New Requirements Published January 30, 2015.

Commercial fishing vessels must now submit a Notice of Arrival (NOA) prior to arriving in port and carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS)

NOTICE OF ARRIVAL (NOA)

Submission of Notice of Arrival (NOA) is required for all commercial fishing vessels as listed below beginning April 30, 2015:

• Greater than 300 gross tons
• All vessels coming from a foreign port.
  
  

Methods of submitting the NOA to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC):

• Via the web at - http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov Click “Submit NOAD Online” button in upper right corner. If you don’t have a user name, create one.
• email - enoad@nvmc.uscg.gov.
• fax to - 1-800-547-8724 or 301-264-2684
  
  

Time line for submitting the NOA:

If your voyage time is...	Then you must submit a NOA...
96 hours or more	At least 96 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination, or
Less than 96 hours	Before departing but at least 24 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.

What information do I need to include in the NOA? See the table 160.206

 

AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS (AIS)

Self propelled commercial fishing, fish tenders and fish processing vessels 65 feet and greater no matter where they operate (not just within a VTS area) must have an AIS installed and operating in compliance with these rules no later than March 1, 2016. (46 CFR 164.46(b)(1)(i)). Length means the length listed on the vessel's Certificate of Documentation or Certificate of Numbers.

• Either a Class A or Class B AIS may be used by all commercial fishing industry vessels. (46 CFR 164.46(b)(2)(i)).
  
  
• "Class A" units cost about $3,230, where a "Class B" unit averages about $700, according to the Federal Register. This chart describes some of the differences in the capabilities of each type of unit.

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Click here to visit the US Coast Guard Navigation Center website for more information on AIS.

Click here to view the entire Federal Register which includes each of the new regulations.