SEATTLE — The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with the assistance of the Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a fishing vessel crew for several discrepancies found during an at-sea boarding near Bellingham Thursday.
The crew of the fishing vessel Island Rose was escorted safely back to Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham after being cited for expired flares, and insufficient number of fire extinguishers and the lack of a masthead navigation light.
The Island Rose crew is unable to return to sea until all discrepancies have been corrected and verified by a Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound fishing vessel safety examiner.
“Our partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is intrinsic to keeping the northern waterways safe,” said Lt. j. g. Michael Lopez, Sector Puget Sound shiprider program supervisor. “This program has proven effective at allowing our two countries to ensure mariner safety along our shared waterways.”
The shiprider program allows both Canadian and American forces aboard each other’s vessels to conduct at-sea boardings and ensure maritime safety along shared borders.
Coast Guard fishing vessel safety examinations will become mandatory Oct. 15 for any U.S. flagged fishing vessels operating beyond three nautical miles off shore.
Due to the upcoming mandatory examination date, fishing vessel crews are encouraged to start scheduling their examinations now. For examinations along the Oregon Coast from Brookings to Westport, Washington, contact Curt Farrell at 503-240-9373. For examinations along central Washington Coast and the Puget Sound, contact Martin Teachout at 206-217-6187.