Lifesaving Drill

Eighteen Islesford fishermen were bobbing about recently in their red flotation suits off the lobster dock. It was part of a nine-hour training drill.

Most of the lobstermen own the inflatable suits, but most of them had never tried one on. It takes some doing. They practiced getting into the suits, helping each other, then plopped into the water, paddled around, got used to floating in the cold water, and learned how to raft up together to support an injured shipmate.

Many also carry inflatable life rafts when they fish offshore. But here again it takes some learning to launch them, get aboard and handle them effectively.

Fire at sea is another occasion where practice can make all the difference. So is sending out a radio distress signal. They practiced them all.

A terrible season three years ago, when 13 fishermen died at sea along the Maine coast, galvanized the industry and showed the need for special training in lifesaving. Former Gov. Angus King appointed a task force, and the Coast Guard stepped up its enforcement of laws and regulations requiring monthly drills for boats venturing offshore.

John McMillan, who conducted the training session at Islesford, had been operating along the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. He saw the need for cold-water training in Maine and opened his McMillan Offshore Survival Training headquarters in Belfast.

Bruce Fernald heard about the course at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum in March and set it up for a summer Sunday, when the lobstermen have a forced day off from fishing.

Mr. McMillan and his assistants have already trained groups of fishermen at South Portland, Swan’s Island, Lubec, Steuben, Millbridge, South Addison, Stonington and Spruce Head. Fishermen who haven’t yet taken the course should do so promptly. The telephone number is 1-800-379-6678. It’s not only required by law. It can be a matter of life or death.