T-120-8
Observer Training Saved My Life and Four Others, Will It Save Yours?
Presentation for the 2015 AFS Meeting in Portland, OR
Erika Webb1 & Kenneth Keene2
1 Riverside Technologies, NMFS Observer, 2 NOAA SEFSC Pelagic Observer Program
ABSTRACT
On November 15th, 2013, approximately 120 miles offshore, the pelagic longline fishing vessel LONG SHOT (#590729) had a serious marine incident upon which it eventually sank. All persons on board were rescued by the USCG due to the actions taken by the NOAA Fisheries Observer onboard, who credits her life saving actions to the NMFS marine safety training received prior to becoming an observer. The following presentation will outline the importance of proper marine safety training and how it helped in the successful rescue of the captain, crew, and observer on the FV LONG SHOT, as well as outline the experience of the observer and the actions taken by the USCG and Pelagic Observer Program as the dangerous scenario progressed.