Workshop Will Give Commercial Fishermen Better Understanding of Vessel Stability

New Bedford, MA -- How to maintain the stability of a commercial fishing vessel at sea is the subject of a new and important program offered by the non-profit Fishing Partnership Support Services.
The Commercial Fishing Vessel Stability workshop will be held on Monday, Feb. 12, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, 38 Bethel St. Covered topics will include:
• Stability Requirements
• Responsibilities of Vessel Owners and Captains
• Stability Principles and the Stability Curve
• Operational Considerations
• Understanding Stability Reports
• Flooding Control and Prevention
“We’ll be providing practical information and hands-on training on vessel stability and emergency responses to flooding problems, which cause many casualties,” said Ed Dennehy, a retired U.S. Coast Guard captain who serves as safety training director for Fishing Partnership Support Services. “The workshop will incorporate practical examples and case studies of actual fishing vessel accidents caused by inattention to good seamanship practices.”
In association with the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership, Fishing Partnership Support Services is sponsoring this workshop to give commercial fishermen a deeper understanding of their vessels and their many different characteristics, and to meet a future federal training requirement for commercial fishing vessel operators.
The Feb. 12 workshop is geared to boat captains and operators. There is no charge for attending, but seating is limited and pre-registration is required. To pre-register, call the health care navigators in the New Bedford office of Fishing Partnership Support Services, Deb Kelsey and Monica DeSouza, at 508-991-3043, or sign up online at www.fishingpartnership.org.


About Fishing Partnership Support Services
The mission of Fishing Partnership Support Services is to support the health and well-being of fishing families. Founded in 1997, the Partnership is headquartered in Burlington, MA, and maintains offices in the Massachusetts port communities of Gloucester, Plymouth, New Bedford and Chatham. For more information, go to www.fishingpartnership.org

About the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership
The Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership is an organization of commercial fishermen’s associations from all gear and geographic sectors of the Massachusetts fishing industry. Established in 1995, the MFP strives for solutions to problems common to all fishermen.