Mariner, Friend, Fool and Filmmaker
May was a busy busy month. Helped to get the Faralones trip up and running on the White Holly, went on a road trip with Jynx, Crow and Silent Wolf, went to Toast, the Integratron, and to Singularity. Then ran security for Fire Arts Festival. Then made a mad dash to Seattle on my bike.
There are stories to all of this. I’ll get to setting it all down soon. Perhaps on my return from Hawaii. [of course...this is a lie, since this is 6 months later and I haven't done it]
“This 5-day course is required for all mariners. It is comprised of basic survival techniques, personal and social responsibilities, preventing marine pollution and basic firefighting. Students are trained and must demonstrate proficiency in all disciplines. Offered through Fremont Maritime Services.”
The most fundamental course in STCW-95 is Basic Safety Training (BST)
This course is required by all sailors to be STCW-95 compliant.
What is the benefit? According to one of my instructors, for the Alaskan Fisheries, since they have required this course, fatalities have dropped in HALF!
I personally feel that my survivability in the case of a sinking, injury or fire is greatly increased because of the skills I learned.
So, what is BST?
It has 4 parts:
Survival skills
- understanding what is in a survival raft and how to use all the equipment. Basic survival information and how to prepare your own ditch bag.
- fundamental process of survival - the 7 steps - recognition, inventory, shelter, signals, water, food and play.
Pool Time:Â put the knowledge in practical application
jump in the water with various flotation devices including gumby suits
get into a survival raft and righting a survival raft
learn in the water survival techniques
Basic First Aid and CPR
Basic Fire Fighting:Â Put out fires in a fire simulation facility and learn fundamental fire fighting skills
Well, I actually did my BST in October at Clatsop Community College, because PMI wasn’t sure that the Mates Program was going to happen. I had decided, that I was going to have to do the hawspipe route, and needed to get myself BST done so I could be employable.
This was a great course. We learned a great deal about survival at sea, first aid, and cpr. We got into gumby suits and jumped into a pool and got in and out of a survival raft.
It was an extremely informative course, and I believe significantly increases my chances of survival if it all goes to shit at sea.
Plus, we got to fight fires in a simulated building/ship. All in all very much worth the price of admission.
Best part was that my brother decided to take the course with me! It was great to share the experience with him.
In case you were wondering…here is what an engine room fire looks like
“This course is designed around the RFPNW course. Students will apply concepts learned within the coursework and use it in real life simulation exercises.”
Not as fun as I wanted, as we needed to run through a bunch of RFPNW assessments - basically giving and recieving helm commands and correctly following lookout protocols. We also worked on radio skills. This was review for me and a couple of others, but some of the guys had never been on a working boat before.
Ross was born on a tug, so this was all old hat for him.
The upshot of this course is that we were now certified to be lookouts on a navigational watch.
So…after spending several months on The WHITE HOLLY…
Spent 3 days with Alisha
Spent a week living on a sail boat (harbinger)
week of classes
bike wreck
weekend with alisha
sushi with rangers
week of logistics, recover bike, bike breaks down
physical
taxi to Everett
“This 2-day course is required for all mariners assigned to lookout and watchkeeping support duties on ocean going vessels. It is supplemented by a period of required sea service of not less than two months, where trainees conduct related practical training and assessments.�
This was not just the first class our program, it was the first class of the first run of the program. So there was a bit of excitement in the air. There were 7 of us and I think most of us had a sense that we were pioneering a change in the industry.
This course was a brief overview of the duties of a watchkeeper and covered:
We also covered a few knots and general “what it’s like on to work on the water�.
We also all got a bunch of adminstrative things taken care of. And we were given sweatshirts, bags and a bunch of prestudy materials. We also got a tour of the facilities and generally got to know each other.
So, full week. Some good, some bad. First, I put my application into the coast guard. It took nearly an hour to review the app! It’s all in and looks in order. Now I wait for background checks and the evaluation of my application. Sometime in the next couple of months I’ll get approval to take the exam. Then a week of exams and another torturous wait to get my license. Assuming all goes well.
On the bad side, all of my camera equipment was stolen from the house I was staying at, so expect fewer pictures for a bit.
See ya in the desert.
So, due to mostly technical difficulties I haven’t been able to post. Much has happened. I am on my last trip, and have all my seatime in. Unfortunately I can’t submit my application by mail, so I am waiting to return before I can do that. After that it will be 4-6 weeks before I can take my exam.
I only needed 20 days at the start of June, but couldn’t get a trip till June 13th, then only a 60 day trip. It’s looking like it is going to go late, which is really dragging on me. More on this later, but suffice to say I am ready to get home and get the license process rolling. But this trip keeps getting legs added to it. I don’t think it will end before September, no matter what assurances I get from the office.
