A boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Mustang, a 110-foot Island Class patrol boat, while near Montague Island, boarded the fishing vessel Coral in Prince William Sound on Monday.

As the boarding party inspected the fishing vessel on the southwest side of Montague Island, they found that all of the vessel’s fire extinguishers were expired and two were completely inoperable because of corrosion.

As a result, the Cutter Mustang terminated the voyage of the Coral and escorted the vessel to Whittier and ordered the captain of the vessel to remedy the problem and install working fire extinguishers aboard the vessel before getting underway again.

“The Coast Guard regularly conducts at-sea safety boardings throughout Alaska to ensure mariners are operating in compliance with federal safety regulations and promote the safety of life at sea,” said Ensign Victoria Swinghamer, public affairs officer Coast Guard Sector Anchorage.

The Coast Guard recommends that vessel owners have their vessels inspected in-port well before departing for an at sea voyage. Although this does not exempt a vessel from being boarded while underway, it does lessen the possiblity of the vessel’s trip being cut short because of a violation.

Dockside safety checks can be scheduled by contacting the Safety Detachment in your area. Following are phone numbers for Detachments:

• Coast Guard Sector Anchorage – 907-271-6700
• Coast Guard Sector Juneau – 907-463-2448
• Marine Safety Unit Valdez – 907-835-7210
• Marine Safety Detachment Dutch Harbor – 907-581-3466
• Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak – 907-486-5918
• Marine Safety Detachment Homer – 907-235-3292
• Marine Safety Detachment Sitka – 907-966-5454
• Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan – 907-225-4496
• Ken Lawrenson – 907-463-2810