More than 16 million anglers spent approximately 246 million days on the water fishing from boats. This number includes saltwater, Great Lakes and other freshwater and was compiled by the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Since 1955 this survey has been done across the US and is considered the most comprehensive database of wildlife recreation.
The report is available at: http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/nat-survey2006-casting-beyond-the-bow-fishing-boats.pdf
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Design A Better Life Jacket and Win $5,000
Have Any Ideas on How to Keep Afloat? Design A Better Life Jacket and Win $5,000
ANNAPOLIS, Md. Are you an armchair inventor with a better way to keep boaters, sailors and anglers afloat? The “Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition” is calling for out-of-the-box life jacket design entries. However, you only have until the February 1 to submit your idea.
The BoatUS Foundation, along with Underwriters Laboratories and the Personal Floatation Device Manufacturers Association, have teamed up to seek out the newest technologies and design innovations that could rethink a 100-year-old design. “The interest in new, more comfortable designs are always important to waterway users,” said BoatUS Vice President of Boating Safety Chris Edmonston. “While current models of life jackets save lives every day, many are still bulky and uncomfortable, leaving boaters reluctant to wear them. This competition hopes to challenge that mindset.”
Entries that embrace new technologies and non-traditional thinking are being encouraged from individuals or groups, such as high school science clubs, collegiate design programs or even boat and fishing clubs. There are no rules regarding types of materials to be used or whether the design meets any current US standards. “This is the time to be unconventional in your thinking about what a life jacket has to look or feel like,” added Edmonston,
The entries will be judged based on four criteria: wearability, reliability, cost and innovation. "Wearability" relates to the level of comfort. "Reliability" will take into account the chances for potential failure, while "cost" will look at the affordability of the design. "Innovation" will take into account originality or the employment of new technologies.
In early February, video of all entries will be posted online at the BoatUS Foundation's channel at YouTube.com, and the public will be asked to select a group of finalists. The finalist entries will then be reviewed by a special panel of judges convened at the International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Savannah, Georgia, on March 6-9, 2011, and the winner announced. A $5,000 cash award goes to the winning designer.
To enter, video footage of an actual working prototype must be submitted by providing a URL link to the video (no actual prototypes are submitted). The video must clearly demonstrate how the design floats a person in the water. For more information on how to enter and for contest rules, visit www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/lifejacketdesign. You may also contact Chris Edmonston at 703-823-9550 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 703-823-9550 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, x8356.
Trawler Sinks Off of Montauk, NY
The Johanna Lenore, a 76 foot trawler sank yesterday in rough seas about forty nautical miles south of Montauk, NY. The US Coast Guard reports that all four crew members were rescued and airlifted to Point Judith, R.I. where they were in stable condition.
The Johanna Lenore began taking on water earlier and when her pumps couldn't keep up the crew donned survival suite, deployed a life raft and EPIRB. Other vessels in the area tried to assist with additional de-watering pumps. The vessel capsized and sank just after the Coast Guard lifted the crew into their helicopter.
Seas at the time were said to be between 10 and 15 feet with winds at 20 kt gusting to 30 kt.
The Johanna Lenore began taking on water earlier and when her pumps couldn't keep up the crew donned survival suite, deployed a life raft and EPIRB. Other vessels in the area tried to assist with additional de-watering pumps. The vessel capsized and sank just after the Coast Guard lifted the crew into their helicopter.
Seas at the time were said to be between 10 and 15 feet with winds at 20 kt gusting to 30 kt.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Icebreaking Fleet is Hard at Work
CLEVELAND - As frigid winter weather continues to assault the nation, U.S. Coast Guardsmen are braving the elements and working hard aboard Great Lakes icebreakers, where they remain ready for maritime emergencies and ready to clear waterways for commerce.
Every year, icebreakers throughout the Great Lakes facilitate the safe transport of cargo with an average total economic value of more than $2 billion.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a request by the shipping industry to extend lock operations at Sault Ste. Marie beyond the scheduled closure date of Jan. 15 to midnight on Jan. 18 due to late season demand for iron ore and coal resulting from improved economic conditions. Coast Guard icebreaker crews will continue to lead the way and clear channels to get those vessels to their destination ports so they can deliver their cargo.
Nine U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers and two Canadian coast guard icebreakers have been engaged in Operations Coal Shovel and Taconite, the two largest domestic ice breaking operations, since early December.
The Coast Guard conducts domestic ice breaking operations for four basic purposes: search and rescue, urgent response to vessels, exigent community service requests, and the facilitation of navigation to meet the reasonable demands of commerce. Exigent community service requests include flood control and opening channels to icebound communities or breaking ice for the ferries that serve them in order to ensure critical supplies of food or heating oil or access to medical assistance is maintained.
Operations Taconite and Coal Shovel ensure the most efficient movement of vessels through the entire Great Lakes region. Based on ice conditions, assets are dedicated to specific areas in coordination with our international partners and commercial ice breaking services.
Every Ninth Coast Guard District icebreaker crew is busy breaking ice and freeing vessels. They are:
Maintaining a 1,500-mile international border with Canada requires special collaboration to keep shared waterways safe, secure and clear. As such, Canadian coast guard ships Samuel Risley and Griffon are working with U.S. crews to accomplish operations Taconite and Coal Shovel.
Every year, icebreakers throughout the Great Lakes facilitate the safe transport of cargo with an average total economic value of more than $2 billion.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a request by the shipping industry to extend lock operations at Sault Ste. Marie beyond the scheduled closure date of Jan. 15 to midnight on Jan. 18 due to late season demand for iron ore and coal resulting from improved economic conditions. Coast Guard icebreaker crews will continue to lead the way and clear channels to get those vessels to their destination ports so they can deliver their cargo.
Nine U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers and two Canadian coast guard icebreakers have been engaged in Operations Coal Shovel and Taconite, the two largest domestic ice breaking operations, since early December.
The Coast Guard conducts domestic ice breaking operations for four basic purposes: search and rescue, urgent response to vessels, exigent community service requests, and the facilitation of navigation to meet the reasonable demands of commerce. Exigent community service requests include flood control and opening channels to icebound communities or breaking ice for the ferries that serve them in order to ensure critical supplies of food or heating oil or access to medical assistance is maintained.
Operations Taconite and Coal Shovel ensure the most efficient movement of vessels through the entire Great Lakes region. Based on ice conditions, assets are dedicated to specific areas in coordination with our international partners and commercial ice breaking services.
Every Ninth Coast Guard District icebreaker crew is busy breaking ice and freeing vessels. They are:
- Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot seagoing buoy tender/icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich.,
- Cutter Biscayne Bay, a 140-foot ice breaking tug homeported in St. Ignace, Mich.,
- Cutter Bristol Bay, a 140-foot ice breaking tug homeported in Detroit,
- Cutter Katmai Bay, a 140-foot ice breaking tug homeported in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.,
- Cutter Mobile Bay, a 140-foot ice breaking tug homeported in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.,
- Cutter Neah Bay, a 140-foot ice breaking tug homeported in Cleveland,
- Cutter Alder, a 225-foot seagoing buoy tender homeported in Duluth, Minn.,
- Cutter Hollyhock, a 225-foot seagoing buoy tender homeported in Port Huron, Mich.
Maintaining a 1,500-mile international border with Canada requires special collaboration to keep shared waterways safe, secure and clear. As such, Canadian coast guard ships Samuel Risley and Griffon are working with U.S. crews to accomplish operations Taconite and Coal Shovel.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Distress Signals
Prior to the start of each boating season it's a good idea to inspect and assess your vessels safety equipment. In regions that make year round boating possible, January 1st is a good time to complete what could become an annual resolution.
Proper distress signals are often overlooked by many recreational boaters and become unusable after their expiration date. Now is a good time to check the date on your flares and replace them with newer, up to date ones. Be certain to dispose of expired flares properly. Don't set them off like they were Fourth of July fireworks.
Red and orange flares are marine and aviation emergency distress signals. They should only be used for emergencies. In the event a flare is used in a non-emergency situation, such as fired by mistake or accident, it should immediately be reported to the US Coast Guard in order to prevent an unnecessary rescue operation.
Title 14 U.S.C. 88 (c) makes it a class D federal felony, punishable up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a monetary fine, for anyone who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed.
Know your Coast Guard recognized distress signals and carry the correct signals on your vessel. The US Coast Guard's web site provides an easy to follow guide: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/vds.asp
Proper distress signals are often overlooked by many recreational boaters and become unusable after their expiration date. Now is a good time to check the date on your flares and replace them with newer, up to date ones. Be certain to dispose of expired flares properly. Don't set them off like they were Fourth of July fireworks.
Red and orange flares are marine and aviation emergency distress signals. They should only be used for emergencies. In the event a flare is used in a non-emergency situation, such as fired by mistake or accident, it should immediately be reported to the US Coast Guard in order to prevent an unnecessary rescue operation.
Title 14 U.S.C. 88 (c) makes it a class D federal felony, punishable up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a monetary fine, for anyone who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed.
Know your Coast Guard recognized distress signals and carry the correct signals on your vessel. The US Coast Guard's web site provides an easy to follow guide: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/vds.asp
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