Commercial fishing: How can I protect myself if the vessel sinks?

Commercial fishing is a large industry and presents a number of opportunities for people in New York. However, you should be aware of the risks associated with this type of occupation and one of the risks is that the vessel will sink. If it does, are there ways that you can protect yourself from drowning?

One of the best ways, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is to acquire equipment and skills through a safety training class. Your ship’s owner or captain should set this up for you and the other crew members. Through the class, you will learn the right things to do if there is a disaster at sea and how to keep yourself and others safe from harm.

Equipment is always the most effective way to survive if your ship sinks. The first equipment is the life raft. The CDC points out that those who did not use a life raft were 15 times more likely to perish than those who did. A life raft can provide you shelter and keep you out of the water, which could lead to hypothermia in a matter of minutes depending on its temperature. A life raft can also keep you away from marine predators such as sharks.

An immersion suit is another must-have piece of equipment. Similar statistics showed that those who wore an immersion suit had a survival rate of seven times greater than that of someone without one. This suit will protect you from the cold water if there is not a raft available and you find yourself overboard. There are many different kinds to choose from with features such as a lifting harness, adjustable spray shield, whistle, removable gloves that are tethered to the suit and some may even be made of fire resistant material. They are also usually a bright color such as red or orange, to make it easier for rescuers to find you.