Recent Updates
July 21, 2008
COAST GUARD SEARCHING FOR TWO MISSING CREWMEMBERS
July 07, 2008
CRUISE SHIPS RUNS AGROUND NEAR GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
June 25, 2008
SUPREME COURT REDUCES DAMAGES IN EXXON VALDEZ SPILL CASE; SUGGESTS 1:1 DAMAGES RATIO FOR MARITIME CASES
June 20, 2008
NORTHWEST RECREATIONAL BOATING FATALITIES UP 18%
June 17, 2008
AT-SEA GAS EXPOSURE CAUSES DEATH OF CREWMEMBER
June 16, 2008
INVESTIGATION BEGUN IN FATAL SAILBOAT SINKING
June 02, 2008
TWO INJURIES IN TWO DAYS FOR VIRGINIA TUG WORKERS
May 29, 2008
MECHANICAL PROBLEM LIKELY CAUSE OF FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH
May 28, 2008
NEW VESSEL SECURITY OFFICER RULE
Archives
Marine Safety
NORTHWEST RECREATIONAL BOATING FATALITIES UP 18%
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
June 20, 2008
Although it is still early in the recreational boating season, recreational boating fatalities in the Northwest have risen by 18% over last year's rate, according to the Coast Guard.
COMMERCIAL FISHING ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS FOR U.S. WORKERS, NORTHWEST DUNGENESS MOST DANGEROUS FISHERY ON PACIFIC COAST
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
May 28, 2008
A study by the Center for Disease Control reaffirmed commercial fishing's status as one of the most dangerous occupations for U.S. workers, especially on the Pacific Coast.
NEW VESSEL SECURITY OFFICER RULE
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
May 28, 2008
The Coast Guard is implementing a new interim rule, effective June 19, 2008, concerning the training and certification of Vessel Security Officers (VSOs). Currently, all VSOs are self-certified by the vessel owner or operator as being properly trained in their vessel security duties. However, under the new rule, all VSOs must comply with new training and qualification standards and be certified by the Coast Guard.
All VSOs will need to have new VSO endorsements to their STCW certifications by July 1, 2009. To obtain these endorsements, VSOs will have to pass new competence-based training for security officers, which is currently being developed by the Coast Guard with the assistance of several organizations that currently offer similar training.
Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobson wants to remind all VSOs and employers to meet this new rule. If you are affected by this new regulation, visit http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/mmic-appcourses.htm to ensure that you are in compliance.
NEWEST EPIRB TECHNOLOGY ESSENTIAL IN RESCUE OF 3 OFF CAPE COD
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
May 27, 2008
The Coast Guard rescued the three-member crew of the fishing vessel Donna Maria on Monday evening, who were forced to abandon ship more than 180 miles southeast of Cape Cod. A Falcon jet and Jayhawk helicopter were dispatched when a sailing vessel, the ING Coffer, relayed the distress calls from the sinking vessel.
According to John Tomaszewski, a search and rescue controller at the Coast Guard Command Center in Boston, the successful rescue of all three crewmembers hinged on their possession of a 406MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or EPIRB. As Mr. Tomaszewski said, "the key to this case was the relay of information between all parties involved that allowed us to respond quickly. The EPIRB aboard the vessel was essential to allow us to monitor the location of the crew in distress."
While the Donna Maria's distress signal might have been picked up if they had used an older-model EPIRB, that will not be the case for much longer. Beginning Feb. 1, 2009, the Coast Guard and other search and rescue personnel will only monitor mayday calls that are broadcast using digital 406MHz EPIRB beacons. Older 121.5 MHz EPIRB distress signals will no longer be detected or sent directly to search and rescue personnel.
We at Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobson want to remind mariners to make the switch to this lifesaving technology. EPIRBs are essential safety devices that can drastically shorten the time between catastrophe and rescue, and can mean the difference between life and death for both commercial and recreational boaters.
PACIFIC GLACIER CREW TRAINING PAYS OFF
Posted by: euser
March 07, 2008
The Pacific Glacier, home ported in Seattle, made it back to Dutch Harbor under it's own power after a fire threatened to destroy it in the Bering Sea.
"OPERATION SAFE CRAB" TO CONDUCT VESSEL SAFETY SPOT CHECKS
Posted by: euser
December 06, 2007
The Coast Guard will be conducting safety spot checks, voluntary dockside exams, and offering basic safety training in various Northwest ports from November 26-28, 2007 as part of "Operation Safe Crab."
