The Alaska Marine Safety Association (AMSEA) is well known in the maritime community for being committed to improving wellbeing on the water for both recreational and commercial boaters. The Marine Safety Instructor Training (MSIT) course is the Association’s premier train-the-trainer course designed to train future instructors to effectively teach cold water survival techniques, use of marine safety equipment, and to conduct onboard safety drills. The MSIT course is an intensive experience taking 48 hours over six and a half days to complete.
About the Alaska Marine Safety Association (AMSEA)
AMSEA is nonprofit corporation identified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a public charity under IRS Code 501(c) 3, dedicated to providing information and training that addresses cold water safety. The Association is known for its practical hands-on training style.
Since AMSEA began in 1985, the group has trained 975 marine safety instructors and over 400 teachers from across the United States who have gone on to provide cold water safety training to more than 200,000 people ranging from school children to commercial fishermen.
AMSEA’s Mission Statement is, “To reduce injury and death in the marine and fresh water environment through education and training provided by a network of qualified marine safety instructors.” Read More »
This a photo of the Crowley tug Tanerliq in Port Valdez. The vessel is one of two ocean going ship escort, rescue and oil spill response tugs operated by Crowley Maritime in Prince William Sound. This tractor tug is 155 feet long and currently one the most powerful propulsion tractor tugs in the world. The Tanerliq is equipped with two Voith Schneider Model 36 GII cycloidal propellers and it can generate stopping forces in excess of 300,000 pounds to turn or stop an oil tanker. This tug can direct thrust in any direction and can turn within its own length.
Copyright © 2010 by Alan Sorum
Springtime may be coming to the Chugach Mountains that surround the City of Valdez, Alaska.
Copyright © 2010 by Alan Sorum
Tongass NF cabins are a great way to explore the region and enjoy its outdoor activities. Access is by boat or plane making the cabins an easy way to visit the wilderness.
The Tongass National Forest encompasses all of Southeast Alaska. At nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass is the largest unit found within the national forest system. Known for its remarkable recreational opportunities, visiting remote cabins maintained by the Tongass is one of our favorite activities in Southeast Alaska. These cabins are only accessible by boat or floatplane.
Cabin Features – Tongass Forest cabins vary in their design. There are A-Frames, Pan-Abode and Alpine models to name a few. Each cabin can sleep at least four and often more people. Amenities include a kitchen table, bunk beds, wood or oil fired stove, axe, broom, and an outhouse. Some cabins can even have a small skiff. Drinking water on-site needs to be treated. Campers need to supply their own sleeping gear, cooking equipment, fuel for cabins that use oil stoves, and the items normally carried on a camping trip. Specific information is available for each cabin that includes location, capacity, type of stove, and mooring information. Read More »
“Not simply another field guide, The Grouse and Ptarmigan of Alaska offers an amazing amount of information about these incredible birds.” is the claim made by the Alaska Department of Fish (ADF&G) and Game and the Ruffed Grouse Society. In this case, the statement is certainly true for bird watchers in Alaska interested in these birds.
This publication represents a joint, collaborative effort by a number of organizations to update and reprint the well regarded Upland Game Birds of Forest and Tundra written by Robert Weeden and Laurence Ellison, first printed by ADF&G in 1968.
The text introduces you to the grouse and ptarmigan that live in Alaska. It goes on to describe the role of these birds in the ecosystem and the information will interest others beyond the hunters that pursue them. Naturalists, photographers and bird watchers all enjoy observing these animals. Read More »
Copyright © 2010 by Alan Sorum
Copyright © 2010 by Alan Sorum
The north has captured the public imagination for generations. Stories of the search for the North Pole, the Northwest Passage and a land of everlasting ice are nearly the stuff of myths. Regardless of deniers, the Arctic is changing because of changing climatic conditions and ready access to the region increases annually.
Charles Emmerson explores what might happen in the north of the future. We know that with access will come increased oil production, exploration for other minerals and frequent crossings by commercial vessels transiting the Northwest Passage from Asia to Europe. Emmerson explores the history of the Arctic and relates it the future. Readers without this knowledge base are destined to view the north through the lens of its mythology.
The Future History of the Arctic is broken into a series of four thematic areas of discussion; the topics cover power, nature, riches and freedom. Emmerson’s narrative seeks to tell the stories of Arctic peoples; the Russians, Inuit, Norwegians and Canadian. Even the United States is part of account, with a population that often fails to realize the country is an Arctic power through its holdings in Alaska. Read More »
The Alaska Marine Safety Association (AMSEA) is well known in the maritime community for being committed to improving wellbeing on the water for both recreational and commercial boaters. The Marine Safety Instructor Training (MSIT) course is the Association’s premier train-the-trainer course designed to train future instructors to effectively teach cold water survival techniques, use of marine safety equipment, and to conduct onboard safety drills. The MSIT course is an intensive experience taking 48 hours over six and a half days to complete.
