The U.S. Coast Guard is reminding commercial fishermen to ensure they have the correct lifesaving equipment aboard their vessels before leaving the dock.

“Operating in the maritime environment can be dangerous, particularly in colder weather,” said Capt. Jennifer Stockwell, commander, Coast Guard Sector Virginia, in a press release. “Having the appropriate lifesaving equipment onboard will dramatically improve a mariner’s chance of survival if they find themselves in distress.”

Multiple Coast Guard crews conducted boardings of commercial fishing vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries from Dec. 1-7 in a planned operation focused on ensuring compliance with all applicable safety requirements within the commercial fishing fleet, said the release.

The Coast Guard teams boarded 14 vessels and terminated the voyage of four vessels due to unsafe conditions, said the release. The vessels were issued citations for lacking survival craft and critical lifesaving equip...