WHO: Participants include a range of towing vessel operators, industry representatives and first responders.
WHAT: The event will provide classroom instruction on casualty statistics, the Maritime Transportation Safety Act, life saving equipment demonstrations, and practical evolutions on cold water survival and survival equipment.
WHEN: The event is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Active demonstrations, a helicopter demonstration and a Tug Boatman's Challenge is scheduled to run from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Half Moon Cruise and Celebration Center at 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard and Virginia Maritime Association personnel are scheduled to conduct the 16th annual Towing Vessel Safety Seminar Thursday for towing vessel crewmembers in the Port of Hampton Roads.
"The Towing Vessel Safety Seminar provides valuable training for the local maritime community," said Capt. Christopher Keane, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. "It also provides a venue to discuss the latest policies and trends impacting local industry."
Topics for the seminar include casualty training, a safety management review, electronic charting and lifesaving equipment. The event will also include a search and rescue demonstration by a Coast Guard helicopter crew.
The forum will include practical evolutions and the 7th annual Tug Boatman’s Challenge where local mariners compete in practical skills and industry exercises.
“For 16 years the VMA and the Coast Guard have been partners in delivering vital safety and survival training to the tug and barge crews moving goods and assisting ships in Virginia’s ports,” said Art Moye, the executive vice president of VMA. “Each year, participating mariners leave the Towing Vessel Safety Seminar better equipped to safely perform their work and respond to hazardous situations. Their employers and our port industry are beneficiaries. More importantly, this training helps ensure the health and well-being of these crewmembers.”
The forum is made possible by the cooperation of the Coast Guard, Virginia Maritime Association and multiple industry and agency partners.
Media interested in attending should contact Lt. Karen Lee at 757-668-5524. The event is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the helicopter demonstration and the Tug Boatman's Challenge will run from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m., which will be the most visually interesting. If members of the media are interested in coming earlier, please work with Lee to schedule an alternate arrival time.
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