US Coast Guard Works to Make Catch Less Deadly in 2021, Asks Crabbers to Double Down on Safety

Traditionally, teams of commercial fishing vessel examiners from Alaska’s 17th Coast Guard District check the majority of the crab fleet just before the opening of king crab season in mid-October in Dutch Harbor, King Cove, and Kodiak. Their focus is safety gear, safety procedure, and vessel stability.

In addition to making sure each boat has all required survival gear, examiners weigh a sampling of pots and review the vessel’s loaded condition with the master to ensure compliance with the vessel’s stability instructions.

These safety compliance checks are absolutely critical every year, because gear on a crab boat is constantly changing. 

Captains and crew talk about the maximum allowable load for their boats, as well as how they need to be loaded.

Recent tragedies in these fisheries have shed light on just how important stability checks are for the fishing fleet.

Fishing vessels Destination and Scandies Rose sank in February 2017 and New Year’s Eve 2019, respectively, claiming the lives of eleven fishermen.

The Coast Guard is encouraging the crab fleet to call and request an additional safety and stability check before heading out this winter to fish the pot cod and opilio crab seasons.

“We have traditionally focused a major safety and stability check effort at the beginning of king crab season in very specific locations because we know where the fleet will be—we’re going to find the most boats in the same places at the same time,” says Scott Wilwert, commercial fishing vessel safety coordinator for the 17th Coast Guard District in Juneau. “But we’re encouraging fishermen to reach out to us again before the winter season, to schedule another check.”

Though the checks are voluntary, a captain’s incentives to schedule one are numerous.

“In addition to double checking that you’re doing everything you can to bring your crew home safe, you’re less likely to get boarded at sea and fined for violations if you received a safety and stability check at the dock,” says Petty Officer 2nd Class Holly Hugunin, an examiner at Sector Anchorage.

“We don’t issue any fines during these stability checks, but a discrepancy at sea can cost you money, or worse yet, someone’s life.”

A boat that is not loaded correctly can capsize in a matter of seconds due to a variety of variables such as improper liquid loading for the different tanks, or insufficient watertight integrity. An already unstable vessel is exacerbated by ice and heavy seas.

But ice alone can sink a boat. During icing conditions a vessel’s load size and limitations are reduced in that vessel’s stability book. Every good crab boat captain understands the importance of paying particular attention to ice forecasts and remaining vigilant about limiting the number of pots aboard with anticipated icing. They also recognize how crucial it is to break up ice and remove it as quickly as it forms.

“Whether it’s your second time in two months, or your first time in years, taking advantage of a safety and stability check with us before fishing this winter can help prevent another tragedy,” says Russ Hazlett, an examiner at Sector Anchorage.

“The most likely locations in Alaska to schedule an exam this winter are Kodiak, Homer, Seward and Dutch Harbor where we have marine safety detachments. If nothing else, call us to attempt a stability check over the phone, regardless of where you’re fishing from.”