When a vessel goes down in Alaska’s frigid waters, survival often comes down to how prepared a crew was before the emergency even began.  

Join the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) for a deep dive into what separates crewmembers who make it home from those who don’t—covering everything from immersion suits and survival craft to crew roles, weather, and how far a vessel is from help when disaster strikes. The session also tackles the flip side of survival: how proper training, vessel maintenance, and smart operational decisions can prevent a sinking. 

Presenters will share practical, hands-on guidance on gear maintenance, drills, and deployment techniques. Attendees will hear perspectives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), survival equipment manufacturers, and fishermen who lived through vessel disasters themselves—bringing both hard data and firsthand experience to the conversation. 

Session Agenda: 

• Welcome & Introductions 

• Setting the Stage: Cold Water Immersion in Alaskan Fishing 

• The Best Outcome: Avoiding Immersion Altogether 

• Key Survival Factors During Cold Water Immersion 

• Survival Craft Best Practices: Use and Maintenance 

• Immersion Suit Training and Maintenance 

• Environmental and Operational Factors 

• Prevention: Keeping Vessels from Sinking 

• Audience Q&A