MARCH 2018 • FOGHORN 15 FOGHORNFOCUS: CONVENTION REVIEW and search and rescue efforts. The exercise emphasized the impor- tance of establishing potential vessel emergency landing sites with special considerations for medical evacua- tions, fire truck and bus access, triage sites, crowd control, and associated training for crewmembers for a variety of emergency scenarios. A Mass Rescue – What Would Your Response Look Like? Convention attendees considered some critical ancillary measures to support a mass rescue in their own waterway, such as forming maritime and shore-based emergency and com- munications councils, if not already in place, and meeting regularly with agencies and stakeholders to identify potential resources for various emergency scenarios. Onlookers were also encouraged to consider local geo- graphic and government resources, along with questions, such as the following: • Where would an Emergency Operations Center be located so that all stakeholders, including vessel owners, have access to the site? • Who will be the company’s repre- sentative at the Unified Command? • Is there a vessel mutual assistance plan (V-MAP) with local Coast Guard? • Have stakeholders vetted plans, visited potential sites, and reached out to potential landing site man- agement? It is important to realize that a passenger vessel may be the first to arrive on-scene and to assume control; Local government or Coast Guard assets are likely to arrive sub- sequently. Bringing local responders onboard passenger vessels, walking through spaces with them, and asking what their reaction would be to a mass rescue or other emergency is vital for fostering communication and improving emergency prepared- ness. Some beneficial activities within this vein may include acting as the On-Scene Coordinator during the scenario until a more suitable vessel arrives, developing an accountability reporting plan to emergency respond- ers, and knowing the different radio frequencies between onshore and on water. Proper emergency plan devel- opment and successfully coordinated training exercises prior to an actual incident can pay valuable (and poten- tially life-saving) dividends. n JULY 2017 • FOGHORN 37 MEMBERNEWS FLAGSHIP MARINE MARINE 5/3/07 Commercial Marine A/C by Flagship Marine www.flagshipmarine.com Flagship Marine, Inc. sales@flagshipmarine.com Phone: 772-283-1609 Fax: 772-283-4611 Watts: 800-316-6426 Stuart, Florida - USA 30 TON Chiller Variety of Air Handlers including this 12 inch tall 36000 BTU unit Copyright © 2007 Donnelly Advertising & Publishing No expensive proprietary printed circuit boards !!! Lowest Long Term Maintenance Cost in the Industry! 3 TON Self Contained "Since 1995" Lowest Long Term Maintenance Cost in the Industry ! No Expensive proprietary printed circuit boards !! 3 Ton Self Contained 30 Ton Chiller "Since 1995" Variety of Air Handler Units in both chilled water and split systems including this 12" tall 36000 BTU Unit Flagship Marine, Inc www.flagshipmarine.com sales@flagshipmarine.com Phone 772-283-1609 FAX-772-283-4611 800-316-6426 Stuart - FL- USA Commercial Marine HVAC by Flagship Marine About the Author LCDR Amanda Fahrig, a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, is currently in the Coast Guard’s Investigations Industry Training Program and working with PVA in December 2017 and January 2018.