The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is holding its new Airboat Operators Course February 25-March 1, 2013, in Delacroix, Louisiana.

This airboat training falls under NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) program. Launched in 2010, the BOAT program provides the nation’s maritime law enforcement and first responders with a standard of qualification and training as well as a roadmap for maintaining currency of skills and internal program management for their agency regardless of size or discipline.

“This airboat training is another positive step toward the BOAT Program’s mission of creating a national standard of training for marine law enforcement,” said John Fetterman, NASBLA’s director of law enforcement.

The Airboat Operators Course offers maritime law enforcement and emergency responders a comprehensive framework in order to become more proficient with specialized skills necessary to operate airboats in the maritime environment. A key element of this course is the preparation of participants to become qualified in the tasks necessary for response to maritime safety and security operations. Participants will receive recognition in the national qualification database maintained by and through NASBLA.

Students will operate within a controlled environment with an emphasis on hands-on operational training. The course is delivered using “team teaching” as the model, where all instructors are engaged in every module within the course, under the operational command of a lead instructor.

The fee for the course is $4,8000 per student, with a minimum of 10 students and covers all instruction, ground transportation from New Orleans Airport, lodging and meals for the duration of the five-day, 40-hour course. Maximum class size is 20 students, so be sure to register early.

To register for this course or for more information about it, visit http://tinyurl.com/AirboatTraining. For more information on the NASBLA BOAT Program, visit www.nasbla.org/BOAT .