The Coast Guard has scheduled marine safety and survival training in four different Oregon Coast cities and is offering five separate two-day trainings beginning October 23.The trainings are designed for commercial fishermen, and are scheduled to be held on the following dates and in the following locations:

· October 23 to 24 in Garibaldi at the Garibaldi Fire House

· November 6 to 7 in Charleston at Coast Guard Station Coos Bay

· November 8 to 9 in Newport at the Englund Marine Store

· November 27 to 28 in Astoria at the Barbey Maritime Center

· December 11 to 12 in Newport at the Englund Marine Store

The training gives commercial fishermen the opportunity to receive valuable hands-on safety equipment and emergency drill training in select Oregon fishing ports leading up to the commercial Dungeness crab season.

Participants will practice with emergency equipment required aboard most commercial fishing vessels—personal flotation devices, life rafts, immersion suits, distress signals, EPIRBs and fire extinguishers. They will learn and practice emergency procedures like man overboard retrieval, abandoning ship, firefighting and flooding control through on board emergency drills and practical demonstrations.

“This is required training for documented commercial fishing vessels that operate beyond the boundary line,” said Curt Farrell, Coast Guard Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator for Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Fishermen who have already taken the course are encouraged to attend again to sharpen their skills. A refresher course is recommended every five years. A study by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health determined that after five years, the effectiveness of training in reducing fatalities declines significantly.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive certification to conduct emergency drills aboard commercial fishing vessels. To register or for more information, contact the Coast Guard Fishing Vessel Safety Division at 503-240-9337.