FISHERMEN S SAFETY TRAINING

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1 FISHERMEN S SAFETY TRAINING DON T BE CAUGHT OUT Training is vitally important for fishermen to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge required to undertake this hazardous work as safely as possible. Working at sea poses great dangers even for experienced fishermen; this is why it is essential for fishermen to refresh their training on a regular basis to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. This publication contains details on what training is required of, and available to, fishermen.

2 MANDATORY BASIC SAFETY TRAINING To work on a UK-registered commercial fishing vessel, fishermen must hold Seafish (or other MCA approved) certificates that prove they have completed basic safety training in: Survival at Sea Firefighting and Prevention First Aid Health and Safety Survival at Sea training must be completed before going to sea for the first time and the other three courses must be completed within three months. In addition, experienced fishermen who have been working as a fisherman for two years or more, must also complete training in Safety Awareness. Seafish maintain a database of fishermen s training records so if you require replacement certificates or want to check what records we hold for you please contact us (see contact details on back page). You should also let us know if your contact details change so that we can keep our records up-todate. Once you have completed the mandatory courses you can either apply for a New Entrant photo ID card (upon completion of Survival at Sea, Firefighting and Prevention, First Aid and Health and Safety) or an Experienced Fisherman photo ID card (upon completion basic safety training courses plus Safety Awareness) see example below. This card is accepted by the MCA as proof that you have completed basic safety training. Please contact us for an application form. For more details about mandatory basic safety training for fishermen, contact us or your nearest approved training provider (details are available on page 7).

3 REFRESHER SAFETY TRAINING There is no legal requirement for fishermen to re-attend basic safety training, however experienced fishermen are recommended to re-attend every three years. Undertaking refresher training will ensure that you are prepared for any incidents or emergencies that may occur while at sea. Regular drills must be carried out onboard so that everyone can practice what to do in the event of an emergency, where every second counts. Regular refresher training keeps fishermen up-to-date with the latest developments in safety practices and equipment. We review and update our courses regularly to ensure you are well prepared, should anything go wrong. Refresher courses for fishermen are offered by Seafish approved training providers across the UK; most of these courses are recognised for use in other maritime industries - where safety is of equal concern.

4 VOLUNTARY TRAINING NEW ENTRANTS We have developed the following voluntary courses for new entrants to the fishing industry: Introduction to Commercial Fishing: a three - to four week induction course Sea Fishing Apprenticeship: a year-long course developed in collaboration with the Maritime Skills Alliance INSHORE SKIPPERS We have developed a number of voluntary short courses for experienced fishermen who want to increase their skills and knowledge to levels above minimum legal requirements. Courses include: Two and five-day navigation courses Two and five-day engineering courses One-day basic, intermediate and advanced stability awareness courses Completion of these courses (with the addition of the appropriate GMDSS Certificate for radio operators) make up the requirements for a Seafish Under 16.5m Skippers Certificate. This is accepted by the MCA for use on small commercial vessels (e.g. for carrying cargo and/or passengers up to a maximum of 12). For further information see Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 411.

5 FUNDING SUPPORT We encourage fishermen to undertake training to develop their safety skills and knowledge above and beyond minimum legal requirements, although we cannot fund mandatory training. We apply for funding from the MCA and EU, so that we can assist commercial fishermen with the cost of voluntary (safety-related) training. Such grant funding is only available to experienced commercial fishermen who are fully compliant with basic safety training regulations. We will consider funding any safety-related training that is not mandatory. We also endeavour to fund the Introduction to Commercial Fishing course for new entrants and refresher training and support the Sea Fishing Apprenticeship. All applications for funding must be approved by Seafish in advance of training being undertaken. For more details about what funding is currently available, contact us or your nearest Seafish approved training provider.

6 E-LEARNING To complement our range of taught and on-the-job training courses, we provide an online learning resource. Seafish Online Training gives learners the chance to study theory- based courses at their own convenience and learn at their own pace. Access is currently free of charge and provides an ideal way of topping up essential knowledge, preparing for attending a taught course or preparing for an assessment. Some of our most popular e-learning courses include: Under 16.5m Skipper s Certificate Fishermen s safety training Fishermen s refresher training To access our e-learning website please visit: seafishonlinetraining.co.uk

7 SEAFISH APPROVED TRAINING PROVIDERS Delivery of our fishermen s training courses is undertaken by our network of approved training providers and delivered by our approved instructors. Contact details for your nearest approved training provider can be found on the Seafish website via the following link:

8 Seafish Origin Way, Europarc, Grimsby DN37 9TZ t: f: e: w: Supporting a profitable, sustainable and socially responsible future for the seafood industry.