The safety of all SEA program participants and staff is among our highest priorities. To this end, SEA maintains a philosophy of prevention in managing risk in its activities. This is accomplished by an ongoing assessment of risk for activities either on shore or at sea. Recognizing that its programs involve risks that are inherent and unavoidable, SEA applies accepted safety management principles in developing and documenting appropriate policies, procedures and practices in an effort to reduce risk to a level that is “as low as reasonably practicable” (ALARP) consistent with SEA’s mission.
SEA headquarters maintains a 24-hour emergency contact system and is in daily contact with our programs. To contact, please call (800) 552-3633
Health screening and medical clearance
Participation in SEA programs is contingent upon medical clearance. Due to the physical nature of in-person SEA programs, students are required to undergo a thorough physical examination performed by a licensed medical practitioner within six months of the start of the program.
With adequate lead-time, SEA can frequently facilitate appropriate risk management for a wide variety of preexisting medical conditions. We work with every student on an individual basis to assess whether his or her participation in a SEA program can occur safely and effectively.
Health and safety on shore
SEA student support staff work with participants to maximize academic success and personal growth during the program. Program assistants live in proximity to the students and are available on a 24/7 basis should any issues arise. Each program assistant is a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and is supported by a student affairs manager and medical director at the main SEA campus. In each program location, SEA has identified appropriate medical facilities such as English-speaking doctors, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies.
Students receive information specific to each program location that covers emergency procedures, contact information, and communications.
While abroad, faculty and staff have international cellular connectivity as well as a Garmin GPSMAP® 67i GPS Handheld with inReach® Satellite Technology for emergency communication.
Health and safety at sea
SEA owns and operates the SSV Corwith Cramer and the SSV Robert C. Seamans, both custom designed and uniquely built educational platforms with student and crew safety foremost in mind. At sea, the staff to student ratio is approximately 1:2. Our professional staff receives safety and medical training and performs regular drills.
SEA ships are U.S. flagged, inspected, and regulated vessels. They are United States Coast Guard (USCG) certified and regularly inspected for ocean service. In addition, they are inspected by the American Bureau of Shipping and meet or exceed ABS’ stringent machinery and hull safety standards. As U.S. flagged Sailing School Vessels (SSVs), SEA ships are required to meet safety standards different from those for passenger vessels on a comparable route.
Both ships maintain 24-hour access to a network of physicians specially trained to provide remote medical care & advice. Our medical response plans include use of MedSea (a subsidiary of International SOS) and Divers Alert Network (DAN)’s TravelAssist program, which arranges emergency medical evacuations for any medical emergency and offers many other medical, travel, and legal benefits. SEA’s DAN membership also allows us access to resources such as Worldcue® PLANNER health, safety, and security briefs, powered by iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, for regions of the globe in which SEA operates.
A Safety Management System governs the operation of SEA vessels and programs aboard those vessels. Emergency drills are conducted weekly when underway and recorded in the deck logbook as per USCG requirements.
SEA cruise tracks are planned well in advance to optimize program objectives, and are based on seasonal weather patterns, sea conditions, oceanographic research clearances and port calls visited. First and foremost, we consider weather; our cruise track selection and timing reflects strict adherence to predictable heavy weather avoidance.
While at sea, shipboard communications include high seas radio, satellite telephones, and limited email capability. Both vessels carry at least one SSB radio; a Thrane & Thrane Sailor 250 FleetBroadband (FBB) Inmarsat for data and voice communications; an Inmarsat C.; and an Iridium Satellite Phone.
Each ship maintains a daily satellite telephone schedule with SEA Headquarters in Woods Hole. SEA also uses Pole Star Fleet Management 2.0, a powerful web-based service that automatically tracks our vessels in real time. This service supports an automated position report of each vessel every six hours. Data sent from the ships includes course, speed, and meteorological data including weather, wind speed and direction, and sea state.
Student policies
SEA is an academic community dedicated to the pursuit of intellectual and personal growth. We are committed to creating and maintaining a learning environment in which individuals are responsible for their actions and for the impact of their actions on others.
To that end, we provide students with policies to best support their well being and success while enrolled, including:
- Code of Conduct
- Drug & Alcohol Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Sexual Harassment/Sexual Discrimination Policy
Student orientation
SEA programs can include a variety of student orientations, depending on the program structure:
- Pre-program orientation zoom call two weeks prior to the start of the program
- General program orientation upon arrival in Woods Hole
- Coastal community or sea component orientation
- Shipboard orientation during the first 24 hours of a sea component
Prior to each new location or port stop, students are briefed on program itinerary, safety & risk management, and cultural norms and expectations.