Marine Safety Training for Commercial Fishermen

AMSEA offers U.S. Coast Guard-accepted marine safety training, as well as other classes for commercial fishermen.

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AMSEA offers U.S. Coast Guard-accepted marine safety training, as well as other classes for commercial fishermen. With instructors on every U.S. coast, AMSEA makes effective, hands-on training available in fishing ports around the nation. Strategic partnerships with other training companies, fisheries organizations, and government agencies help to keep AMSEA marine safety training accessible and affordable.

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Ergonomic Injury Prevention for Commercial Fishermen & Seafood Workers

The course covers fundamentals of musculoskeletal injuries that often occur in commercial fishing; injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, vibration white finger, low back pain and many others. The class teaches participants how to reduce their risk for these types of injuries and relieve symptoms caused by existing injuries.

Using a special instrument that measures muscle force/strain (an ergometer), participants can actively see and hear the movements that cause strain to the musculoskeletal system. Students learn exercises and stretches that target the areas most prone for injury.

In addition, fishermen learn ways to retrofit their decks to increase efficiency in movement, reducing risk for injury, and more efficiency means more time spent fishing! Students receive a pocket guide to ergonomics to use as a reference while on their vessels. The guide covers the basics of ergonomics and includes pictorial explanations of the stretches and exercises covered in class. This workshop was developed and made possible by funding from OSHA's Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.

18-Hour Survival Equipment, Procedures & Onboard Drills Training
10-Hour Onboard Drill Conductor Training

AMSEA's Drill Conductor courses are U.S. Coast Guard-accepted marine safety training courses. They are recommended for captains and crew serving on any commercial vessel. The courses provide practical information on the survival equipment found on most commercial vessels and on conducting emergency onboard drills. Skills are learned in a hands-on format and many classes have an in-the-water, skills practice session.

Both the 10-hour and 18-hour courses meet the USCG requirements for commercial fishermen. Everyone who successfully completes these courses is issued a Drill Conductor Card that serves as proof of compliance with USCG training requirements.

Topics covered in both courses include:

Cold-Water Survival Skills
EPIRBs, Signal Flares, and MAYDAY Calls
Man Overboard Recovery
Firefighting
Flooding & Damage Control
Dewatering Pumps
Immersion Suits and PFDs
Abandon Ship Procedures
Helicopter Rescue
Life Rafts
Emergency Procedures Drills

Thanks to funding from the USCG, NIOSH and the State of Alaska, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development, course fee waivers, or partial waivers are often available to commercial fishermen. Drill conductor classes are available on demand for any group of at least 8 people. Fees may vary based on location.

5- Hour Fishing Vessel Stability

The Fishing Vessel Stability class is designed to provide practical information and hands on training on vessel stability and emergency responses to flooding problems which cause many stability casualties. Topics covered include:

Requirements & Responsibilities
Stability Terminology
Stability Principles & the Stability Curve
Operational Considerations
Understanding Stability Reports
Flooding control & prevention

This class is oriented towards the commercial fishing environment, U.S. Coast Guard-accepted, and satisfies the requirements for stability training for the master of a fishing vessel in Sec. 604 of the USCG Authorization Act of 2010 under PL 111-281.

8-Hour Mariner's First Aid & CPR

The Mariner's First Aid and CPR course meets USCG regulatory requirements. Candidates completing the course receive a certification card that is valid for two years.

This course differs significantly from the typical urban-based courses. It is geared toward assessing and treating patients in the prolonged care, delayed evacuation, hazardous settings often encountered for those working at sea.

The course utilizes a hands-on, scenario based teaching approach with an emphasis on improvised medical gear that can commonly be found onboard a vessel. In the end, students will be able to better assess what is serious and what's not serious in regards to their patient and to further identify those patients that require an urgent evacuation and those that do not.