The safety of commercial fishing industry vessels remains a concern for the NTSB, as we
continue to investigate numerous casualties involving this vessel type. A large portion of fishing
industry vessels are smaller vessels, which must often operate in volatile weather with little regulatory oversight. In particular, the NTSB and members of the commercial fishing industry have
long recognized that the lack of stability regulations for fishing industry vessels less than 79 feet
increases the risk that a vessel may have inadequate vessel stability, leading to a casualty. In fact, 25% of the commercial fishing vessel casualties that were investigated by the NTSB between 2010 and April 2024 involved vessels less than 79 feet long with stability or flooding issues.
Defining Stability
For a fishing vessel, stability is the tendency of a vessel to return to its original upright position when a disturbing force (for example, wind, waves, or forces from fishing operations) is removed. While underway, a fishing vessel’s stability changes constantly due to variations in wind and waves, changes in loading, and the effects of fishing operations. A critical component of a fishing vessel’s stability is its loading — the amount and location of fish and ice in cargo holds; ballast and consumable fluids (such as fuel and fresh water) in tanks; and amount of gear and equipment aboard. Any shift in cargo or movement of equipment will affect a vessel’s stability. Vessels are often termed “stable” when they have adequate ability to return to an upright position in the conditions encountered as loaded, and “unstable” when they do not, and capsize.
Stability Criteria
Stability criteria established in existing regulations for commercial fishing industry vessels generally provide an adequate level of safety for vessels that are operated prudently, which means
not overloaded and not operating in dangerous conditions, such as violent storms. A margin of
safety is built into the stability criteria to accommodate forces that can act on a vessel, such
as winds or waves. However, US commercial fishing industry vessel stability regulations apply
only to vessels 79 feet long or greater constructed or substantially altered on or after September
15, 1991. Vessels less than 79 feet long are not required to meet the stability criteria in these
regulations—nor would these criteria necessarily be suitable for vessels under 79 feet. There are
international standards for stability and buoyancy of vessels 20 to 79 feet (6 to 21 meters), and
other countries, like the United Kingdom and Canada, have implemented stability standards for
vessels less than 79 feet. More recent domestic regulations require vessels less than 20 feet
(6 meters) long to have sufficient flotation to keep any portion of the vessel above the surface
of the water when submerged in calm fresh water and loaded with weights—leaving a gap in
safety for vessels between those at least 20 feet (6 meters) and 79 feet (24 meters) that stability
criteria would provide.
Vessel Modifications
Commercial fishing industry vessels may remain in service for many years, and
changes in fisheries, fishing equipment, and crew needs may dictate repeated modification or
substantial alteration. The addition of structure, heavy equipment, or fishing gear can increase a
vessel’s weight (decreasing freeboard), raising the vessel’s center of gravity and making it more
susceptible to a loss of stability. Because fishing industry vessels are frequently modified, periodic assessments of these vessels’ stability are needed to evaluate the effects of any modification
made to the vessel or fishing equipment on board.
Vessel stability can be addressed through a combination of education, legislation, regulation, and application of the principles of stability.
The Coast Guard should
- Establish standards for new and existing commercial fishing industry vessels of 79 feet or less in length that (1) address intact stability, subdivision, and watertight integrity and (2) include periodic reassessment of the vessels' stability and watertight integrity. (See Safety Recommendation M-11-23.)
Vessel owners and operators should
- Provide training to crews regarding stability and the risks specific to a vessel or fishery, and ensure vessel captains are familiar with their vessel's stability book (if available).
- Ensure planned structural modifications that could affect vessel stability are completed under the oversight of a qualified individual, such as a naval architect.
- Periodically review a vessel's stability book (if available) to ensure it reflects the vessel's current design, equipment, and operation.
- Voluntarily ensure their vessels are built to meet established stability criteria for vessels 20–79 feet.
Vessel captains and crews should
- Avoid overloading a vessel, and ensure all cargo is secure.
- Maintain awareness of weather conditions that may lead to icing.
- Ensure the watertight integrity of vessels by securing hatch covers, watertight and weathertight doors, and other openings.
- Minimize the possibility of water accumulating on deck by ensuring freeing ports are of sufficient area and remain open to allow seawater to rapidly drain off the deck.
Open Recommendations that Represent Critical Safety Priorities
M-11-23 to the US Coast Guard: Establish standards for new and existing commercial fishing industry vessels of 79 feet or less in length that:
- address intact stability, subdivision, and watertight integrity and
- include periodic reassessment of the vessels’ stability and watertight integrity.
