ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 27, 2011 - It's not a Thanksgiving holiday traffic jam. However, for America's boaters, it may as well be. Boat Owners Association of The United States says the July 4th holiday is expected to bring record numbers of boaters to the water, jamming lakes, rivers and bays with thousands of revelers celebrating America's birthday at evening fireworks displays. With nightfall, it also means a heightened awareness with boating safety.
The 24-hour BoatUS on-the-water dispatch centers and TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist towing fleets are expected to receive a total of nearly 3,000 requests for assistance from boaters during the holiday weekend, with a big spike likely to occur each evening - timed with conclusion of waterfront fireworks shows as boats pull anchor en masse and head home. While this number is down from previous years due to economic conditions, it still means a lot of boaters will need jump starts, tows home or ungrounding help.
"For many, this will be the only time of year they operate their boat in the dark," said BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston. "As you're about to pull the hook to leave after fireworks show ends, boaters should understand that the risk of having an accident significantly increases after the sun goes down."
Boating at night requires a heightened awareness of the unique hazards a boat may encounter. Obstructions from something as simple as a buoy or even a floating log, to unlighted piers or sandbars, are much more difficult to see. Always post an extra crewmate or guest as a secondary lookout.
Vessel navigation lights are designed to not only help others understand a boat's direction of travel or how fast it is going, but also to help determine what type of vessel it is and what activity it is doing, such as towing a barge. However, it may take a while to get a clear picture of these factors, so be especially vigilant in your approach until you are certain of their intentions. This is why it's so important to ensure your own navigation lights are in proper working order as well.
"The best things you can do to ensure a safe cruise at night are to ensure you have a good lookout, operate at a speed that allows you to react appropriately, have your life jacket on or readily available, and leave the alcohol ashore - it is a leading contributor to accidents after dark," added Edmonston.
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Recreational boating fatalities reach record low
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday its official 2010 recreational boating statistics and noted that total fatalities fell to a record low of 672.
The 2010 record is four fatalities less than the previous low in 2004, and is 26 deaths lower than the average number for the past 10 years. While the drop in fatalities is a positive sign, the Coast Guard cautions that the number still represents nearly two deaths per day and remains resolute in its commitment to preventing boating fatalities.
“We’re glad to see the numbers decline,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, director of Prevention Policy for the U.S. Coast Guard. “I am optimistic that the number of deaths and injuries can continue to be reduced further because of the strong commitment to safe boating from our partners in the states, non-government advocacy groups, and the boating industry.”
Total reported accidents were 4,604 in 2010, down from 4,730 in 2009, while injuries totaled 3,153, down from 3,358. Property damage was estimated at $35 million.
The top five primary contributing factors in accidents are operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol use. Alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and it was listed as the leading factor in 19% of the deaths.
Statistics indicate a clear link between safety and boating education that boaters who have taken a boating safety course are less likely to be involved in an accident. In addition, almost three-quarters of all fatal boating accident victims drowned; and of those, roughly 90 percent were not reported as wearing a life jacket.
“Tragically, so many of these deaths are needless and could have been prevented had boaters taken some simple steps such as taking a boating safety course, not drinking and boating, and always wearing a life jacket,” said Cook.
To view all the 2010 recreational boating safety statistics, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx. For more information on boating responsibly, go to http://www.uscgboating.org.
The 2010 record is four fatalities less than the previous low in 2004, and is 26 deaths lower than the average number for the past 10 years. While the drop in fatalities is a positive sign, the Coast Guard cautions that the number still represents nearly two deaths per day and remains resolute in its commitment to preventing boating fatalities.
“We’re glad to see the numbers decline,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, director of Prevention Policy for the U.S. Coast Guard. “I am optimistic that the number of deaths and injuries can continue to be reduced further because of the strong commitment to safe boating from our partners in the states, non-government advocacy groups, and the boating industry.”
Total reported accidents were 4,604 in 2010, down from 4,730 in 2009, while injuries totaled 3,153, down from 3,358. Property damage was estimated at $35 million.
The top five primary contributing factors in accidents are operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol use. Alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and it was listed as the leading factor in 19% of the deaths.
Statistics indicate a clear link between safety and boating education that boaters who have taken a boating safety course are less likely to be involved in an accident. In addition, almost three-quarters of all fatal boating accident victims drowned; and of those, roughly 90 percent were not reported as wearing a life jacket.
“Tragically, so many of these deaths are needless and could have been prevented had boaters taken some simple steps such as taking a boating safety course, not drinking and boating, and always wearing a life jacket,” said Cook.
To view all the 2010 recreational boating safety statistics, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx. For more information on boating responsibly, go to http://www.uscgboating.org.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Five easy ways to stay safe on the water
NEW YORK – Coast Guard surface and air crews searched the Great Peconic Bay area of Long Island, N.Y., throughout the night for a possible missing kite surfer. The search was suspended this morning after Coast Guard released photos of the recovered gear were shown on the local news and the owner called to say he was safe.
“In Long Island Sound we often encounter abandoned and adrift boats,” said Cmdr. Eric Doucette, Chief of Response at Sector Long Island Sound, Conn. “While this case ended well for the owner, sometimes they can end tragically. If there is even a chance a person is in the water, we begin search and rescue efforts; however by following a few guidelines we can drastically increase our efforts to get to you in time.”
Here are five easy ways to stay safe on the water:
1. Wear a lifejacket: properly wearing a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket is the single easiest way to improve your survival chances after an accident. This goes for any form of water sports, from kayaking to sailing.
2. File a float plan: filing this simply consists of telling someone where you are going and when you plan to return, so in the event you don’t come back, rescuers have a better idea of where to look for you.
3. Mark your gear: this is often overlooked by new boaters, but if you use indelible ink to put down an address and phone number on paddles, sails, canoe and kayak hulls, we can call you the minute we find the gear to see if your items are lost or if you are actually in trouble.
4. Bring safety equipment with you: bringing flares, a sound-producing device, signaling mirror, marine band radio or cell phone can all help you get our attention and get to you as fast as possible. It’s not hard to imagine that when winds pick up, it may not be easy to hear your voice, and that’s when the flares or sound-producing device can help immensely.
5. Take a boating safety course: Often boaters and paddle sport enthusiasts get excited to get their new vessel on the water before they’ve learned how to properly use it and avoid dangerous situations. Free boating classes are provided by the Coast Guard Auxiliary; for a calendar of events in your area, go to: www.d1south.org
A great safe boating website is: www.uscgboating.org
Don’t forget, National Safe Boating Week is May 21 – 27. www.safeboatingcouncil.org
“In Long Island Sound we often encounter abandoned and adrift boats,” said Cmdr. Eric Doucette, Chief of Response at Sector Long Island Sound, Conn. “While this case ended well for the owner, sometimes they can end tragically. If there is even a chance a person is in the water, we begin search and rescue efforts; however by following a few guidelines we can drastically increase our efforts to get to you in time.”
Here are five easy ways to stay safe on the water:
1. Wear a lifejacket: properly wearing a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket is the single easiest way to improve your survival chances after an accident. This goes for any form of water sports, from kayaking to sailing.
2. File a float plan: filing this simply consists of telling someone where you are going and when you plan to return, so in the event you don’t come back, rescuers have a better idea of where to look for you.
3. Mark your gear: this is often overlooked by new boaters, but if you use indelible ink to put down an address and phone number on paddles, sails, canoe and kayak hulls, we can call you the minute we find the gear to see if your items are lost or if you are actually in trouble.
4. Bring safety equipment with you: bringing flares, a sound-producing device, signaling mirror, marine band radio or cell phone can all help you get our attention and get to you as fast as possible. It’s not hard to imagine that when winds pick up, it may not be easy to hear your voice, and that’s when the flares or sound-producing device can help immensely.
5. Take a boating safety course: Often boaters and paddle sport enthusiasts get excited to get their new vessel on the water before they’ve learned how to properly use it and avoid dangerous situations. Free boating classes are provided by the Coast Guard Auxiliary; for a calendar of events in your area, go to: www.d1south.org
A great safe boating website is: www.uscgboating.org
Don’t forget, National Safe Boating Week is May 21 – 27. www.safeboatingcouncil.org
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Clean Vessel Act Grants Help Boaters Keep Waters Clean
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that more than $11.7 million will be awarded to 25 states under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program in 2011. The first Clean Vessel Act awards were made in 1993 and since then the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program has awarded more than $187 million to States for projects funding construction, replacement, renovation, and maintenance of facilities that assist recreational boaters in properly disposing of on-board septic waste. The program also provides information and education on the importance, benefits, and availability of pumpouts.
“Clean Vessel Act grants have a substantial economic impact on local communities and help support recreational boating operations that depend on clean water for a healthy environment,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould. “I am pleased that these efforts are put in place to benefit wildlife, sport fishing, recreational boating, and communities across America.”
Funds for the CVA program are provided annually from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust fund. These funds are derived through the collection of fishing tackle manufacturer excise taxes and boat and fishing import duties as well as motorboat and small engine fuel taxes. The program supports the user-pay, user-benefit cycle that has led to the successes of the Sport Fish Restoration programs. States apply for CVA funding and their partners provide matching funds to complete projects. Sub-grantees often include local municipalities and private marinas.
In addition to traditional on-dock pumpouts, projects include pumpout boats that travel in designated harbors to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient. Some States also have begun installing floating restrooms in areas where boaters congregate and no restrooms are available.
"The Clean Vessel Act is a critical tool in helping the states to maintain clean and healthy waters for people and wildlife alike," said Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Assistant Director Hannibal Bolton. "The pumpouts built through these funds ensure that clean drinking water, sustainable ecosystems, and healthy recreational areas will be accessible to both the American people and America’s Great Outdoors."
For more information on the 2011 grant awards made today visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA2011Funding.pdf.
For more information on the CVA program visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA.htm
“Clean Vessel Act grants have a substantial economic impact on local communities and help support recreational boating operations that depend on clean water for a healthy environment,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould. “I am pleased that these efforts are put in place to benefit wildlife, sport fishing, recreational boating, and communities across America.”
Funds for the CVA program are provided annually from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust fund. These funds are derived through the collection of fishing tackle manufacturer excise taxes and boat and fishing import duties as well as motorboat and small engine fuel taxes. The program supports the user-pay, user-benefit cycle that has led to the successes of the Sport Fish Restoration programs. States apply for CVA funding and their partners provide matching funds to complete projects. Sub-grantees often include local municipalities and private marinas.
In addition to traditional on-dock pumpouts, projects include pumpout boats that travel in designated harbors to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient. Some States also have begun installing floating restrooms in areas where boaters congregate and no restrooms are available.
"The Clean Vessel Act is a critical tool in helping the states to maintain clean and healthy waters for people and wildlife alike," said Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Assistant Director Hannibal Bolton. "The pumpouts built through these funds ensure that clean drinking water, sustainable ecosystems, and healthy recreational areas will be accessible to both the American people and America’s Great Outdoors."
For more information on the 2011 grant awards made today visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA2011Funding.pdf.
For more information on the CVA program visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA.htm
Monday, April 4, 2011
Boaters Need To Be Heard on New EPA Requirements
BoatUS Urges Boaters To Be Heard on New EPA Requirements
Deadline for Public Comments is June 2
Now the Agency is asking boaters to speak up about how they operate and maintain their boat as it moves forward developing and eventually implementing those management practices. The deadline for comments is June 2.“Management Practices would be methods, techniques, or tools which could mitigate any environmental impact of normal discharges into our waters,” said BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs Margaret Podlich. “They will vary according to boat type and what that vessel could potentially discharge. For example, the EPA is looking at engine maintenance and could create a management practice that requires the use of a bilge sock to soak up oil in your engine compartment. Of course, this couldn’t apply to a rowboat. But it’s important to understand they are looking at all recreational watercraft.”
Continued Podlich, “BoatUS has been working with boaters for years to help them understand how to minimize their impact while enjoying the water. We know that boaters are strong, clean boating advocates, and we firmly believe that any new mandatory management practices must be based in science, and should be practical, realistic, and economical. That’s why we need boaters to speak out now.”
To hear boater’s concerns and suggestions, the EPA has set up two ways to communicate:
1. Boaters can be heard at the agency’s alternative weekly online webinars that started March 21 and end April 25. To find out the dates and to register for these online listening sessions go to:
2. Boaters can also email the EPA directly at CleanBoatingAct-HQ@EPA.GOV up until June 2.
The EPA is looking at several broad categories of vessel discharges including the use of anti-fouling paints and zincs, grey water (from showers and sinks), bilge water (with concern about oil and grease, which is already illegal to discharge), the use of cleaning products, disposal of garbage and fishing waste, and the transport of invasive species.
The Clean Boating Act law requires the EPA to consider many factors when developing these management practices, including the type of the discharge and its environmental affect, any effects on operation or safety, economic costs, international standards, and applicability to state or federal law.
The Agency also held a listening session in Annapolis, MD, which BoatUS attended. “The EPA shared with us that they expect to use some of the more common clean boating techniques already found in some areas,” said Podlich. “However, no specific proposal or required action was presented, so more details are elusive. As a result, boaters need to stay tuned to what EPA is planning and make their voices heard in these listening sessions.”
For more information on the Clean Boating Act of 2008, go to www.BoatUS.com/gov/cba.
For clean boating tips and techniques visit the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water's clean boating web page at BoatUS.com/foundation/cleanwater.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Life Jacket Designs Break New Ground
ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 28, 2011 - If you think that life jackets have to be bulky, uncomfortable or hot to wear, the winners of the "Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition" will prove you wrong. The BoatUS Foundation and Underwriter's Laboratory recently announced the winners of their 2011 competition, and you may be surprised at how much the inventive designs break new ground.
The Competition, which began last year and was open to anyone, asked a simple question: Can you build a better life jacket? Of the original 35 entries (some from as far away as Malaysia), 15 semi-finalists were selected and short videos of the designs were posted online for the public to pick their favorites, with the focus on choosing life jackets that were more innovative, wearable, affordable, reliable and practical. In addition, expert judges voted for their favorite designs at the recent International Boating and Water Safety Summit held in Savannah, GA. The combined votes resulted in today's three winners:
#1 The See-Tee by Float-Tech Inc.
The first place winner is the "See-Tee", a design from Jeff Betz of the Troy, NY based Float-Tech Inc. This isn't Betz's first life jacket innovation - his company started as the result of a graduate school project that designed the firm's first non-traditional inflatable life jacket based on a foul weather coat.
The Sea-Tee is a standard rash-guard shirt that many water sports enthusiasts are used to wearing - but with a twist. It has a built-in inflatable bladder similar to most inflatable life jackets. Betz is careful not to call this a life jacket however, and simply refers to it as a buoyancy aid.
Said Betz: "The Sea-Tee is a thousand times better than traditional life jackets for many of the activities people engage in on the water. Most life jackets are designed to standards that are meant for offshore conditions, but most boaters are on calm inland waters. Jackets built to 100 percent of the current standards - but not worn, are zero percent effective. So with the Sea-Tee you can wear essentially the same shirt you're used to wearing on the water, and have the back-up of a buoyancy aid in case of an emergency."
The company received the $5,000 first place prize, awarded by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), for their efforts. "UL is honored to have been a part of the Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition," said UL's Joseph Waters. "The ability to provide support for such an effort is consistent with our mission to promote public safety in our homes, our communities, and around the world. We look forward to seeing what the future holds when today's innovation in PFDs becomes tomorrow's reality."
#2 The Directors Bureau's Float Coat
Second place went to the Directors Bureau, a Los Angeles based creative consulting company that works in the film industry. Their "Float Coat" is a windbreaker with added floatation. The Bureau, represented by Sebastian Pardo, said his firm had never delved into this type of project before. Pardo stated that their guiding strategy was to design something that, "should always work, shouldn't require action by the person wearing the jacket, and should be fashionable."
While not a unique design, judges felt that the distinctive placement of the floatation, which included never-before-seen hollow "microspheres," or small spherical particles, along with fashionable styling, made it stand out. The firm took home a $1,000 prize, graciously provided by the National Safe Boating Council.
#3 St. Thomas More High School's Aqua Buoy
Third place went to the design team of high school seniors Josh Jankowski and Nathan Karabon of St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, WI. Their design, which marries traditional foam floatation in a modern inflatable configuration, is a result of their school's Pathway to Engineering curriculum that is part of the national "Project Lead the Way" program. Jankowski and Karabon's interest in designing a life jacket came from learning about the competition while doing research as part of their senior research project.
As the youngest participants in the competition, the duo surveyed boaters and researched designs to come up with their prototype. Jankowski and Karabon took home a $500 prize awarded by the BoatUS Foundation.
The winners can be seen at BoatUS.com/foundation/winners. Plans for the next round of the design competition are already underway and will be announced in 2012.
The Competition, which began last year and was open to anyone, asked a simple question: Can you build a better life jacket? Of the original 35 entries (some from as far away as Malaysia), 15 semi-finalists were selected and short videos of the designs were posted online for the public to pick their favorites, with the focus on choosing life jackets that were more innovative, wearable, affordable, reliable and practical. In addition, expert judges voted for their favorite designs at the recent International Boating and Water Safety Summit held in Savannah, GA. The combined votes resulted in today's three winners:
#1 The See-Tee by Float-Tech Inc.
The first place winner is the "See-Tee", a design from Jeff Betz of the Troy, NY based Float-Tech Inc. This isn't Betz's first life jacket innovation - his company started as the result of a graduate school project that designed the firm's first non-traditional inflatable life jacket based on a foul weather coat.
The Sea-Tee is a standard rash-guard shirt that many water sports enthusiasts are used to wearing - but with a twist. It has a built-in inflatable bladder similar to most inflatable life jackets. Betz is careful not to call this a life jacket however, and simply refers to it as a buoyancy aid.
Said Betz: "The Sea-Tee is a thousand times better than traditional life jackets for many of the activities people engage in on the water. Most life jackets are designed to standards that are meant for offshore conditions, but most boaters are on calm inland waters. Jackets built to 100 percent of the current standards - but not worn, are zero percent effective. So with the Sea-Tee you can wear essentially the same shirt you're used to wearing on the water, and have the back-up of a buoyancy aid in case of an emergency."
The company received the $5,000 first place prize, awarded by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), for their efforts. "UL is honored to have been a part of the Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition," said UL's Joseph Waters. "The ability to provide support for such an effort is consistent with our mission to promote public safety in our homes, our communities, and around the world. We look forward to seeing what the future holds when today's innovation in PFDs becomes tomorrow's reality."
#2 The Directors Bureau's Float Coat
Second place went to the Directors Bureau, a Los Angeles based creative consulting company that works in the film industry. Their "Float Coat" is a windbreaker with added floatation. The Bureau, represented by Sebastian Pardo, said his firm had never delved into this type of project before. Pardo stated that their guiding strategy was to design something that, "should always work, shouldn't require action by the person wearing the jacket, and should be fashionable."
While not a unique design, judges felt that the distinctive placement of the floatation, which included never-before-seen hollow "microspheres," or small spherical particles, along with fashionable styling, made it stand out. The firm took home a $1,000 prize, graciously provided by the National Safe Boating Council.
#3 St. Thomas More High School's Aqua Buoy
Third place went to the design team of high school seniors Josh Jankowski and Nathan Karabon of St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, WI. Their design, which marries traditional foam floatation in a modern inflatable configuration, is a result of their school's Pathway to Engineering curriculum that is part of the national "Project Lead the Way" program. Jankowski and Karabon's interest in designing a life jacket came from learning about the competition while doing research as part of their senior research project.
As the youngest participants in the competition, the duo surveyed boaters and researched designs to come up with their prototype. Jankowski and Karabon took home a $500 prize awarded by the BoatUS Foundation.
The winners can be seen at BoatUS.com/foundation/winners. Plans for the next round of the design competition are already underway and will be announced in 2012.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Clean Boating Act
On July 29, 2008, Congress passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (CBA). This law provides that recreational vessels shall not be subject to the requirement to obtain a CWA permit to authorize discharges incidental to their normal operation. It instead directs EPA to evaluate recreational vessel discharges, to develop appropriate management practices for the discharges, and to promulgate performance standards for those management practices. The CBA then directs the USCG to promulgate regulations for the use of the management practices developed by EPA; finally, the law requires recreational boater compliance with such practices.
Read the law: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm
Read the law: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)