Safety Violations Halt FV's Voyages

Law enforcement officers from USCGC Mustang terminated an F/V's voyage in Prince William Sound, after they discovered safety violations aboard the vessel. The USCG cited Sheelagh M's captain for several violations, including: Not having immersion suits for the four people aboard his vessel; not having the required number of fire extinguishers; and having a cracked life-ring buoy. Also, enforcement officers from USCG Station Ketchikan terminated vessel Cape Fairweather because of safety violations. Boaters in the downtown Ketchikan area called the USCG to report the vessel being operated negligently. Cape Fairweather is a 49-ft. purse seiner from Ketchikan. The Station Ketchikan boat crew located the F/V at a Ketchikan fuel dock and conducted boarding on it. During the boarding the boat crew discovered the vessel's EPIRB was mounted incorrectly, the life raft was mounted incorrectly and the flares were expired. USCG officers ordered the vessel moored until the discrepancies are corrected.