Commercial fishermen drill near Cape May, N.J., for safety of life at sea

Commercial fishermen from Cape May, N.J., form a chain in their survival suits in the pool at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May during a Fishing Vessel Drill Coordinator Course Oct. 28, 2009.

The course is a certification requirement for a fishing vessel’s crew to have one person aboard certified in the course. 

Jose Farina, a commercial fisherman in Cape May, N.J., dons a survival suit during an evolution for a Fishing Vessel Drill Coordinator Course held at U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Oct. 28, 2009. 

The FVDCC is a two day course teaching fishermen survival techniques, firefighting drills, damage control and dewatering drills for emergencies on the water.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Crystalynn A. Kneen.

Chris Hermanns and Fred Nesbitt, commercial fishermen from Cape May, N.J., start a pump during a dewatering evolution at a Fishing Vessel Drill Coordinator Course in Cape May Oct. 29, 2009.

The course is given by Chesapeake Marine Training Institute Inc., a Coast Guard approved program, and was open to commercial fishermen, Coast Guard personnel and the Coast Guard Auxiliary to implement the training they need while on the water.