Washington trollers have a couple of opportunities to take a free Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor workshop in the coming months. AMSEA will have a workshop in Neah Bay at the Makah Marina on Bayview Avenue, February 11 and a workshop in Gig Harbor at the Gig Harbor Boat Shop, 3805 Harbor View Drive, on March 18. Both classes are taught by Steve Harbell and will cover the following topics:
• Cold water survival skills
• EPIRBs, flares, and maydays
• Man overboard recovery
• Fire fighting
• Immersion suits and PFDs
• Emergency drills
• Helicopter rescue
• Life rafts
• Abandon ship procedures
These classes meet the USCG requirements for Drill Conductor training on documented vessels fishing in federal waters. You and your crew will get hands-on training with the equipment you will rely on in case of an emergency and the cost is FREE for commercial fishermen (thanks to funding from the Seattle Fishermen's Memorial Fund and NIOSH). That's a deal that's hard to beat! To register call Sarah Fisken at 206-543-1225.