The National Transportation Safety Board is once again calling for inspections of fishing vessels.
The announcement is a reaction to the loss of four fishermen in New England after the boat they were working on capsized and sank.
The cause of the boat’s sinking is believed to be poor drainage and hatches that were not watertight.
While the NTSB lacks the authority to force changes in regulations, it can recommend inspections of the port covers that are designed to drain water from the ship’s deck and whether hatches are as watertight as they should be.
They can also inspect whether crew members are issued individual radio beacons in the event of an accident.
All commercial fishing boats must have an automated emergency beacon to signal rescuers, but as of now, individual beacons for each crewmember is not a requirement.
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