Maritime News

The National Safety Transportation Board announced this week that the Alaska Ranger, a fishing boat that sunk off the coast of Alaska in March 2008, most probably lost its rudder and then flooded before sinking.  Five crew members were killed.

  
The fishing boat had a crew of 47.  The captain, chief engineer and mate were among the victims when the vessel in sank in the Bering Sea, west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  The fishing boat is now under 6,000 feet of water.  It has not been examined by safety inspectors.

  
Alaska’s fisheries are especially treacherous.  Last October, seven crew members died when another fishing vessel, Katmai, sank in the sea off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

  
The fishing industry has the highest rates of occupational deaths, more than 35 times the national average.  NSTB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said, “It’s not called ‘Deadliest Catch’ for no reason,” and explained that current fishing industry laws do a better job of protecting the quality of fish than they do the safety of fishermen.  The NSTB is calling for more protection for fishing workers under maritime law.  

  
Congress is currently considering new safety laws for fishing vessels.  The NSTB would also like to see Congress impose mandatory safety inspections on commercial fishing boats. Currently, inspections are voluntary and courtesy inspections are offered by the Coast Guard.  

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