Alaska Marine Safety

Education Association

AMSEA is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to developing and supporting a cold water safety information and training network. The network has expanded from its beginning in Alaska to instructors on all four U.S. coastlines.

AMSEA's education and training is based on practical information delivered in a hands-on format. It has been proven effective at saving lives.

Since its founding in 1985, AMSEA has trained more than 800 instructors, and 390 teachers and other youth educators. Each year this network of instructors, supported by AMSEA with equipment and educational materials, provides cold water safety education to more than 10,000 school children, commercial fishermen, recreational boaters and agency personnel each year. Since AMSEA's beginning we have trained over 110,000 people in total.

Mission Statement

To reduce injury and death in the marine and fresh water environment through education and training provided by a network of qualified marine safety instructors.

Annual Reports

AMSEA's fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. Annual reports give a snapshot of AMSEA's accomplishments during each fiscal year.

Download AMSEA's FY2005 annual report (1.4 MB)

Download AMSEA's FY2006 annual report (2.3 MB)

Download AMSEA's FY2007 annual report (796 KB)

History

In 1985, the need for practical, hands-on cold water safety education and training was recognized by a group representives from organizations and agencies from all over Alaska. They created the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA), which is not just about drowning prevention or water safety, but trains people to handle a variety of emergencies in ways that increase their chances of surviving Alaska's extreme environmental conditions.

The founders’ strategy was to build a statewide network of instructors as AMSEA’s foundation. This network would fulfill AMSEA’s mission by teaching courses and promoting cold-water safety in ways relevant to Alaskans. The network would be supported with AMSEA curricula, publications, and an inventory of marine safety equipment for hands-on training.
A staff and office was established in Sitka, Alaska to support the instructor network and expand the program.

Over time, AMSEA developed three areas of focus: train-the-trainer courses; training for professional mariners, including commercial fishermen; and training for Alaskans of all ages who boat for recreation and subsistence.

In the past 22 years, AMSEA training has reached over 115,000 children and adults throughout Alaska, the United States, and even Antarctica. AMSEA has developed numerous curricula, books, videos, and pamphlets for all ages.

Although AMSEA’s focus is Alaska, AMSEA-trained marine safety instructors also live in 31 other states and abroad. As of 2007, AMSEA instructors are at work on every U.S. coast.

Location

The main AMSEA office is located in beautiful Sitka, Alaska. Situated on the seaward side of Baranof Island, the City and Borough of Sitka is the largest city in the United States when measured in square miles.

Staff

See the AMSEA staff page.

Board

See the AMSEA board page.