Half Moon Bay Hosts Safety Training for Commercial Fishermen - First in 15 Years

With wind from the rotors blowing steadily into their faces, a group of 20 commercial fishermen and women gathered outside a meeting room at Half Moon Bay’s Main Street Fire Station yesterday to watch and photograph a shining orange and black Coast Guard helicopter take off from the station’s parking lot, departing after a two-hour stay.

As part of a free two-day safety training for commercial fishermen put on by non-profit group AMSEA (Alaska Marine Safety Education Association), a four-person Coast Guard search and rescue air crew stopped by to explain what to do during various emergencies at sea, including a hands-on explanation on what to expect during a helio evacuation.

“If you think you’re in trouble, call [the Coast Guard] immediately,” Lieutenant Christian Polyak -- who piloted the chopper onto the fire station parking lot -- advised the assembled group of fishermen. Polyak said that it is best to inform the Coast Guard as soon a potential emergency arises. “We would rather know about a problem ahead of time to get a flight plan ready,” he said.

The visit from the Coast Guard was one of many lessons throughout the day which aimed to teach participants survival skills from how to maintain emergency equipment to what to do in case of hypothermia. AMSEA Instructor Beverly Noll and Manny Ramirez from the Coast Guard's San Francisco Sector Prevention Department led the group of 20 voluntary students in lessons and drills in everything from mayday procedures to flare practicum and a number of other hands-on skills.

Noll said that while AMSEA has been conducting trainings such as yesterday’s for 25 years, Half Moon Bay has not had one in almost 15 years.

“This area has been void of training for a while,” she said. “The Coast Guard is really pushing everyone to get in compliance with regulations.”

While funding has presented an obstacle to providing trainings in the past, Noll said that a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has allowed AMSEA to conduct more trainings in more cities. Attendees to both workshop days received instruction and materials free of cost.

“The fishing industry is short on funds,” Noll said. “Now that it’s free, we’re trying to get as many people as possible in here training.”

By attending the training, fishermen have the chance to earn a drill card after mastering 16 of 18 necessary skills. According to Ramirez, the drill card is one step in obtaining a Courtesy Dockside Exam Sticker from the Coast Guard, certifying that the person piloting that vessel has passed an exam and is trained to conduct monthly drills with his or her crew.

Ramirez explained that, in compliance with upcoming Coast Guard regulations, commercial fishing vessel captains will soon have to be re-examined every five years.

“We’re trying to get ahead of the curve by getting all these guys trained,” he said.

Some of those in attendance said that they chose to come to the event not only to avoid violating regulations and accruing fines, but also to feel safer when at sea.

“It is an accident-prone industry,” said Bill Meendering, a Half Moon Bay fisherman for the past ten years. “No matter how careful you are, incidents will still come up. People die out here every year.”

Like a few of his classmates, Meendering expressed gratitude, not only for the free workshop, but also for the work the Coast Guard does to protect those on the sea on a daily basis.

“As much as you hate to see those guys come out for dockside inspections, they’re doing us a tremendous service,” he said. “The relationship is really beneficial.”

One man spoke up during Polyak’s talk, saying that he would not be alive today without the Coast Guard having saved him from about 100 miles off the coast a few years ago.

Noll praised those who came for making safety and certification a priority. “I applaud them for stepping forward now and getting this done,” she said.