[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 62 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16815-16822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6477]



[[Page 16815]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 26 and 28

[Docket No. USCG-2003-16158]
RIN 1625-AA77


Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is developing a set of proposed amendments to 
its commercial fishing industry vessel regulations. The proposed 
changes would enhance maritime safety by adding new requirements for 
vessel stability and watertight integrity, stability training and 
assessments, vessel maintenance and self-examinations, immersion suits, 
crew preparedness, safety training, emergency preparation, safety and 
training personnel, safety equipment, and documentation. Miscellaneous 
conforming, clarifying, and other administrative changes are also 
contemplated.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before July 29, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket 
number USCG-2003-16158 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one 
of the following methods:
    (1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    (3) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (4) Hand delivery: Room W12-140 on the Ground Floor of the West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
telephone number is 202-366-9329.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed 
rule, call M.M. Rosecrans, Chief, Fishing Vessel Safety Division (CG-
5433), U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 202-372-1245, or e-mail 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with the 
Department of Transportation (DOT) to use the Docket Management 
Facility. Please see DOT's ``Privacy Act'' paragraph below.
    We are interested in the potential impacts from this proposed rule 
on small businesses and we request public comment on these potential 
impacts. If you think that this proposed rule would have a significant 
economic impact on you, your business, or your organization, please 
submit a comment to the Docket Management Facility at the address under 
ADDRESSES. In your comment, explain why, how, and to what degree you 
think this rule would have an economic impact on you.

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include your name and address, 
identify the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2003-16158), 
indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment 
applies, and give the reason for each comment. You may submit your 
comments and material by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to 
the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but 
please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you 
submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic 
filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they 
reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard 
or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during 
the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.

B. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at 
any time, click on ``Search for Dockets,'' and enter the docket number 
for this rulemaking (USCG-2003-16158) in the Docket ID box, and click 
enter. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in room W12-
140 on the Ground Floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

C. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into 
any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment 
(or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Department of 
Transportation's Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

D. Public Meeting

    The Coast Guard anticipates wide interest in this rulemaking and is 
considering how best to obtain early spoken comments from the public. 
If we determine a cost-effective way to receive spoken comments from 
all segments of the commercial fishing vessel industry and from the 
general public, we will announce it in a subsequent Federal Register 
notice.

II. Acronym Table

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Acronym                                Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFIVSAC........................  Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel
                                  Safety Advisory Committee.
CFR............................  Code of Federal Regulations.
CPR............................  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
DOT............................  Department of Transportation.
EPIRB..........................  Emergency Position Indicating Radio
                                  Beacon.
F/V............................  Fishing Vessel.
FRP............................  Fiberglass-reinforced Plastic.
IMO............................  International Maritime Organization.
NPRM...........................  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
SNPRM..........................  Supplemental Notice of Proposed
                                  Rulemaking.
U.S.C..........................  United States Code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Note on the Regulatory Framework Affecting Commercial Fishing 
Industry Vessels

    In the discussions that follow, we sometimes distinguish between 
documented and undocumented vessels. Under 46 U.S.C. chapter 121, a 
vessel of at least five net tons must meet the ownership tests and 
other criteria needed to obtain a certificate of documentation (Form 
CG-1270) with a fishery endorsement, before it can be employed in 
processing, storing, transporting (except in foreign commerce), 
planting, cultivating, catching, taking, or harvesting fish, shellfish, 
marine animals, pearls, shells, or marine vegetation in the navigable 
waters of the United States or its Exclusive Economic Zone. For Coast 
Guard regulations affecting the

[[Page 16816]]

documentation of fishing industry vessels, see 46 CFR part 67. Fishing 
industry vessels 100 feet or greater in length are also subject to 
Maritime Administration requirements found in 46 CFR part 356.

IV. Background and Purpose

    Commercial fishing remains one of the most hazardous occupations in 
the United States. Congress addressed this problem by enacting the 
Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 (``the 1988 
Act,'' Pub. L. 100-424, as subsequently amended; see generally, 46 
U.S.C. chapter 45, ``Uninspected Commercial Fishing Industry 
Vessels''). The Act directed the Secretary of Transportation to provide 
safety requirements for fishing vessels, fish processing vessels, and 
fish tender vessels. It also established the Commercial Fishing 
Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC) to advise the 
Secretary on matters relating to the safe operation of commercial 
fishing vessels.
    Coast Guard regulations under the 1988 Act were first issued on 
August 14, 1991 (56 FR 40364), and were further addressed in the 
following documents:
     August 3, 1992, interim rule (57 FR 34188) that amended 
the 1991 immersion suit requirements in 46 CFR 28.110, but advised the 
public that immersion suits would be the subject of further rulemaking;
     October 27, 1992, SNPRM (57 FR 48670) that proposed the 
adoption of stability regulations for vessels less than 79 feet in 
length;
     May 20, 1993, NPRM (58 FR 29502) that proposed further 
changes to immersion suit requirements;
     October 24, 1995, final rule (60 FR 54441) that adopted 
regulations for Aleutian Trade Act vessels;
     November 5, 1996, interim rule (61 FR 57268) that adopted 
safety equipment and vessel operating procedure regulations and 
deferred further action on the 1992 SNPRM's proposal to extend 
stability regulations to smaller vessels;
     September 4, 1997, final rule (62 FR 46672) that finalized 
the 1996 regulations with some changes; and
     July 15, 1998, notice (63 FR 38141) that announced the 
termination of the 1993 NPRM and the Coast Guard's plans for a 
subsequent rulemaking to address immersion suits, vessel stability, and 
other commercial fishing industry vessel issues.
    These documents, as well as other background documents, are 
available in the docket. Each document may be downloaded.
    In addition to past Federal Register notices, two recent studies 
indicated the need for further regulatory action. The first was the 
report of the Fishing Vessel Casualty Task Force appointed by the Coast 
Guard in 1999, following the loss of 11 commercial fishermen's lives in 
just three weeks. The Task Force report, ``Living to Fish, Dying to 
Fish'' (March 1999, see the docket), concluded that Coast Guard 
regulations issued under the 1988 Act had improved fishing vessel 
safety, but also identified several areas where further action is 
necessary. The Task Force recognized that some actions would be 
difficult to achieve; for instance, they concluded that an inspection 
program aimed at eliminating or reducing unsafe conditions would have 
the greatest beneficial impact on safety, but would be the most 
difficult measure to implement.
    The second study was compiled by the Coast Guard and is titled 
``Analysis of Fishing Vessel Casualties--A Review of Lost Fishing 
Vessels and Crew Fatalities, 1994-2004'' (``the 1994-2004 analysis''). 
This document is also available in the docket. Based upon the analysis, 
we concluded that flooding and capsizing are major causes of vessel 
loss and that casualties could be reduced by extending stability 
regulations to vessels less than 79 feet in length, improving crew 
preparedness, and by extending immersion suit requirements.
    The tables that follow show data for vessel losses, fatalities, and 
cause of vessel losses from the 1994-2004 analysis. The data is 
included to clarify discussions elsewhere in this preamble. The numbers 
from these tables are used in the discussions that follow.

                         Table 1.--Vessel Losses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Year                                Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994..........................................................       153
1995..........................................................       117
1996..........................................................       166
1997..........................................................       138
1998..........................................................       125
1999..........................................................       123
2000..........................................................        85
2001..........................................................       133
2002..........................................................       127
2003..........................................................       114
2004..........................................................       117
                                                               ---------
    Total.....................................................      1398
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                     Table 2.--Cause of Vessel Loss
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Cause                               Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flooding......................................................       493
Fire..........................................................       282
Grounding.....................................................       236
Capsizing.....................................................       142
Collision.....................................................        55
Allision......................................................        52
Unknown.......................................................        42
Structural failure............................................        35
Loss of vessel control........................................        25
Weather.......................................................        18
Explosion.....................................................         9
Loss of electrical power......................................         5
Overloading...................................................         1
Other.........................................................         3
                                                               ---------
    Total.....................................................      1398
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                      Table 3.--Cause of Fatalities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Casualty type                          Fatalities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vessel flooding, sinking, capsizing........................          328
Fall into water............................................          154
Pulled overboard by gear...................................           29
Diving accident............................................           27
Dangerous atmosphere.......................................           18
Caught in winch............................................           16
Smoke inhalation--vessel fire..............................           10
Unknown injury type........................................           10
Crushed by gear............................................           10
Struck by line.............................................            7
Struck by moving object....................................            7
Drowned clearing propeller.................................            4
Caught in lines............................................            3
Vessel collision...........................................            3
Other......................................................           15
                                                            ------------
    Total..................................................          641
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The major cause of fatalities between 1994 and 2004 can be traced 
to vessel losses. In the period reviewed, 1,398 vessels were lost and 
there were 641 fatalities. Of the 641 fatalities, 328 can be attributed 
to vessel losses (i.e., flooding, sinking, and capsizing).

A. Past Recommendations

    In addition to the two aforementioned studies, the Coast Guard 
reviewed all recommendations previously made regarding commercial 
fishing industry vessel safety. We examined recommendations from the 
National Transportation Safety Board, Marine Boards of Investigation, 
the Task Force report, and formal and informal marine casualty 
investigations. We then collected similar recommendations and 
determined the appropriate action to take for each group and individual 
recommendation.
    Many recommendations addressed seeking authority to inspect 
commercial fishing industry vessels and to license mariners on board 
commercial fishing industry vessels to improve the condition of vessels 
and the competency

[[Page 16817]]

of mariners. The 1988 Act required the CFIVSAC to submit 
recommendations to Congress on inspection of vessels and licensing of 
mariners in the commercial fishing industry. The CFIVSAC recommended 
that Congress mandate vessel inspections and licensing of mariners. The 
Coast Guard requested additional authority to reclassify commercial 
fishing industry vessels as inspected vessels. This authority could 
provide for design and construction standards, mandatory inspections, 
and licensing of mariners on commercial fishing industry vessels 
similar to current requirements for cargo, passenger, and tank vessels. 
Congress has not granted the requested authority.
    Wherever regulatory development authority already exists, we have 
analyzed each recommendation to determine the appropriate action. Some 
of the recommendations needed no action as regulations or policies 
already address the recommendation. Some recommendations form the basis 
of the potential regulatory changes discussed here. In certain cases, 
we would consider phasing in new requirements in order to reduce the 
economic burden on industry. Other safety recommendations are either 
inappropriate, overtaken by events, or otherwise untimely. The results 
of this review, entitled ``Review of Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel 
Safety Recommendations'', are available in the docket.
    In the following pages, we discuss the principal changes we are 
considering. Many changes could include documentation requirements. 
Documentation gives owners and operating personnel a written record of 
regulatory compliance, reinforces the importance of that compliance, 
and facilitates quick compliance verification by the Coast Guard and 
other regulators.

V. Discussion of Regulatory Changes Under Consideration

A. Overview

    Table 4 shows an overview of the new requirements we are 
considering, by vessel length. The potential new requirements are 
explained in more detail later in this document.
    New stability and watertight integrity requirements, except for 
training, would apply only to vessels 50 to 79 feet because of the 
findings of the 1994-2004 analysis, the recommendations of the CFIVSAC, 
and because existing regulations apply to most vessels over 79 feet in 
length.

                                         Table 4.--Applicability of Potential New Requirements by Vessel Length
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      New requirement under
          consideration              All lengths    30' > L < = 40'  40' > L < = 50'  50' > L < = 60'  60' > L < = 70'  70' > L < = 80'      L > 80'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Stability Test...........  ...............  ...............  ...............               X                X                X   ...............
Stability Review at Alteration...  ...............  ...............  ...............               X                X                X   ...............
Five-Year Periodic Stability       ...............  ...............  ...............               X                X                X                X
 Review..........................
Shipbuilding Requirements........  ...............  ...............  ...............               X                X                X   ...............
Stability Training...............  ...............               X                X                X                X                X                X
Immersion Suits..................               X                X                X                X                X                X                X
Safety Training, Emergency Drills  ...............               X                X                X                X                X                X
 and Documentation...............
EPIRB............................  ...............               X                X                X                X                X                X
Survival Craft Stowage...........  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............               X
Embarkation Station..............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............               X
High Water Alarms................  ...............               X                X                X                X                X                X
Door Notice......................               X                X                X                X                X                X                X
Departure Reports................  ...............  ...............  ...............               X                X                X                X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Vessel Stability and Watertight Integrity

    The major new requirements we are considering for vessel stability 
and watertight integrity include:
     Stability requirements for vessels between 50 and 79 feet 
in length and certain loadlined vessels that are currently exempt from 
stability requirements;
     Stability training for masters and owners of vessels 
greater than 30 feet in length;
     Minimum criteria for stability training and training 
instructors;
     Repeating lightweight surveys (and in some circumstances, 
inclining tests) and updating stability instructions at least once 
every five years;
     Addition of new items to be addressed in stability 
instructions;
     Revision of certain stability calculations;
     Upgrading and highlighting of weathertight and watertight 
integrity requirements to prevent unintentional flooding;
     Emphasis on the owner's, as well as the master's, 
responsibility for vessel stability; and
     Notification to the Coast Guard prior to substantial 
vessel alteration or major conversion, recognizing that many stability 
and watertight integrity improvements can be made economically only 
during original construction or during a major modification.
1. General Discussion
    Stability is the capacity of a vessel to return to an upright 
condition after being ``heeled'' or leaned over by external forces. 
Watertight integrity refers to a vessel's ability to withstand a static 
head of water without any leakage. Current Coast Guard regulations 
require stability calculations to be made, and stability instructions 
prepared, for newly constructed or substantially altered vessels of 79 
feet or more in length. We are considering adding stability and 
watertight integrity requirements for fishing vessels between 50 and 79 
feet in length. Stability and watertight integrity standards have been 
designed with 50- to 79-foot vessels in mind. Vessels of less than 50 
feet in length might also benefit from such standards, but because 
standards for those vessels have not yet been designed, we are 
considering only 50-to 79-foot vessels at this time.
    The 1988 Act mandates regulations for the operating stability of 
certain vessels. We originally proposed applying stability regulations 
to vessels of any length, but comments on our 1991 rulemaking expressed 
concern that the proposed standards drew upon International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) stability standards developed for vessels of 79 feet 
or more in length (``Torremolinos International Convention for the 
Safety of Fishing Vessels'', 1977) that would be inappropriate for 
smaller vessels. In light of those concerns, we set the 1991 rule's 
threshold at 79 feet, but we indicated our intention to revisit 
requirements for smaller vessels. In 1992, we proposed extending 
stability regulations to smaller vessels, but as previously noted that 
regulatory effort was deferred in 1996.

[[Page 16818]]

    The 1999 Task Force report called for developing stability 
regulations for vessels greater than 50 feet in length (Recommendation 
4.1). As previously mentioned, the 1994-2004 analysis identified 
flooding, sinking, and capsizing as the leading causes of vessel loss. 
Of the vessel losses, capsizing accounted for 142 vessel losses (10 
percent of all vessel losses). Of the 328 fatalities, 115 can be 
attributed to capsizing and sudden sinkings where individuals had 
insufficient time to properly use survival equipment, including 
immersion suits. These statistics explain why the Coast Guard continues 
to be concerned with stability and watertight integrity issues within 
the commercial fishing industry.
    In 1995, the CFIVSAC was asked to assist in developing stability 
standards for commercial fishing industry vessels less than 79 feet in 
length. In 1997, the CFIVSAC's stability subcommittee offered a set of 
recommended standards that would apply to commercial fishing industry 
vessels 50 feet or more in length. Those recommended standards are 
contained in the docket and form the basis of the stability 
requirements we are considering for vessels 50 to 79 feet in length.
    The Task Force report called for changes in how stability is 
treated. Recommendations addressed developing instructions readily 
understood by masters (Recommendation 4.3) and programmatic enforcement 
of all requirements with a focus on dockside checks (Recommendation 
3.2). In 1999, due to the high number of deaths in the Alaska/Bering 
Sea crab fisheries, the Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Fish 
and Game began a program to analyze crab-vessel loading when stability 
instructions are provided on board the vessel prior to departure. 
Despite having stability information on board, overloading still 
occurred in some instances. Factors contributing to this, as confirmed 
in casualty investigations, are that the calculations often were not 
understood by operating personnel and stability information was often 
not updated after changes were made to the vessel, which invalidated 
the instructions provided.
2. Stability Training
    Lack of situational awareness and understanding regarding stability 
principles and watertight integrity have been shown to contribute to or 
have been the primary reasons for a high percentage of vessel losses 
from sinking, flooding, and sudden capsizing. Analysis of 
recommendations made for improving commercial fishing industry vessel 
safety from Coast Guard investigating officers, the Task Force report, 
and other sources offer a number of recommendations for improving the 
competency of vessel masters relating to stability. Training in these 
principles may help prevent the cause of vessel losses. Therefore, we 
are considering requiring stability training for vessels 30 feet or 
more in length. We believe the 30-foot threshold covers all those 
vessels that are likely to operate in conditions where such training 
can be a critical safety factor.
    The CFIVSAC has previously recommended mandatory stability training 
for masters of vessels. In July 2005, the CFIVSAC was asked to provide 
specific recommendations on who must have stability training and the 
composition of that training. The CFIVSAC recommended that the Coast 
Guard require masters and owners to receive a three-tiered regimen of 
stability instruction:
    1. General principles of stability;
    2. Risk factors specific to the region or fishery in which engaged; 
and
    3. Vessel-specific training.
    The requirements we are considering would be consistent with these 
recommendations.
    The Coast Guard is inclined to adopt the CFIVSAC recommendation to 
require owners to receive training, since they provide operational 
guidance to the master in many instances. It is also the owner's 
responsibility to ensure the master is prepared for a voyage, 
including, but not limited to, understanding: the stability and 
watertight integrity risk factors; the stability instructions; and 
loading constraints and restrictions for the vessel.
    The 1983 Marine Board of Investigation for the capsizing of the F/V 
ALTAIR and F/V AMERICUS stated that:

    There is convincing evidence that commercial fishermen in 
general lack an appreciation of principles of stability. This 
investigation demonstrated that there was a critical failure to 
utilize information (stability booklets) readily available for 
determining safe loading.

    An example of lack of situational awareness regarding stability is 
the sinking of the F/V NORTHERN EDGE. The F/V NORTHERN EDGE blocked its 
freeing ports as a standard practice when dumping scallops on deck. In 
an instant, the vessel took water on deck that could not run off 
because of the blocked freeing ports. Water entered the vessel's 
interior through an open weathertight door that led to progressive 
flooding and sudden capsizing with the loss of five persons. Stability 
training would be intended to raise the situational awareness of 
masters, including the hazards presented by blocking freeing ports and 
leaving doors that may permit downflooding to remain open when not used 
for transit.
3. Stability Reassessment
    The basis of all stability calculations is an accurate weight and 
location of the center of gravity in the lightweight condition. Any 
time there is uncertainty regarding the lightweight values, a 
reassessment of stability and/or a determination of the revised 
lightweight values is necessary.
    A vessel in service for a period of time will experience weight 
changes. Some changes are easily determined such as the addition or 
removal of large equipment. In addition to weight changes that can be 
accurately determined from manufacturer's information, unaccounted 
weight changes occur. Unless carefully managed, weight changes tend to 
degrade the stability of a vessel by increasing the vessel's 
lightweight thereby decreasing the reserve buoyancy and raising the 
center of gravity, which decreases overall stability. Unfortunately, 
most vessels do not have a weight management system to account for the 
many large and small changes that occur; therefore, as a vessel ages, 
the margin of safety degenerates and a stability reassessment is 
needed. A stability review at least once every five years could be a 
reasonable interval for examining the vessel for the accumulated 
changes, both known and unknown.
    We are considering requiring a lightweight survey to determine the 
amount of change to a vessel's lightweight. If changes can be accounted 
for accurately, the lightweight survey would be sufficient and the 
stability instructions could be updated based on that survey. 
Otherwise, an inclining test could be required to determine the 
lightweight and location of the center of gravity.

C. Vessel Maintenance and Self-Examination

    We are considering requiring the owners of vessels that operate 
beyond the boundary line, with more than 16 persons on board, or that 
are fish-tender vessels in the Aleutian trade to conduct monthly self-
examinations of their vessels according to criteria that we would 
provide. Masters would document these self-examinations.
    The 1994-2004 analysis revealed that the majority (69 percent) of 
vessel losses can be attributed to hull and machinery failures. 
Predominantly, the losses

[[Page 16819]]

occurred while the vessels were not engaged in fishing operations. The 
most prevalent operation directly preceding a vessel loss (616) was 
transiting during non-fishing activities. The next most prevalent 
operation contributing to vessel loss was sinking while the vessel was 
moored (163).
    The vessels experiencing the highest numbers of losses were wooden-
hull vessels (548), steel-hull vessels (277), and fiberglass-reinforced 
plastic (FRP) hull vessels (261). Of the wooden-hull vessels lost, 265 
(48 percent) were between 20 and 40 years old. For steel-hull vessels 
lost, 185 (66 percent) were between 20 and 40 years old. For FRP-hull 
vessels lost, 197 (75 percent) were in this age range.
    Hull and machinery failures leading to vessel loss accounted for 25 
percent of the 328 fatalities attributed to vessel flooding, sinking, 
or capsizing. Maintenance is an issue of major concern in reducing the 
likelihood of vessel losses and consequent fatalities. Because vessel 
loss is a major contributor to fatalities, reductions in vessel losses 
should lead to fewer fatalities.
    The 1988 Act authorized the Coast Guard to develop regulations for 
equipment, maintenance, and use of equipment to minimize the risk of 
serious injury on documented fishing industry vessels that operate 
beyond the boundary line, with more than 16 individuals on board, or 
that are fish-tender vessels in the Aleutian trade. The 1988 Act also 
requires regulations for operational stability, as mentioned elsewhere 
in this document. In addition, the Coast Guard has developed 
regulations for fire protection, fire extinguishing, firefighting 
equipment, dewatering and bilge systems, fuel systems, and electrical 
systems. Each of these areas has a critical maintenance component. For 
instance, a watertight hull envelope, which is necessary for 
operational stability, can be compromised by loose planking, corroded 
or eroded hull plating, or wasted-through hull fittings, all of which 
can lead to breaches of a vessel's watertight integrity and stability 
degradation.
    As previously discussed, the Coast Guard lacks authority for 
mandatory inspections of most commercial fishing industry vessels. 
Nonetheless, periodic examinations of a vessel and its equipment by 
personnel on board the vessel or other employees selected by the owner 
may accomplish safety improvements by reducing the number of vessel 
losses from machinery and hull failures.
    Self-examinations would be the responsibility of the owner and the 
master. The owner would determine: (a) The level of detail for the 
examination; (b) the testing required as part of the examination 
process; and (c) the acceptance criteria for each item examined, if 
none is otherwise specified by regulation. The master would be the 
individual that either performs the examinations or supervises the 
examination process and documents acceptable completion of the 
examination. The master would be required to maintain a record of 
examinations.
    Most vessel owners and masters are familiar enough with their 
vessels that they are already effectively performing these periodic 
examinations. For those owners and masters, these requirements would 
have little impact. For owners and masters that do not follow good 
marine practice and do not routinely check their vessel's condition, 
these requirements would mean spending the time to systematically 
examine the vessel and its equipment and document the examinations. 
Given the high number of vessels lost to mechanical and hull failures, 
improvements within vessel maintenance areas should reduce vessel 
losses and fatalities. A more formal process and documentation of 
examinations may lead to better maintenance.
    As vessels become larger and more complex, the ability of the 
master to personally perform all examinations becomes increasingly 
difficult. It is common for larger vessels to have licensed engineers 
and mates on board to share the burden and responsibility with the 
master for performing examinations or to have specialized vendors and 
subcontractors perform some maintenance and examinations. These persons 
would be able to continue those processes as before with the exception 
of documenting their examinations.

D. Immersion Suits

    The immersion suit requirements in 46 CFR 28.110 were originally 
issued in 1991. We amended the requirements in 1992 in response to 
public objections.
    Documented commercial fishing industry vessels currently must carry 
immersion suits whenever operating seaward of the boundary line and 
beyond 32 degrees north or 32 degrees south latitude. Prior to the 1992 
amendment, we also applied this requirement to documented vessels on 
any of the Great Lakes.
    We are considering requiring vessels to carry immersion suits for 
their crew members whenever they operate in seasonally-cold waters. We 
would define ``seasonally cold'' much as we did in our 1993 NPRM.
    All vessels, whether documented or not, must carry immersion suits 
while operating beyond-coastal cold waters; in Pacific coastal waters 
north of Point Reyes, CA; and on Lake Superior. Prior to the 1992 
amendment, we also applied this requirement to all vessels operating in 
any cold-coastal waters or on any of the other Great Lakes. In issuing 
the 1992 amendment, we stated our intention to undertake further 
rulemaking under a recommendation of the CFIVSAC, which continued to 
support the 1991 scope of the requirement.
    Our 1993 NPRM proposed extending immersion suit requirements to 
coastal and beyond-coastal waters that, regardless of latitude, are so 
cold at certain seasons that immersion suits can be important safety 
equipment. As previously noted, we terminated this proposal in 1998, 
with the intention of revisiting the immersion suit issue at a later 
time.
    The 1994-2004 analysis of fishing vessel casualties identified 
water exposure as ``by far the most significant factor in personnel 
loss'' and pointed out that water exposure is involved in 80 percent of 
all fatalities. Two hundred and thirty-four (71 percent) fatalities 
from vessel losses occurred in west coast and northeastern waters that 
tend to be colder and more severe than elsewhere in the country. At the 
same time, Coast Guard data indicate ``fishermen survive nearly twice 
as often when survival equipment is used.'' The survival rate is even 
higher in the case of immersion suits: 61 percent for West Coast and 
northeastern incident victims who used the suits, compared with 27 
percent for those who did not. Based on data from cold waters, we 
expect that requiring vessels to carry immersion suits if they are 
operating in cold waters would likely reduce casualties.

E. Crew Preparedness

    We are considering the following crew preparedness requirements for 
vessels that operate beyond the boundary line, with more than 16 
persons on board, or that are fish-tender vessels in the Aleutian 
trade:
     Recurring crew safety and survival training;
     Recurring drill requirements;
     Designation of a vessel safety officer;
     Presence of an on board drill conductor;
     Minimum training requirements for safety instructors, 
drill conductors, and

[[Page 16820]]

other individuals who are required to have safety training; and
     Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid 
retraining every three years.
1. Training and Drills
    The 1994-2004 analysis showed a marked increase in survivability 
for those familiar with lifesaving equipment, especially personal 
flotation devices. Of the 328 vessel-related fatalities due to sinking, 
flooding, and capsizing, only 48 (15 percent) had properly used 
personal flotation devices or immersion suits. Fatalities involving 
vessels that operate beyond the boundary line, with more than 16 
persons on board, or that are fish-tender vessels in the Aleutian trade 
might be decreased by increasing the frequency with which realistic 
drills, involving all crew members, cover the proper use of lifesaving 
equipment.
    The Marine Board of Investigation report into the 2001 sinking of 
the F/V ARCTIC ROSE, with the loss of 15 lives, recommended requiring 
recurring safety and survival training.
    The need for this training is further demonstrated by the sinking 
of the F/V GULF KING 15. On December 11, 1997, the F/V GULF KING 15 
burned and sank in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 60 
miles south of Freeport, Texas. The emergency position indicating radio 
beacon (EPIRB) failed to transmit a distress signal. All three 
crewmembers on board were able to abandon the vessel; however, they 
were unable to properly deploy the liferaft. They managed to cling to 
the uninflated liferaft for several hours. One of the crew drowned 
after letting go of the raft and the vessel master drowned while being 
rescued by another vessel. Had the EPIRB been operating properly, the 
crew would have had a better chance of surviving the casualty. Liferaft 
deployment and EPIRB operation are two of the topics that would be 
covered in the safety training we are considering.
    A number of training organizations offer the type of training we 
have in mind, but it is not widespread enough for most of the 
commercial fishing industry. We think the initial investment for those 
desiring to provide this training is low and that the facilities needed 
for this training are generally available throughout the country.
    We are considering requiring emergency drills after any personnel 
change involving persons to whom safety responsibilities are assigned. 
Most crews are small and rely heavily on teamwork and a shared 
understanding of responsibilities, equipment, and methodologies in an 
emergency. Having only one individual with safety responsibilities 
within a crew of eight or less can significantly affect the functioning 
of the team, because team members are highly interdependent during an 
emergency.
2. Vessel Safety Officer
    We are considering requiring vessels that operate beyond the 
boundary line, with more than 16 persons on board, or that are fish-
tender vessels in the Aleutian trade, to have a designated safety 
officer. The safety officer would report to the master, or if the 
master is the designated safety officer, to the owner. The safety 
officer would report on the condition or status of safety equipment, 
emergency instruction, emergency drills, and safety orientations, among 
other things. The purpose of having a designated safety officer is to 
reinforce the importance of safety on board fishing industry vessels. 
The larger the vessel, the more responsibility the master has. The 
master has primary responsibility for safety on board, but his or her 
many other responsibilities can detract from the master's focus on 
safety.
    The designation of a safety officer would not relieve the master of 
responsibility for the safety of the vessel and crew. The safety 
officer could provide assistance to the master in safety 
responsibilities and be a constant reminder that safety should never be 
overlooked, forgotten, or subordinated to other vessel business.
3. On Board Drill Conductors
    For vessels that operate beyond the boundary line, with more than 
16 persons on board, or that are fish-tender vessels in the Aleutian 
trade, we are considering requiring an on board fishing vessel drill 
conductor to conduct safety orientations. This requirement would 
conform to recommendations of the Task Force report and the casualty 
investigation on the sinking of the fish processing vessel GALAXY. Each 
orientation would include survival equipment location and use, and any 
potential hazards affecting the vessel such as deck machinery, 
hazardous materials, or confined or unventilated spaces. Addressing 
these potential hazards would increase the overall safety awareness of 
the crewmembers in their work environment. The lessons initially 
communicated through safety orientations would be reinforced through 
monthly emergency drills.
    Current regulations permit safety instruction and emergency drills 
to be conducted by any qualified person. A common practice is to have a 
professional trainer conduct the safety instruction and drills prior to 
the local fishing season; however, if a voyage lasts for an extended 
period of time or port calls are unpredictable, there may not be a 
professional trainer available for subsequent safety instruction and 
emergency drills. This potentially leaves the crew with nobody on board 
experienced in safety instruction and conducting emergency drills. 
Since on board instruction and drills are the primary means for the 
majority of those within the commercial fishing industry to become 
prepared for emergencies, this matter is too important to leave to 
chance.
    In the past, the master was often qualified as a fishing vessel 
drill conductor, and this may remain the case. The master or a member 
of the crew who is trained as a fishing vessel drill conductor would be 
able to provide personal knowledge about the particulars, procedures, 
and equipment of that vessel. A second fishing vessel drill conductor 
would be required on board vessels with more than 16 individuals. This 
would alleviate the burden on the master and help ensure everyone gets 
trained in a timely manner. The Coast Guard does not believe more than 
two fishing vessel drill conductors are necessary on any particular 
vessel.
4. Requirements for Safety Instructors, Drill Conductors, and Other 
Safety Personnel
    For vessels that operate beyond the boundary line, with more than 
16 persons on board, or that are fish-tender vessels in the Aleutian 
trade, we are considering requiring minimum standards for the safety 
instructors, drill conductors, and for other personnel with specific 
safety responsibilities.
    Fishing vessel safety instructors would need a valid Coast Guard 
letter of acceptance, renewable after five years. The letter of 
acceptance would verify that an instructor possesses necessary maritime 
and instructional experience, and is able to offer an eight-hour 
curriculum in various safety topics, using either a nationally 
recognized curriculum or one that the instructor submits for Coast 
Guard review.
    Drill conductors and other individuals with specific safety 
responsibilities would need certification from a safety instructor 
attesting that they have satisfactorily completed the training that the 
safety instructor's letter of acceptance authorizes the safety 
instructor to give. Like letters of acceptance, these certificates 
would be valid for five years and could be

[[Page 16821]]

renewed after additional training. Fishing vessel drill conductors 
would also need to show that they can effectively communicate with all 
members of the crew despite any language barriers, either through 
translation or hands-on demonstration.
5. CPR and First Aid Training
    We are considering expanding the existing requirements for CPR and 
First Aid training on vessels that operate beyond the boundary line, 
with more than 16 persons on board, or that are fish-tender vessels in 
the Aleutian trade. Currently, depending on the size of a vessel's 
crew, from one to four crew members must have certified training in CPR 
and First Aid. We are considering requiring refresher training every 
three years, per the recommendations and practice of the National 
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, American National Red 
Cross, and American Heart Association. Training in first aid and CPR is 
readily available in most locations and is relatively inexpensive.

F. Safety Equipment

    We are considering new measures, relating to the following safety 
equipment and affecting all commercial fishing industry vessels:
     Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs);
     Survival craft;
     Embarkation stations;
     High water alarms; and
     Excess or outdated equipment.
1. EPIRBs
    Current regulations require all commercial fishing vessels 
operating on the high seas or beyond three miles from the coastline of 
the Great Lakes to be equipped with EPIRBs, which can alert the 
worldwide search and rescue system and provide the exact location of a 
vessel in distress or immersed in water. By existing regulation (47 CFR 
80.1061(f)), EPIRBs are supposed to be registered with the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration but this requirement is 
frequently overlooked, resulting in unregistered EPIRB activations and 
risk to Coast Guard search and rescue personnel. We are considering 
requiring that registration to be documented so that we can enforce the 
existing registration requirement.
2. Survival Craft
    We are considering requiring all survival craft to be easily 
accessible, and launchable by just one crew member. This conforms to a 
recommendation of the GALAXY investigation. The means used to comply 
with this requirement would be left up to the individual vessel, and, 
for smaller devices, could include manual launching.
3. Embarkation Stations
    We are considering new measures to upgrade the safety and usability 
of survival craft embarkation stations in the event the crew must 
abandon ship. Embarkation stations would need to be equipped with 
emergency lighting and boarding ladders, in conformity with a GALAXY 
investigation recommendation. After a phase-in period, this requirement 
would be extended to Aleutian Trade Act vessels.
4. High-Water Alarms
    In line with a recommendation from the ARCTIC ROSE investigation, 
we are considering requiring the use of high-water alarms in enclosed 
fish sorting or processing spaces. Sudden flooding in these spaces can 
threaten a vessel's stability. By installing alarms that would sound 
both in the affected space and in the vessel's operating station 
regardless of the vessel's heel or trim, the crew would have more time 
to restore watertight integrity or prepare for abandonment of the 
vessel.
5. Excess or Outdated Equipment
    Safety equipment exceeding regulatory minimums would need to be 
maintained and inspected like required equipment, or else clearly 
labeled and segregated for ``training use'' only. Outdated equipment, 
like expired distress flares, could be kept for training use, but also 
would need to be clearly labeled and segregated for that purpose.

G. Documentation

    Compliance with most of the measures under consideration would be 
facilitated by new documentation requirements. Vessel owners or masters 
would need to document stability training and assessments, vessel self-
examinations, safety and survival training, and the use and maintenance 
of immersion suits and other safety equipment. Before leaving on a 
fishing trip, a vessel's master would need to file a departure report 
with the owner, attesting to the vessel's stability condition. 
Operating personnel would have a written record of compliance with the 
requirements. Written documentation would provide owners not operating 
as the vessel master with one means of ensuring that safety is not 
overlooked, and it would give them a record of operating personnel's 
activities. Written documentation of safety activities also allows the 
Coast Guard and other regulatory enforcement agencies to more quickly 
verify compliance with the safety requirements. This leads to more 
thorough examinations and less time spent verifying compliance with 
safety requirements. This is especially beneficial when compliance is 
checked while vessels are engaged in fishing activities.
Questions
    Public response to the following questions will help the Coast 
Guard develop a more complete and carefully considered rulemaking. The 
questions are not all-inclusive, and any supplemental information is 
welcome. In responding to each question, please explain the reasons for 
each answer. We encourage you to let us know your specific concerns 
with respect to each/any of the requirements under consideration.
    1. Given the statistics on vessel losses in Tables 2 and 3, what 
issues related to stability and watertight integrity should the Coast 
Guard consider addressing in regulations?
    2. Table 2 shows that vessel flooding results in the most vessel 
losses, and Table 3 shows that flooding and sinking account for a 
significant portion of fatalities. What areas should be addressed to 
reduce vessel flooding losses and fatalities?
    3. What routine measures are used to prevent unintentional 
flooding?
    4. How often is your vessel examined by a marine surveyor and under 
what circumstances? Is documentation of the survey provided?
    5. Table 3 shows that fire is a significant cause of vessel losses. 
What areas should the Coast Guard consider addressing to reduce the 
number of fire-related vessel losses (including, but not limited to: 
construction standards, detection and extinguishing equipment, fire 
fighting equipment, and firefighting training)?
    6. What means are used to limit the danger of fires and the 
consequence of fires?
    7. Table 2 shows that a significant number of vessel losses are 
related to allisions, collisions, and groundings; how should the Coast 
Guard address these causes of vessel losses?
    8. What impact has safety training had in improving safety within 
the commercial fishing industry? Do you have recommendations concerning 
safety training?
    9. What impact has crew drills had in improving safety within the 
commercial fishing industry? Do you have recommendations concerning 
crew drills?

[[Page 16822]]

    10. If training were required would it be accomplished during off-
season times?
    11. How would additional training impact one's ability to fish?
    12. If stability standards for vessels between 50 feet and 79 feet 
in length are considered, what standards should apply, and to which 
vessels should the standards apply?
    13. How does a crew become experienced in safety procedures?
    14. Should entry level crewmembers be expected to have a minimum 
level of familiarity with safety procedures?
    15. How and when is stability guidance used? If stability guidance 
is available but not used, please explain why.
    16. How are operating personnel made aware of stability and 
watertight integrity guidance?
    17. How often should stability guidance be reviewed, updated, or 
validated?
    18. How are modifications to a vessel or its gear accounted for 
relative to the vessel's maximum load, watertight integrity, and other 
stability considerations?
    19. How adequate are current requirements for personal protection 
and survival equipment?
    20. How do crew members become familiar with vessel safety and 
survival equipment?
    21. How are safety risks aboard your vessel(s) identified and 
minimized?
    22. If you are a small business, what economic impact on you, your 
business, or your organization would the rules we are considering have? 
In your comments please explain why, how, and to what degree such rules 
would have an economic impact.
    23. Have you experienced--or are you aware of--any situations where 
any of the measures under consideration saved lives, or prevented/
reduced harm/damage to vessels?
    24. Are there areas not addressed that would benefit safety within 
the commercial fishing industry?
    25. What are the costs of each requirement we are considering? Are 
there comparable alternative solutions to each requirement under 
consideration that may be more cost effective?
    26. What are the direct and indirect costs of each requirement we 
are considering? For example, labor costs, training costs, and hourly 
wages of fishermen (or alternative measures of valuing their time if 
they are not salaried)? The costs of vessel losses, including 
equipment, lost catches, and any other opportunity costs?
    27. Can any of the requirements we are considering be completed 
off-season? If so, which ones? For those that cannot, how much time 
would be taken away from productive fishing time to complete the 
requirement? How would this affect revenue, i.e., fish catches?
    28. What would be the impact on the domestic fishing industry, if 
any, of each requirement we are considering? Would there be a 
differential impact by size of vessel or region?
    29. What would be the economic impact of each requirement we are 
considering on States, local, and tribal governments?
    30. What other requirements, if any, should the Coast Guard be 
considering?

    Dated: March 21, 2008.
Brian M. Salerno,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, 
Security and Stewardship.
[FR Doc. E8-6477 Filed 3-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P