A. BACKGROUND:
In a continuing effort to minimize the potential for maritime accidents, the Committee developed Standards of Care (safe operating practices) for the LA/LB port area and seaward approaches outside the breakwater, including the TSSs. Operators of small recreational vessels and commercial fishing boats should follow these standards to safely operate their craft in and around the port.
Small recreational vessels, 1,100' supertankers, 950' fast containerships, tugs with barges in tow, high speed ferries, and other commercial vessels share the LA/LB waters and seaward approaches. They frequently encounter large wakes and fog. All this creates the potential for serious marine accidents. Only experienced, well trained, and cautious mariners should operate vessels in these congested waters. Additionally, small vessel operators should realize that large commercial vessels cannot stop or alter course quickly, and therefore cannot easily avoid a collision with smaller, more maneuverable vessels. Large vessel crews also have trouble seeing small vessels because containers carried on deck cause blind spots that often extend more than 1/2 mile ahead.
The Committee supports continued local efforts to educate fishermen and recreational boaters about the potential hazards to both themselves and to commercial vessels when they operate in the POLA/POLB area, in the port approaches, and near large commercial vessels. The media, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Power Squadron can communicate these Standards of Care to the recreational vessel fleet. This local initiative should help minimize navigational conflicts between recreational and commercial vessels.
B. STANDARDS OF CARE FOR SMALL RECREATIONAL VESSELS AND FISHING BOATS OPERATING IN THE LA/LB PORT AREA
1. Ensure your vessel is safe before getting underway: You should ensure that all required safety equipment is on board and operational/serviceable., i.e. personal flotation devices (life jackets), throwable flotation devices, flares, fog horns, fire extinguishers, etc. Also verify that you have charged batteries, operating running lights, an operable VHF radio, and a sound engine and hull.
2. Ensure your vessel is seaworthy: Prevailing conditions in the POLA/POLB area include heavy seas caused by offshore storms and large wakes developed by high speed ferries, crew/supply boats, heavy displacement tugs, and large vessels. Don’t operate vessels designed primarily for protected waters in and around the port area. This has lead to several casualties in the past.
3. Keep flares and distress calling equipment handy: Being disabled in an area used by large commercial vessels can be extremely hazardous. You must quickly be able to find and use flares and the VHF radio, seek immediate help or notify other vessels.
4. Be extra careful in fog: If you don’t have radar, do not get underway in fog. Since fog sometimes develops quickly and unexpectedly, we encourage you to carry and use radar reflectors, which help ensure that commercial vessels and VTS can see you on their radars and avert collisions. To ensure a safe transit home, use accurate positioning equipment (e.g. a hand–held Global Positioning System device) and a VHF radio to monitor vessel traffic. Loitering in the harbor entrances is especially dangerous in restricted visibility.
5. Obey Rule 9 of the Rules of the Road: This rule states that small vessels shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can navigate safely only within a narrow channel or fairway.
6. Avoid passing larger vessels close aboard: Don’t cross in front of or pass larger vessels close aboard. Large containerships can travel at speeds over 28 knots, but appear slower due to their size. Additionally, don’t pass close to the stern of large vessels as their prop wash and suction create considerable turbulence.
7. Pass tugs with caution: Tug boats often tow barges behind or alongside, and have severely limited maneuverability. In some cases, you cannot see a barge in tow because it is as far as 2,000 feet (almost 1/2 mile!) astern of the tug. You also cannot see submerged tow wires, which pose a serious hazard if you pass between the tug and its tow. Such encounters have sunk recreational boats and killed boaters.
8. Know locations of traffic lanes (TSS) and regulated navigational areas (RNA): Recreational boaters and fishermen should know where large commercial vessels regularly operate and avoid these areas, especially at night or in fog. If you operate in these areas, pay particular attention to nearby large vessels and maneuver clear of their tracks. Loitering, fishing or anchoring in the harbor entrances dangerously restricts the movement of vessels inbound and outbound from these large port complexes.
9. Know how and when to monitor VHF Channels 16, 14, and 13: VHF Channel 16 is the emergency hailing and broadcast frequency, Channel 13 is for larger vessel bridge-to-bridge communications, and Channel 14 is the VTS working frequency. When operating near large commercial vessels, and at night and/or in fog, monitor these radio channels to stay abreast of large commercial vessel movements and important mariner safety notices. Be prepared to respond if a commercial vessel calls to alert another mariner that a dangerous situation is developing.
10. Know your vessel's position: Every boat should have a low-cost, accurate Global Positioning System (many are hand-held). You cannot avoid the TSSs (Sea Lanes) unless you know where they are. In fog or distress, giving your accurate position lets emergency help find you easier and faster.
11. Be an informed mariner: As a Good Marine Practice, know the Rules of the Road and read current safety articles in local maritime magazines and Coast Guard Notices to Mariners. Notices to Mariners provide information on port construction projects (dredging, breakwater expansion, shallow water habitat construction, etc.), AtoN changes, bridge closures, and other safety information. You should also monitor NOAA maritime weather broadcasts (VHF Channel 1) and Coast Guard BNTM (VHF Channel 16). They will tell you about heavy seas, high winds, fog, or AtoN changes that can threaten a safe voyage. You are also encouraged to log onto the local Coast Guard's homepage, http://www.cglalb.com for current safety information.
12. Man overboard procedures: Many fishing and recreational boaters have other crewmembers aboard. It is important that the captain inform his crew of the rescue procedures to follow in the event of anyone falling into the water, proper use of the VHF radio and Emergency Flares if needed, and consider the appointment of a second in command in the event he is incapacitated.
Appendix K has additional information on small vessel safety in LA/LB Harbor.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The OSPR Administrator should investigate and sponsor regulations to require testing and licensing of commercial fishing and recreational small boat operators. The Committee will assist OSPR in designing fair educational tests for boaters. Realistically, we recognize that it may take some time to pass the needed licensing legislation. In the interim the Committee suggests starting a mandatory educational program for all commercial, fishing, and recreational boaters as quickly as possible. OSPR could require proof that the boater completed any number of recognized courses before issuing a CF number or allowing operation, including rental, of any boat with a CF number. The Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadron, and the Southern California Yachting Association offer such courses, and the California Waterways–California Boating Safety Course gives a written exam. If renters can’t prove they passed one of these courses, a rental agency should have renters demonstrate their awareness of the Rules of the Road, basic safety procedures and regulations about boating under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.
2. Prepare an educational video of yacht traffic problems that the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, Southern California Yachting Association, clubs and individuals can use to educate the boating public.