The short version
- Fishing vessels operating beyond 3 nautical miles, carrying more than 16 people, or tendering in the Aleutian trade must pass a Coast Guard dockside examination at least once every 5 years, and every 2 years for some older vessels[1].
- The examiner works from form CG-5587. Its medical block has 4 checks: a first aid kit or medicine chest, a first aid manual, a crew member certified in first aid and one in CPR when more than 2 are aboard[2].
- The same form checks the drills, the emergency instructions and the immersion suits, all of which decide whether an injured crew member survives[2].
- Pass and the vessel gets a safety decal. Fail and the deficiencies go on a continuation sheet until a re-examination[2].
Which fishing vessels must be examined, and how often
The requirement is statutory. Under 46 U.S.C. 4502(f), the Coast Guard examines at dockside the vessels that operate beyond 3 nautical miles from the baseline or the Great Lakes coastline, operate with more than 16 individuals aboard, or, for fish tenders, engage in the Aleutian trade[1].
| Vessel | Exam interval | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Covered vessels, default | At least once every 5 years | 46 U.S.C. 4502(f)[1] |
| Owner requests it | Every 2 years may be required | 46 U.S.C. 4502(f)[1] |
| 50 feet or more, built before 1 July 2013, 25 years or older | Every 2 years may be required | 46 U.S.C. 4502(f)[1] |
The current form records both a decal expiration date and a 5-year expiration date, and marks vessels required to keep a valid exam every 2 years[2]. The Coast Guard’s District 13 program states the decal is issued for two years[3]. Exams are done by a Coast Guard dockside examiner or a Coast Guard accepted third-party organization[3].
The medical block on CG-5587, line by line
The medical checks sit under “Additional requirements for documented vessels operating beyond the boundary line”, referenced to 46 CFR 28.210[2]. There are four boxes.
| CG-5587 check[2] | What the rule says[4] | What makes it pass |
|---|---|---|
| First aid kit / medicine chest | A medicine chest of a size suitable for the number aboard, in a readily accessible location | Sized to the crew, reachable, nothing expired |
| First aid manual | A complete first aid manual aboard | Present, current edition, kept with the chest |
| Certified in first aid (more than 2 aboard) | 1 person above 2 aboard, 2 above 16, 4 above 49 | Named crew with a valid certificate on the day |
| Certified in CPR (more than 2 aboard) | Same thresholds; one person may count for both | Certificate from the Red Cross, AHA or a Coast Guard approved course |
The expiry trap
The Coast Guard’s own guidance tells owners to check that items with expiration dates have not expired[3]. Medicines and dressings in a fishing chest expire on their own schedule, not the exam’s. A chest that passed last time can fail this time with nothing removed.
The rule sets no federal contents list for a fishing chest[4], which is why “suitable for the number aboard” is where examiners and owners disagree. A contents list mapped to crew size and trip length ends the argument. The step-by-step method is in how to stock a ship medicine chest.
The checks next to it that decide survival
An injured crew member’s outcome depends on more than the chest. The same form examines four other items with a direct medical consequence[2].
- Immersion suits and PFDs aboard, marked and maintained, under 46 CFR 28.110[2][7]. Why that matters: cold water immersion survival.
- Emergency instructions under 46 CFR 28.265, posted when more than 4 are aboard; the distress call script includes the nature of any injuries[2][5].
- Drills and safety orientation under 46 CFR 28.270: drills conducted, drills witnessed, orientation given, and the name of a qualified drill conductor[2][6]. Full detail in fishing vessel drill requirements.
- Alcohol and chemical testing arrangements: devices or arrangements to test for alcohol within 2 hours and for drugs within 32 hours after a serious marine incident[2]. See serious marine incident testing.
A pre-exam medical checklist
Run this the week before the examiner comes aboard. It covers every medical line on the form and the items that fail most easily.
| Check | How to confirm it | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Chest sized to maximum persons aboard | Count against the crew list, not the usual crew | 28.210(a)[4] |
| Nothing expired, nothing expiring before the next trip ends | Date every item; replace in one order | District 13 guidance[3] |
| First aid manual aboard | With the chest, not in the office | 28.210(a)[4] |
| First aid and CPR certificates | Copies aboard; check expiry dates on the cards | 28.210(b) to (e)[4] |
| Emergency instructions posted | Readable, current names and stations | 28.265[5] |
| Drill record and drill conductor | Dated log; conductor’s training document | 28.270[6] |
| Immersion suits | One per person, sized, marked, zips working | 28.110[7] |
After the decal: the parts the exam does not test
The exam confirms that equipment and certificates exist. It does not test whether the certified crew member can use them at sea, whether the chest holds prescription pain relief, or who the skipper calls when someone is badly hurt 200 miles out. Those are the gaps behind the numbers in commercial fishing deaths, US data and causes.
Discovery Health MD fills them for fishing fleets: a chest mapped to your crew and trips through ship medical chest management, lawful controlled substances through controlled substances management, and a physician-written escalation plan through maritime medical consulting. For the full federal picture, read commercial fishing vessel medical requirements and, for Alaska fleets, Alaska fishing vessel medical compliance. Book a pre-exam chest review before your examiner does.
Common questions
How often does a commercial fishing vessel need a dockside exam?
At least once every 5 years for covered vessels. The Coast Guard may require every 2 years if the owner requests it or the vessel is 50 feet or longer, built before 1 July 2013 and at least 25 years old[1].
Which fishing vessels need a dockside exam?
Vessels operating beyond 3 nautical miles from the baseline or the Great Lakes coastline, vessels with more than 16 individuals aboard, and fish tenders in the Aleutian trade[1].
What medical items does the examiner check?
Four items on CG-5587: a first aid kit or medicine chest, a first aid manual, a crew member certified in first aid and one in CPR when more than 2 are aboard[2]. The rule behind them is 46 CFR 28.210[4].
Is there a required contents list for a fishing vessel medicine chest?
No federal list. 46 CFR 28.210 requires a chest of a size suitable for the number of individuals aboard[4]. Building it to a written list tied to crew size and trip length makes it defensible. See the 28.210 guide.
What happens if my vessel fails the exam?
No decal is issued. Deficiencies are listed on a continuation sheet, and the owner contacts the examiner for a re-examination[2].
Who performs dockside exams?
A Coast Guard dockside examiner or a Coast Guard-accepted third-party examination organization[3].
Does the exam check drills?
Yes. CG-5587 records drills conducted, drills witnessed, a safety orientation, and the name of a qualified drill conductor under 46 CFR 28.270[2][6].
