Marine Safety Instructor Training

The MSIT is an intensive five-day-long US Coast Guard-accepted course. This course trains individuals to effectively teach cold-water survival procedures and the use of marine safety equipment, as well as to conduct onboard safety drills. The course prepares students to teach cold water safety and survival skills in various settings. Trained MSIT instructors lead classes for commercial fishermen, private businesses, government agencies, recreational boaters, and children nationwide. AMSEA and other organizations often hire qualified instructors to teach marine safety classes. The AMSEA instructor network covers the coastal US, and we collaborate with partner organizations and agencies nationwide to deliver marine safety training. The Marine Safety Instructor Training is a hands-on, skills-based course, delivered using various teaching methods. The topics covered in the MSIT include:

 

Preparation for Emergencies

In Preparation for Emergencies, students learn the components and differences between survival kits and ditch kits. The class covers the "Seven Steps to Survival" and the effects of emergency preparedness on survival outcomes.

 

Cold-Water Survival

The Cold-Water Survival unit covers personal flotation devices (PFDs), including maintenance and cold-water survival techniques. The course includes a pool session during which students will try on and assess a variety of PFDs in the water. The class also covers the Stay Rules and other survival skills.

 

Sea Survival, Equipment, Procedures & Onboard Drills

Students will practice fighting live fires in this unit and learn about extinguishing agents and regulations. They will also demonstrate the use and knowledge of a variety of survival equipment, including life rafts, flares, immersion suits, EPIRBs, PLBs, etc. This unit covers abandon ship procedures, vessel stability, USCG-assisted evacuations, vessel orientations, emergency instruction, and writing station bills. This section meets USCG training requirements for documented fishing vessels and usually includes actual drills onboard a vessel.

 

Land Survival

This lesson includes techniques critical to surviving in Alaska's environment, including shelter building, emergency signals, and the "Seven Steps to Survival" as they apply to shore survival.

 

Food and Water in a Survival Situation

This section explores the vital role of water in a sea or land survival situation, emphasizing the importance of a safe water supply and preventing dehydration. The course may include a beach walk to identify edible foods.

 

Cold-Water Drowning & Hypothermia

This unit covers the difference between submersion and immersion and how they relate to cold water drowning and hypothermia. It will also cover hypothermia physiology, prevention, recognition, and treatment based on the latest State of Alaska guidelines and the latest information on cold water drowning.

 

Methods of Instruction

This unit is designed for potential instructors who do not already have a teaching background. It will cover practical techniques for instructing marine safety, lesson plan formulation, adult learning styles, class logistics, and teaching practice.

 

Risk Assessment & Risk Management

The unit will include theories of risk assessment, risk perceptions and tolerances, increasing risk recognition skills, and risk management as applied to teaching marine safety.

 

Cross-Cultural Communication

The Cross-Cultural Communication chapter explores miscommunication due to differing cultural communication styles, how this miscommunication interferes with the learning environment, and what can be done to help.

 

Overnight Exercise

AMSEA may offer an overnight exercise on request during classes in Alaska. The overnight exercise allows course participants to experience a "survival" situation in a life raft or on shore. The use of rations, safe sources of food and water, and dressing to prevent hypothermia are stressed. This exercise and the debrief that follows make up the culminating course activities.

 

Costs may vary based on fishing experience:

AMSEA Members: $2,320*

Non-Members: $2,445

Refresher for Members: $1,150*

Refresher for Non-Members: $1,250

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PARTIAL TUITION AND TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO QUALIFYING APPLICANTS.

Commercial Fishers may receive tuition scholarships up to $2000, and travel scholarships up to $500.

Non-commercial Fishers may receive tuition scholarships up to $1000. 

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Registrations received less than 10 days before the course start date will incur a $250 fee.

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*Membership starts at $50 - visit our Membership Page to join.