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VIDEO. From the San Mateo County Harbor District Commissioner’s regular meeting on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 meeting, at 10:00am, as a hybrid meeting with remote comments. This meeting of the San Mateo County Harbor District will be held in Person at City Council Chambers, City of South San Francisco Park & Recreation Center, 901 Civic Campus Way, South San Francisco. Agenda. Staff Report for Item #G1: “Board receive an update on District Training Officer’s Alaska cold-water safety instructor
training.”
Background
San Mateo County Harbor District Deputy Harbormasters (DHM’s) respond to hundreds of emergency and disabled vessels in distress calls annually. Due to the remote location of Pillar Point Harbor (PPH), the USCG is often unable to respond to emergencies in a timely manner, so the SMCHD fills this role by default. Therefore, it is important for SMCHD DHM’s (Deputy Harbor Masters) to have the most up to date professional training.
The District also provides water safety training to the community, local school children and resident commercial/recreational fishers. The District Training Officer leads the charge by attending instructor training, and passing this acquired knowledge on to the entire DHM teams at both Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina. These efforts ensure the best training and safety opportunities available to help prevent the loss of life and to continue to highlight the Commercial Fishing Fleet that made Pillar Point Harbor a reality many years ago.
The District Training Officer was made aware of the AMSEA Water Safety Instructor/Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Training and was recommended to attend by the USCG SF Sector COI Commander. The training included cold water survival, emergency procedures, man overboard, helicopter rescue, life raft deployment and other skills.
The training dates were 9 -17 August 2026, and the Board approved the out-of-state travel at the August meeting.
This training is exponentially beneficial for the Fishing Community and the Harbor Patrol, working together to understand the sphere of a rescue or may day response from both sides (The responders and the vessel and crew calling for assistance).
For the Harbor Patrol to better understand what they may be looking for or what abandon vessel safety tools and gear the fishing boats have available.
For the Commercial Fishing Vessels and Crew, what the timelines and response assets may be, best messages to put out to communicate situation, and drills to meet their required safety requirements.
We are looking to host a 2-day Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Training this year (Early December =/-) to build on the Historic Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Day last year with close to 80 in attendance.
The vision of the General Manager, the Director of Operations and the Harbormaster to provide an opportunity to the Commercial Fishing Community to be better prepared for an emergency is outstanding and may save a life.
The commission support is a gift to the Pillar Point Harbor Commercial Fishing Community and beyond, in support of our tenant’s safety on the water.
Attachments
More on the San Mateo County Harbor District on Coastside Buzz
San Mateo County Harbor District Board Meetings ~ 3rd Wednesday @ 10:00am
Watch in person at 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200 El Granada or remotely with remote comment and questions by email.
Harbor District Agendas and Remote Meeting Links
2026 Board of Harbor Commissioners Contact Information:
To email the entire Harbor Commission, click here.
George Domurat ~ District 2, Position: President, Term: 2022-2026 Email: gdomurat@smharbor.com
Virginia Chang Kiraly ~ District 5, Position: Vice Chair, Term: 2024-2028 Email: vchang-kiraly@smharbor.com
William Zemke ~ District 1, Position: Secretary. Term: 2024-2028 mail: wzemke@smharbor.com
Kathryn Slater-Carter ~ District 3, Position: Secretary, Term: 2022-2026 Email: kslater-carter@smharbor.com
Tom Mattusch ~ District 4, Position: Treasurer, Term: 2024-2028 Email: tmattusch@smharbor.com
District Office: 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200, El Granada, CA 94018
Mailing Address: PO Box 1449, El Granada, CA 94018
Phone: (650) 583-4400 Fax: (650) 583-4614
Pillar Point without the harbor.
Author: mdrag
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