Groups reach agreement on boating safety efforts

Posted on 29 August 2011

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The U.S. Power Squadrons and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will increase their coordinated safety efforts among America’s recreational boating community under a new agreement that broadens cooperative efforts in vessel examinations, public affairs and education.

The agreement was signed last week at NACON 2011, the auxiliary’s national conference.
 
In 2010, there were nearly 12.5 million registered boats, with many millions more that are not required to be registered by states or the U.S. Coast Guard.  That same year, the Coast Guard recorded more than 4,600 accidents involving 672 deaths, 3,153 injuries and approximately $35.5 million in property damage.
 
The U.S. Power Squadrons and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are committed to changing this reality through increased boater education, vessel examinations and public boater safety awareness events, the groups said in a statement.
 
“With this cooperative effort we will reach out to the growing population of recreational boaters providing needed training and vessel exams to keep them safe on the water,” auxiliary national commodore Jim Vass said in a statement.

Comments

2 Monday, 29 August 2011 20:15

By Rhys Evans

This is a great move that should have been accomplished years ago. Our goals are the same and should never be competitive. We both suffer from dwindling membership and need to unify our efforts. It's difficult enough
to find boaters who want to learn. Working together is a step in the right direction.
Lt/C Rhys Evans AP
Cape Lookout Sail and Power Squadron
New Bern, NC

1 Monday, 29 August 2011 16:15

By john ennis

As things now stand all you need to go boating is a down payment. You don;t have to know anything about proper operation of the craft, rules of the road or boating safety,,just how to fill the gas tank and turn the key in the ignition.Until that changes the accident and death rate will not go down

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