Safety Training at Forum Pool

Ger O’Mahony of Ireland, here for a tour of the Maine coast with other lobstermen from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He and lobstermen from Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, Canada donned survival “gumby” suits at the Forum pool. Fishermen's Voice Photo

Safety training is a part of the annual Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport. This year a few of the lobstermen from around the world who were at the Forum tried on a survival suit. Australian lobstermen said there was not a safety program in Australia similar to Maine’s.

The US Coast Guard was conducting safety demonstrations with survival suits and rafts. John McMillian of McMillian Offshore Safety Training was demonstrating the escape training simulator. McMillan designed the device to train people how to escape from a boat, helicopter, or automobile that is upside down in the water.

McMillan has been doing survival training with fishermen for over two decades. But he also trains people who work on oil rigs, helicopter pilots, and merchant seamen.

 Johm McMillan (yellow shirt), McMillan Offshore Safety Training, demonstrating the escape trainer he designed at the Forum in Rockland. The trainer simulates being upside down in the water in a vessel or aircraft. McMillan teaches techniques for staying in control and making an escape under extreme circumstances. Fishermen's Voice Photo

This was one of three safety events at the Forum this year. The frequent incidents of fishermen being lost at sea is a constant reminder of the importance of this kind of training. In fact, the Coast Guard helicopter on the grounds where the Forum is held was called away on Saturday to assist in a rescue off Vinalhaven.