The North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association Vessel Safety Program

Excerpt from U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council magazine by Ms. Leslie J. Hughes, Director of Government and Industry Affairs, North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association Vessel Safety Program

Crew Safety Training Program
Since 1985, the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association has provided Coast Guard-approved safety training classes to nearly 40,000 mariners. Using hands-on practice to dramatize and enliven the information, the crew safety training program offers shipboard and classroom exercises.

Training includes:

• Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) basic safety training, including personal survival techniques (12 hours), personal safety and social responsibilities (4 hours), firefighting (16 hours), and first aid/CPR (8 hours);
• STCW basic safety training refresher course (24 hours);
• STCW medical care provider (32 hours);
• STCW medical person in charge (40 hours);
• emergency drill instructor workshop (8 hours);
• drill instructor for small boat operators (8 hours);
• onboard drill safety orientation (8 hours);
• proficiency in survival craft (limited) (16 hours);
• HAZWOPER (24 hours and 8-hour refresher);
• shipboard damage control (8 hours);
• shipboard watertight door and hatch maintenance (4.5 hours);
• OSHA compliance workshop (8 hours)

“Safety and Survival at Sea” Series
Videotapes/DVDs are designed to complement hands-on training classes for:

• medical emergencies at sea,
• safety equipment and survival procedures,
• fire prevention and control,
• fishing vessel stability.

All but the stability DVD are also available in Spanish.

Pictured above: Students work as a team to control flooding in damage control classes during NPFVOA vessel safety training. Photo courtesy of NPFVOA.

Full article is available at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/winter2010-11/

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