stymie the number of accidents on fishing vessels, which resulted into 16 deaths three years ago, making the commercial fishery the most dangerous occupation in Canada.
The department has three objectives in mind to achieve this end: safe operating procedures, safety equipment and stability requirements.
Safe Operating Procedures
New provisions would require all small fishing vessels to ...
Taking Safety to the Next Level
The mainstream media is filled with what seems like a tragic event almost every day.
The 24-hour news cycle is always reporting on a catastrophic bombing, flooding or plane crash in some far-flung corner of the globe. It is so commonplace today, that the average, viewer, listener or reader has almost become numb to it.
But once in a while, a tragedy occurs a little too close to home, causing one to stop, take notice and even reflect on their own well being.
Unfortunately, the fishery ...
