Alaska Marine Safety

Education Association

See AMSEA's calendar of upcoming courses and events
(updated often!)

AMSEA'S mission:

Reduce injury and death in the marine and freshwater environment through education and training provided by a network of qualified marine safety instructors.

HERE'S WHAT'S NEW AT AMSEA!

April 24, 2008

VHS Close-Out Sale Now In Progress

AMSEA is discontinuing VHS tape versions of many of our most poular safety films. Until they are gone, they are available at greatly reduced prices. The VHS video tapes included in this sale are only available while current supplies last. Visit the AMSEA Store and scroll to the bottom of the page to see the list of VHS videos on sale now, or download the Sale Order Form for titles and prices.

To order VHS close-out sale items, call AMSEA at 907-747-3287 or print AMSEA's Special Sale Order Form and send with payment by mail or fax.

Sale Order Form

April 17, 2008

Marine Debris Education Materials for Instructors Working With Commercial Fishermen

In 2007 AMSEA received funding from the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation to create a curriculum and supporting materials with the goal of education commercial fishermen about safety and economic issues surrounding marine debris.

Visit our Downloads page to view the PowerPoint presentation Trashing Your Livelihood, and to download it and the supporting printed materials.

April 15, 2008

Boating Without the Boys:
Basic Boating Safety For Women
Juneau, May 9 & 10

Boating Without the Boys is a basic boating safety course in a supportive, women-only classroom. It is intended to give women the confidence and skills to take a small vessel out on their own, or to be able to handle a vessel in the case of an emergency where the primary operator needs assistance.

This class meets Friday, May 9th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, and Saturday, May 10th from 9am to 4 pm with an optional pool session on Saturday from 10:30 pm until midnight.

Cost: $99.00. Space is limited; please register by calling 888-508-3287 or 907-747-3287 by Friday May 2.

Learn more by visiting AMSEA's calendar of upcoming courses or by reading a detailed decription of the class on the recreational course decriptions page.

Below: Clint Cropper provides women with information about outboard motor operation, maintenance and troubleshooting during a Boating Without the Boys class in Sitka, April 4 - 6

March 19, 2008

Old EPIRBs Require Proper Disposal

An EPIRB is an emergency position-indicating radio beacon. It is a device that can be automatically or manually activated to transmit a distress signal to a satellite. EPIRBs that activate automatically typically have a hydro-static release mechanism that allows the beacon to release from its bracket should a vessel sink, float to the surface and start transmitting.

When EPIRBs need to be disposed of they should be made inoperable and demolished to prevent accidental activation after they are removed from service.

Steps to be taken when disposing of EPIRBs:

1. Flag EPIRBs “Out of Service” at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov or by calling 888-212-7283.
2. Turn off or disable EPIRBs at the switch.
3. Unscrew or break off external antennas.
4. Disassemble units and remove batteries.
5. EPIRBs may now be discarded. Dispose of batteries as hazardous material.

Buying a boat with an EPIRB registered to someone else? Selling an EPIRB with a boat? Lending your EPIRB to someone else?
Always update EPIRB registration information with NOAA/USMCC at
www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov or by calling 888-212-7283.

Need additional information about EPIRBs?
Download, a two-page brochure from the USCG explaining requirements, registration, installing and testing, or see "Registration FAQs" at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov

March 6, 2008

New Issue of Marine Safety Update Released
The Spring 2008 issue of AMSEA's Marine Safety Update is now available for download.

Articles you'll find inside include:
• Study Looks At Retention of Learned Survival Skills
• AMSEA Instructors Active Nationwide
• NIOSH Releases New Research On Falls Overboard
• New Courses For Recreational Boaters
• And much more...

February 26, 2008

AMSEA Training Held in Page, Arizona
AMSEA is currently conducting cold-water, survival and search and rescue training for Raytheon Polar Services personnel who spend time in Antarctica. Instructor Rick McElrath provided the photos below of some of yesterday's activities near Lake Powell in Arizona.

Above left, instructor Mike Motti checks his GPS in preparation for teaching a search and rescue exercise. Above right, a course participant dons an immersion suit with houseboats floating on Lake Powell in the background.