Our Safety Program

Glacier Bear

We participate in the Voluntary UPV 5-Star Safety Program, designed to increase safety aboard uninspected charter boats operating throughout the state of Alaska.

Past marine accidents and Alaska's harsh operating environment pointed to the need for an increase in the level of safety equipment that extends beyond the minimum required by regulation. Charter operators who choose to participate in the 5-Star Safety Program have met all the regulatory requirements, received the UPV decal, and have voluntarily invested in additional safety equipment. There are a total of five voluntary safety-related items. The number of safety stars displayed on the UPV decal denotes the level of safety. One star will be awarded for each additional measure adequately implemented and maintained onboard these vessels.

The 5-Star Safety Rating

One safety star applies to each of five items. Vessels receive credit for safety gear that is installed and properly maintained, regardless of order. A One-Star ship would meet one of the requirements. At the same time, a Five-Star vessel would carry safety equipment substantially above Coast Guard regulations, including an EPIRB, inflatable life raft or inflatable buoyant apparatus, back up hand-held communications capability, and high water bilge alarms with a high capacity bilge pump.

• Vessel is in compliance with existing regulations including the requirements found in 46 CFR, Subchapter C and the operator must also have a safety-training program established and a system of record keeping showing drills and training are conducted regularly. The program should include drills on emergency procedures and use of safety equipment.
• Vessel has a properly installed bilge pump and audible bilge alarm, or if the vessel is designed without a bilge, suitable reserve buoyancy to float the vessel in a totally swamped condition.
• Vessel has a hand-held VHF FM radio with a minimum 5 watts of power. A portable satellite phone can be used as an equivalent level of safety.
• Vessel has a properly mounted and registered 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), Class I or II.
• Vessel has on board, a properly installed and serviced, Coast Guard approved inflatable life raft or inflatable buoyant apparatus (IBA), canister or valise type, with minimum capacity for all passengers on board. An equivalent level of safety is level flotation vessel that meets Coast Guard standards or, if the vessel operates exclusively inside the Boundary Line, a commercial quality inflatable skiff in good condition that is fully inflated, stowed for immediate use, and has the capacity equal to the total number of passengers carried.