1. STATION KEEPING: EXERCISE #1
See JOB AID, Sections B and H
(Good to practice every time you are out)
REQUIREMENTS:
a. 2 Facilities, 1 to be disabled and 1 for the Response
Unit. If only one vessel is available substitute a
floating object (fender or buoy).
b. D/A vessel on open water drifting and or anchored.
c. Response unit to make approach crossing the "T" with respect to the predominate conditions (usually wind). (NOTE: Most Auxiliary facilities do better stern to the conditions, especially if single screw.)
(NOTE: It is easier on the crew of the response unit
to be pitching fore and aft than rocking port to
starboard
d. Response unit positions itself in optimal position for
several minutes and practices holding position using
opening and closing maneuvers while remaining in optimal position and keeping the stern or bow into the predominate conditions.
)
e. Change coxswains and or reverse boats and repeat.
Practice with a drifting and an anchored boat.
2. STATION KEEPING: EXERCISE #2
See JOB AID, Sections B and H
REQUIREMENTS:
a. 2 Facilities, 1 to be disabled and 1 for the Response
Unit
b. D/A vessel on open water drifting and/or anchored.
c. Response unit to make approach crossing the "T" with
respect to the predominate conditions (usually wind).
(NOTE: Most Auxiliary facilities do better stern to the conditions, especially if single screw.)
d. Response unit throws a heaving line to D/A from
optimal position or slightly upwind. Crews of both
vessels lightly hold line while coxswain holds in
position. Crew should keep the heaving line in the
water but tend away from the screw
. (If the line is
kept out of the water it will pull the two vessels
together.)
Coxswain should be able to hold in
optimum using opening and closing maneuvers.
e. Repeat process. Station keep on both a drifting and an anchored vessel.
f. Change coxswains and repeat.
3. TOWING (Stern) EXERCISE #3
See JOB AID, Section H
REQUIREMENTS:
a. Two facilities, one to be disabled and one as the
Response unit.
b. D/A vessel drifting and anchored in moderate to light
seas.
c. Brief both crews on intended action.
d. Establish communications between vessels for tow.
e. Response unit makes approach by crossing the "T" with respect to the predominate conditions (usually wind) and passes the tow rig to the D/A using a heaving line from the optimal position or slightly above if the wind is strong. Use the crossing the "T" approach.
f. Crew on the Response unit tends the lines away from the screws as the connection is made on the D/A.
g. After the crew on the D/A returns safely to the cockpit
the crew of the Response unit adjust the length of the
towline and then securing it to a cleat or bit. (If
disabled vessel is anchored, raise the anchor before
commencing the tow.)
h. Response vessel coxswains assigns tow watch duties to a crewmember.
4. TOWING (STERN using a Skiff Hook) EXERCISE #4
See JOB AID, Section H
REQUIREMENTS:
a. Two facilities, one to be disabled and one as the
Response unit. (NOTE: D/A must be equipped with a
trailer eye bolt.
b. D/A drifting or anchored on open waters in moderate to light seas.
c. Brief both crews on intended action.
d. Establish communications between vessels for tow.
e. Response unit does a back-down approach to attach a skiff hook.
f. After skiff hook is attached the Response Unit moves forward to adjust length of the towline and then secures towline to a cleat or bit. (If disabled vessel is anchored, raise the anchor before commencing the tow.)
g. Response vessel coxswains assigns tow watch duties to a crewmember.
5. ALONGSIDE TOW EXERCISE #5
(Using tow line as #1 line)
See JOB AID, Section H
REQUIREMENTS:
a. 2 Facilities, 1 to be disabled and 1 for the Response
Unit
b. D/A vessel in calm and protected waters in a stern tow.
c. Stop stern tow and brief crews on intended actions.
d. Fender both vessels, break out boat hook and side tow lines before starting evolution.
e. Back down on tow while tending line away from the screws. Transfer the towline to the bow of the Response Unit.
f. Position the D/A in the proper position before attaching the towline the #1 line.
g. Connect the #2 line (Alongside tow can start if required)
h. Connect #3 and #4 lines.
i. Caution crews to keep hands out from between vessels.
j. Tighten all line by going into forward and reverse.
k. Moor D/A vessel to a dock or pier.
6. ALONGSIDE TOW EXERCISE #6
(Using free approach)
See JOB AID, Section H
REQUIREMENTS:
a. 2 Facilities, 1 to be disabled and 1 for the Response Unit
(Same as EXERCISE #4 except tow is broken and a free approach is made to connect the alongside tow.)
7
. NAVIGATION EXERCISE #7
See JOB AID, Section E and G
In this exercise select a course to a Commence Search Point (CSP) with a couple of turns in it. Use a local chart for this exercise. Try select a CSP and all turn-points that can easily be verified visually. That is each turn-point and the CSP would have a couple of ranges that can be used for a QE to easily verify the location.
NOTE: From the time the problem is given the students have 30 minutes to do the chart work, enter all waypoints into their GPS, and get underway.
REQUIREMENTS:
a. Local charts
b. Auxiliary facility or facilities
c. Students working in Boat Crews Teams (in the classroom) plot the course on a chart and properly label the route and turn points.
d. After the chart work is properly done Waypoints are entered into their GPS/chart plotters.
e. The students (Boat crew) gets underway in under 30 minutes from the time the problem was presented to them.
f. The boat crew gets underway and run the route they laid out and arrives at the CSP within 5 minutes of their ETA. All turn points were made within 50 yards of that plotted and they were within 100 yards of the CSP upon arrival.
NOTE: Before the students are allowed to get underway the instructors should verify the accuracy of the chart work. An instructor/QE should accompany each boat crew while underway.
NOTE: Experience has indicated that many boat crews (including coxswains and some QEs) have difficulty completing this exercise in under 30 minutes!
8. SEARCH PATTERNS: EXERCISE #8
See JOB AID, Section G
This exercise allows the student to plot and run a search pattern. Normally we have used the VS and the SS patterns for this exercise and allowed the students to use the "Search Pattern Plotting Tool. Other search patterns may be substituted if desired or needed.
REQUIREMENTS:
a. Refer to exercise #6 above. When the student arrives at the CSP they are to deploy a datum marker.
b. The coxswain will determine the first leg to run (Down-wind or down stream within 45 degrees) and determine the time to run each leg of a VS (or a SS) search pattern. Leg length and target size should be provided.
c. The coxswain should bring the boat up to its search speed and pass close alongside the datum marker.
d. The helmsman should use "Seaman’s Eye" and not be chasing the compass as he/she steers each leg. (Explain how the helmsman should select a distant object to steer at before making a turn)
e. The boat crew should complete the entire VS pattern or at least 10 legs of a SS pattern.
f. The coxswain should end the VS Search Pattern back alongside the datum marker at which time the actual set and drift are calculated and passed to the SAR controller.
9. MAN-OVERBOARD (MOB) and PERSON-IN-THE-WATER (PIW) HEAVY WEATHER RECOVERY EXERCISE #9
See JOB AID, Section C
REQUIREMENTS:
a. Requires an Auxiliary facility and crew equipped with a
life-like dummy (OSCAR or RESCUE RANDY) if
possible.
(NOTE: A PIW is much more susceptible to current
and these devices do a much better job of simulating a
PIW than does a fender. Also, these devices are
weighted to give the crew a better feel of recovering a
person.)
b. An Auxiliary Facility
c. Facility gets underway and at random times the QE will deploy the MOB.
d. Crewperson observing the MOB gives the alarm, deploys a throwable and points at the PIW until relieved by the coxswain.
e. After giving the alarm, the coxswain hits the MOB on the GPS and sounds the "Danger Signal" while crew continues to points at the PIW.
f. Coxswain initiates a turn and stops to determine the relative set and drift.
g. Coxswain assigns duties to crew.
h. Heaving line (Rescue line), Boat Hook, and Boarding
Ladder are readied for possible use.
i. Pointer stops pointing when coxswain has in view.
j. Coxswain makes approach from down-wind, (Down from the prevailing force).
k. When making the approach the coxswain will bring the vessel alongside the PIW (Against the hull)
l. As the PIW disappears from the coxswains sight due to the flare of the boat, a crewmember will give the PIWs relative position to the coxswain.
m. When the PIW is at the "Pick-Up" point on the vessel the crew will shout "STOP" and the coxswain will turn the vessel broadside to the wind and instantly give the vessel a shot of REVERSE to bring the vessel to a complete stop.
n. The PIW is considered "Recovered when alongside and under the positive control of the crew. (Crew may not be capable of recovering a large person from the water and help may be needed to do an actual recovery. This is especially true with small crews that may now be short one person who is now in the water.)
o. The PIW is then recovered and first aid is administered.
p. The controlling land station is then notified of the MOB/PIW. Doing this any sooner will cause the station to start asking questions when the coxswain is busy doing the recovery operation.
EXERCISE #10
See Job Aid Section "I"
Requirements:
a. Length of line for marlinespike work.
b. Blindfold student or place in a dark room and have them tie the following:
1. Bowline
2. Clove hitch
3. Sheet bend (Becket bend)
4. Round turn with two half hitches
c. Repeat until the student can quickly and correctly do each of the above.
