MOB training for Northern Irish fishermen
10th January 2023
A second round of Man Overboard Awareness training courses will take place for Northern Irish fishermen later this month, reports Paul Scott.
The free course, funded by the Trinity House Maritime Charity, is part of the work by the Fishing Industry Safety Group to reduce the number of preventable deaths in the fishing industry. The training is delivered by Seafish in partnership with the RNLI.
Following a morning session in the classroom, participants spend the afternoon running through a number of drills in an environmental pool, which allows fishermen to experience a realistic MOB experience under controlled conditions.
Seafish says that the strenuous, physical events ‘are not for the feint-hearted, and feedback from attendees of previous events shows ‘an improved understanding of why lifejackets are so important for keeping them safe at sea’.
Skipper Bobby McBride from Kilkeel has been fishing for 35 years, and is also a member of the RNLI. “This is the most eye- opening and beneficial course relating to personal and crew safety I have ever done,” he said.
The two one-day events take place at the Errigal Training Centre, Falcarragh, Co Donegal on Sunday, 22 January and Monday, 23 January, from 9am to 4pm.
The training is fully funded and includes an optional overnight stay for anyone travelling a long distance to attend. Spaces are limited.
The events follow two training days at the Errigal Training Centre on 20 and 21 January which are being run by BIM for fishermen from the Republic of Ireland.
For more information or to book a place on 22 or 23 January, email the Seafish Fishermen’s Training Team at: training@seafish.co.uk
Alternatively, call Katie Hooper on: 07966 764151 or Lee Haigh on: 07904 660484.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
