Ship Safety Bulletins (SSB)
Date (Y-M-D): 1988-03-04
Subject: Sailing Plans and Position Reporting - Fishing Vessels
- The Government of Canada's Search and Rescue ( SAR ) organization maintains Rescue Coordination Centres ( RCC ) and Marine Rescue Sub Centres ( MRSC ) to assist mariners in distress.
- Each year hundreds of fishing vessels are reported overdue. The unstructured nature of their voyages makes it difficult to determine an accurate position from which to begin a search. Prior to sailing, fishermen should complete a sailing plan that will increase the possibility of being rescued in the event of an emergency.
- The attached sailing plan will provide rescue centres with the necessary information required for a successful rescue.
- Upon completion the sailing plan should be left with a responsible person who will contact the nearest Rescue Coordination Centre or Marine Rescue Sub Centre when the vessel becomes overdue. This person could be a relative of a crew member, or a wharfinger, union official, fish plant manager, local police or fisheries officer.
- Once the voyage has commenced, fishermen should:
.1 maintain a regular radio call schedule at least one a day with the person holding the sailing plan;
.2 advise immediately of any changes to the scheduled voyage; and
.3 cancel the sailing plan upon completion of the voyage.
- Should a fishing vessel be late in making the scheduled regular radio call and cannot be contacted by radio, the person holding the sailing plan should telephone the nearest Rescue Coordination Centre or Marine Rescue Sub Centre. This telephone call can be made toll free.
- In the event of a radio malfunction during the voyage, the fishing vessel 's master should contact the closest vessel to request a transmission relay to report the breakdown to the person holding the sailing plan.
- Fishermen can further assist by maintaining a strict radio watch on the appropriate frequencies. On many occasions search and rescue ships and aircraft have been tasked to search for a vessel simply because the vessel did not respond to radiocommunications.
R.C.C. HALIFAX 1-800-565-1582 | R.C.C. TRENTON 1-800-267-7270 |
---|---|
1-902-427-8200 | 1-613-392-2811 |
LOCAL 3870 OR 3875 | |
R.C.C. VICTORIA 1-800-742-1313 | R.C.C. EDMONTON 1-800-661-5631 |
IN VICTORIA 604-380-2333 | 403-973-8402 |
IN VANCOUVER 604-666-8087 | |
MRSC QUEBEC CITY 1-800-463-4393 | MRSC ST. JOHN'S 1-709-772-5151 |
418-648-3599 | (ASK FOR MRSC) |
ZENITH 07021 |
SAILING PLAN FOR FISHING VESSELS
A Sailing Plan Could Be Kept in a School Notebook
Part I
(This part contains permanent details and could be placed on the inside front cover).
Telephone number of nearest RCC or MRSC
Vessel Name Colour of Hull
Vessel Registration Colour of Deck
Vessel Licence Colour of Cabin
Fishing Number # of flares
Name of Master # of lifejackets
Address # of immersion suits
Phone Number # of liferaft and size
Homeport # of lifeboats and description:
Length of Vessel
Type
Radio Equipment frequencies fitted:
VHF
CB
EPIRBs
MF
Lifeboat
MF/HF
Others
Part II
(This part changes with every voyage and could be kept in the same notebook using a different page for each trip).
Departure date and time
Vessel endurance in hours and days
Intended fishing areas
Proposed route
Estimated date and time of return
Number of persons onboard
Times of regular radio calls with person
holding the sailing plan
Probable port of refuge
If fishing with another vessel,
the name of the other vessel
Keywords: Questions concerning this bulletin should be addressed to:
2. Sailing
3. Plans
Marine Safety
Tower C, Place de Ville
11th Floor, 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8
To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety@tc.gc.ca
Owners of commercial vessels, registered and licensed, automatically receive Bulletins.