MSP Marine Unit Training for the Worst

This month, Troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit underwent in-depth training and conducted real-world scenarios for the operation of vessels in zero visibility conditions. This training prepares the unit members to expeditiously respond to emergencies on the water in all conditions, including zero-visibility, when seconds can matter.

During the training, unit members were posted on the exterior port and starboard sides of Marine 45 and Marine 44 to act as safety lookouts while senior members of the unit conducted scenarios in the cockpit of the vessel. During the scenarios, a navigator closely monitored the vessel’s electronic chart plotter and RADAR for obstacles and determined a proper course for the pilot to take in order to arrive at their intended destination. To make the training as realistic as possible, while underway other Marine Unit vessels took the role of small boats operating in the path of the training vessels. These vessels generated a RADAR signature for the navigator to interpret allowing them to provide course corrections to the pilot.