Volume -- V  Issue – 2                           District--8  Flotilla--39                                        February 2001

 

 

Boatcrew/Coxswain Training

Larry Patrick, FSO-M

 

Many of you heard me announce, at the last meeting, that our flotilla needs more boat crew and coxswains.  In the hope that some of you are interested in this important Coast Guard Auxiliary activity, I'll give a brief overview of the training/qualification procedure.

 

The boat crew/coxswain qualification process requires an auxiliarist to participate in a significant amount of underway training in boat operations.  This training can be scheduled at the flotilla level and may also be conducted through joint training exercises with the Coast Guard.

 

Qualification is based on an individual's proficiency, not the performance of a group.  So, while class instruction is very helpful, the trainees should take advantage of every opportunity to participate in on-the-water training activities and patrols, and should take advantage of the knowledge and experience of qualified flotilla members, utilizing them as mentors to guide them through the necessary tasks and procedures.

 

Boat crew candidates must complete their training and qualify in no more than twenty-four months, or start over.  Trainees may work on their boatcrew and coxswain qualification at the same time. 

 

Qualification as a boat crewman requires at least eight hours of training time on the water; to qualify as a coxswain will require twenty-eight hours of underway time as a qualified crewman.

 

After the boat crew trainee has demonstrated mastery of a set of required procedures and tasks to the satisfaction of his/her mentor or trainer, a Qualification Examiner may be contacted to conduct an official qualification session.  All required tasks are found in the Boat Crew Qualification Guide, which every trainee must have as a training guide and as a record of tasks signed-off by a Qualification Examiner.

 

Also, each trainee must attend a "Team Coordination Training" session that outlines the Coast Guard's team approach to boat operations and risk assessment.

 

If you like the ideas of developing the skills of good seamanship, of patrolling our local waterways to assist the boating public, and of being qualified to assist the Coast Guard with search and rescue when needed, then I invite you to take the challenge and train to qualify as a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat Crewman or Coxswain.

 

Advisory on Carbon Monoxide Hazard

This Coast Guard Advisory in the Federal registry advises owners and operators of boats to turn off gasoline-powered generators with transom exhaust ports when the swim platform on the stern is in use.  It advises further that swimmers should not enter the cavity of a boat designed with a generator emitting exhaust into the cavity between the swim platform and the transom of the vessel.

 

Note:  There was a fatality on the Dog River several years ago when a boy was apparently overcome by carbon monoxide while sitting on TOP of a swim platform.

 

The full text of this advisory can be found at:

http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/news/F22ja01N.pdf

 

Mississippi Flotillas Start an Active Year

Flotilla 33 had a Public Affairs Session at the Diamondhead Marina Ship Store on January 12^th. The editor and publisher of the Hancock Reporter met with several of their members and interviewed them for a story he intended to publish in his paper. (It was published the following weekend). You can see more info on this at http://pages.prodigy.net/hvgreen1 under 'recent events'.

 

On Jan 20th, Flotillas 33, 35 and 37 held a joint training session at Station Gulfport with the participation of the USCG personnel. The Station provided two boats and the Auxiliary provided one boat. About 14 Auxiliarists participated along with about 7 USCG personnel in both on-water and on-shore training. This was the first of what is planned for a continuing monthly training session at the Station and is coordinated by the FSO-MTs of the three flotillas. The January training consisted of QE sign-offs for both Crew and Coxswain tasks, performance of currency maintenance tasks, and general member training for both Crew and Coxswain.

 

2001 Boat Show Success

The Boat Show was great.  Mike Case setup the booth.  We were in a booth next to the Coast Guard Booth so we took out the divider between them and had a large joint booth.  The Marine Police and Fish & Wildlife were next door and the Power & Sail Squadron was just down the row.  Both Marine Police and Power squadron are starting Boat Safety classes soon.  Practically every member of the flotilla worked the booth.  We received several new member prospects.

 

Boat Safety Checks

We did 16 Marine dealer visits in January and one Boat Safety Check.

The new manual for Vessel Safety Checks (COMDTINST M16796.8) is now out and every currently qualified Examiner should have received one.  It is very much better than the old one and will be a lot easier to read. The Manual and the test are now also on the CGAUX Internet web site and any member who wishes to start becoming a Vessel Examiner can go there and read it on the computer or copy it off on a printer.  You can now take the test on the computer as well.  You will be graded right away and as soon as the Flotilla Commander certifies that you have completed the necessary five BSC's, you will receive your certificate.  The same thing is now available for Marine Dealer Visitor and I believe it is or will soon be available for Basic Instructor.

 

Loss of Auxiliary Aviators

Members of the Seventh District are saddened by the loss of two members who went down with their aircraft on the evening of February 1.  Aircraft Commander Casey Purvis and Air Observer, Rob Fuller were on a routine mission that night.  The Auxiliary aircraft, a PA 32 300 Piper and a Coast Guard HU-25C Falcon jet were practicing an “intercept” mission over Florida Bay.

 

During the mission the crew aboard the Falcon lost contact with the Auxiliary aircraft and standard “lost communication procedures,” were initiated.  An infrared equipped HC-130 Hercules and a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater assisted in the search effort; -- joining a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Miami.  During the night seven searches were conducted by these three aircraft.  Early on the morning of February 2, the wreckage was spotted in six feet of water north of Marathon, Florida.  Recovery and salvage efforts began immediately, and both men and aircraft were recovered by the morning of February 3.

 

Consolation Sold for Scrap

Mark DeVoe – PB

The Consolation has been sold for scrap.  It was towed to Atlanta and might be seen on Lake Lanier sometime in the future.  She saw a lot of action on patrols with this Flotilla.  However, engine problems last August and my crazy work schedule combined to make it necessary to part ways.  Please let me know when I can Crew on your facility until I can find a replacement.

 

 

 

15 February	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
24 February	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Luscher Park
15 March	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
31 March	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Causeway
19 April	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
28 April	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Dauphin Island
17 May	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
19 – 25 May	National Safe Boating Week
26 May	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Dog River Marina
21 June	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
30 June	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Fowl River Marina
19 July	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
28 July	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Dauphin Island
16 August	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
25 August	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Luscher Park
20 September	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
29 September	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Causeway
18 October	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930
27 October	Ramp Day, 1000 to 1400, Dog River Marina
15 November	Flotilla meeting, Base Mobile, 1930

 

 

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