Alaska Marine Safety

Education Association

Left: FV Captain Cook awaits MSIT course participants for an onboard drill during a course in Seward in March 2006.

COURSE LOCATION

AMSEA has worked with Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) to provide this course in Seward every year since 1987. The MSIT class is held at AVTEC’s classroom facility at 809 2nd Avenue in Seward, Alaska.

AVTEC is s a quality vocational training school with programs in Marine Technology, Commercial Baking, EMS, Welding, Heavy Equipment, Forestry, Automotive Technology and many other programs. AMSEA's MSIT course is offered through their Maritime Training Center.

HOW TO GET TO SEWARD, ALASKA

AIR: Travel to Seward by air can be uncertain in the spring as the weather can be poor. If you want to fly into Seward, air travel information is available from the Seward Conference and Visitors Bureau.

BUS: Seward Bus Lines (www.sewardbuslines.net) provide daily service between Anchorage and Seward. Cost is $50 one-way departing from or returning to the Anchorage bus terminal at 3333 Fairbanks Street, and $5.00 for a ride to or from the airport to the bus terminal. The bus stops at the Hotel Seward, 217 5th Avenue in Seward. Phone 907-224-3608 for reservations and check on times of departure from each city. Buses leave Anchorage at 2:30 PM and and arrive in Seward about 5:30 PM. They depart Seward at 9:30 AM, arriving in Anchorage at noon. Reservations are recommended. MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

AUTOMOBILE: Car rentals are available in Anchorage. The highway between Anchorage and Seward often has icy road conditions and avalanche delays. Take your time getting to Seward. It is a beautiful drive.

WHERE TO STAY

Dormitory at AVTEC: This is an inexpensive housing option. However, rooms are shared with another person and it can be a bit noisy at night; but what a deal! Cost, including meals, is $35 per day, payable to AVTEC the day of arrival. Plan on seven nights for a total of $236. AVTEC dorms are just a short 3 block walk to the school. Bring your own bedding or sleeping bag, or rent linens from AVTEC for $10.00. Reservations for housing should be made with AVTEC at 800-478-5389. AVTEC housing is not available to those on per diem.

There are a many other accomodations available at hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments in Seward. See the Seward Conference and Visitors Bureau for more information.

WHERE TO EAT

AVTEC cafeteria: MSIT classes days start at 8:00 AM and end at 5:00 PM to allow participants to eat in AVTEC's cafeteria, which serves breakfast from 7:30 to 830 AM, lunch from 11:30 AM until 12:30 PM, and supper from 4:30 until 5:30 PM. Meals are included in price of dorm housing. Meal tickets without boarding at the dorm are $7.75 per day and are available from the main AVTEC office. Meals at the cafeteria are cooked by AVTEC’s Culinary Academy students and quality varies from fair to quite good and quantities are generous.

Restaurants: There are a variety of restaurants in Seward.  See the Seward Conference and Visitors Bureau for more information.