If you own or operate a fishing charter boat, managing safety risks will be critical to your success.
Charter boat trips, especially those devoted to fishing, are associated with fun times on the water. Vessel operators know that effective risk management is the foundation of all successful fishing excursions. Captains who don’t put safety first may see their paying customers’ good times turn into bodily injuries or worse, with potentially devastating legal consequences.
Charter Boat Risks
Even though passengers often think more about gear, fishing strategies and liquid refreshments than about safety, vessel crews must remain focused on preventing incidents that injure guests and damage boats. It’s easy to see why this is so important. Every year, charter-boat incidents lead to significant physical damage and injuries. In the worst cases, passenger and crew lives can be lost due to:
- Boats leaking/swamping
- People falling overboard
- Vessels capsizing
- Groundings
- Colliding with other boats (or allisions with other objects)
- Experiencing other serious incidents
Problems like these only scratch the surface of potential negative outcomes. Passengers can get hurt or become ill due to many other problems during a fishing trip. Here are just a few of them:
- Seasickness: Many guests can be unaccustomed to boats rocking and rolling in ocean swells and big waves. Some will only get mildly nauseated, while others may get dizzy and vomit repeatedly. If the latter persists, they may become dehydrated and suffer serious health consequences.
- Sunburn: Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a problem for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors. Most people know how to protect themselves against it. But when they go on a fishing charter, they may not realize that the ocean’s reflective power increases the sun’s potency. This means they shouldn’t let fishing distract them from the need to reapply sunscreen frequently.
- Slips and falls: Boats are tricky to walk on, even for experienced fishermen and crew. Rain showers and rough seas may transform boat walkways into slip-and-slides, not to mention the presence of bleeding fish and slimy bait. Tripping and falling during a fishing charter can lead to serious muscle sprains, bone fractures, concussions, or even falls overboard. For this reason, preventing slip-and-fall accidents should always be a significant part of every captain’s risk-mitigation strategy.
- Hooks, knives and sharp tools: Charter fishing boats may have more sharp objects than your average hospital’s surgical suite. Each fishing pole comes with at least one sharp hook and knives are commonly used for bait cutting and other tasks. Then there’s casting, which sends hooks flying where they can snag unwary bystanders. Instructing your passengers to always be aware of their surroundings, especially of the proximity of other fishing guests, will help to minimize their chance of causing sharp-object injuries.
- Tidal pull at inlets: Fishing boats often travel through inlets as they transit from their dock to the open ocean. Because inlets are typically quite narrow, they can become the site of tidal surges based on the time of day. Passengers who fall overboard when the tide pull is strong can easily be swept out to sea or trapped beneath a boat’s hull where they can drown.
- Choppy seas: Rough seas are a common occurrence for many fishing charters. The most common consequence is that more passengers will get seasick. But if ocean waves become especially high, they can jeopardize the boat’s integrity and lead it to capsize and/or sink.
Risk Mitigation
To protect you and your passengers against these and other dangers, it’s crucial to develop a risk management plan. The starting point is full compliance with U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations. If you’re unsure what the USCG expects from you in terms of charter-boat safety, review this checklist (and the regulations referenced within) for details.
The USCG sets high safety standards, starting with requiring charter boat captains to hold the Six-Pack OUPV license. It also sets stringent requirements regarding vessel documentation and registration, boat markings, communications, personal flotation devices (PFDs), fire extinguishers, the ability to project visual distress signals, engine backfire flame controls and sound-producing devices.
Furthermore, the USCG requires a crew member to give a complete safety orientation before a boat gets underway. This assures that all passengers know where life preservers are located and the proper method of donning them; the location of lifesaving devices, the Emergency Check-Off List (steps to follow during an emergency), hatches and access points to below deck areas and all light switches; and where to find the emergency shut-off or turn-on systems.
Much of your risk management plan depends on common sense. Here are some of the main things you’ll need to do to run a safe fishing charter, both for you, your crew and your paying clientele:
- Plan ahead: Develop and follow a pre-departure checklist. It will guide you through the mechanical steps needed to ensure that your vessel is operating safely. Included will be tasks such as checking your fuel and oil levels, checking bilges for leaks, and testing your navigation electronics. If you’re planning to travel at night, make sure all your lights are working, along with your emergency signaling devices. And don’t forget to check the status of your abandon-ship ditch bag. It should contain the items you’ll need to summon help and to stay alive in a life raft until rescuers arrive. The bag must be stored in an accessible location and be ready for immediate removal in the event of an abandon ship command. Finally, risk-averse captains should always file a float plan and leave it with someone they trust. The document should detail where you’re going, who’s onboard, and when you expect to return.
- Check the weather: Safety-conscious skippers should check the National Weather Service forecast for both their departure and arrival locations. If conditions are iffy, don’t hesitate to scrub the trip. Even though this may annoy your customers, remind them that nothing is more important than their safety. If the weather is fine, don’t ignore forecasts while underway. Continuously monitor weather reports so that freak storms don’t catch you by surprise.
- Engage with your guests regarding your boat’s safety protocols. Don’t just limit yourself to doing an initial safety briefing. Conduct training during your trip to help guests master key safety skills, including how to announce a “man overboard” and how to toss a lifeline. Also, show them how to safely board and leave the vessel, how to get into and out of dinghies and how to walk safely around the boat while underway. And be sure to advise them on what they can and can’t touch on board and what your vessel’s alcohol policy is.
Finally, as captain of a fishing vessel, it’s crucial for you to establish your authority with all of your guests. They must understand that you are the ultimate decision-maker on board, especially during emergencies. As a result, they must swiftly obey your instructions at all times. That’s the only way you’ll be able to keep them safe.
Mariner Liability Insurance Coverage
If you own and/or operate a fishing vessel, you don’t need us to tell you what’s at stake. But if you haven’t covered your professional risk exposure with comprehensive mariner liability insurance, you are living dangerously.
Mariner liability insurance covers the costs associated with USCG (or other governmental authority) investigations. At the onset of an incident, admiralty attorneys are contacted to speak directly with the USCG, Fish & Game Commission, or any other governmental authority on behalf of the insured. Coverage protects the insured from paying out of pocket the costs of admiralty attorney fees, defense costs, and penalties or fines imposed. In addition to protecting your license and livelihood from regulatory investigations stemming from incidents or perceived negligence, your insurance will also shield you against allegations arising from civil or criminal charges, including paying any legal judgments or liabilities determined against you in court.
In the event your license is suspended during an investigation, coverage also provides a loss of income option with a daily subsistence allowance.
Traditionally, mariner liability insurance have not been so easy to shop around for or buy, particularly for charter captains or those acting as captain-for-hires or bareboat charter operators. Fortunately, there’s a contemporary option for this important protection with 360 Coverage Pros.
360 Coverage Pros is an online insurance platform that provides professional liability protection to a wide range of business professionals, including USCG-licensed officers and crew. The website features a seamless application process that simplifies the entire buying experience. Coverage is underwritten by Berkley Offshore, an A.M Best “A+” (Superior) rated carrier. By combining best-in-class coverage and service with a simple application process, 360 Coverage Pros has reshaped how captains and crew can purchase insurance at a fast and affordable price.
Are you concerned about your professional risks as a charter captain? Then consider buying convenient, affordable license and liability protection from 360 Coverage Pros
Share this page.