Boating

Aug. 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced Wednesday the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Coast Guard regulations governing the stability of domestic passenger vessels.    » read more »

HONOLULU -- The Coast Guard is urging all mariners to practice safe boating and be prepared for the 2008 hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

Hurricane preparedness is a shared responsibility. Government agencies have a responsibility to alert citizens and respond to those in distress.

Hurricane aftermath: Photo by Scott Baldwin (CC)

Those in the path of an approaching storm have an individual responsibility to stay alert, heed warnings and insure the safety of themselves and their families.    » read more »

Boating Statistics 2007 Report indicates Rise in Accidents, Injuries, and Property Damage

May 15, 2008 -- WASHINGTON - Deaths resulting from recreational boating accidents fell in 2007, according to figures released today by the United States Coast Guard. The count dropped from 710 in 2006 to 688 in 2007, the lowest figure since 2004 and third lowest since the Coast Guard began collecting statistics specifically related to recreational boating.    » read more »

Grant Will Help Rutgers Conduct research to Improve Maritime Safety, Ecological Decision-Making in the Region

May 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will award $1.7 million in federal funds to Rutgers University for Mid-Atlantic coastal ocean observation.

Senator Frank Lautenberg    » read more »

May 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON - The office of Investigations and Analysis at Coast Guard Headquarters, here, issued a marine safety alert May 9, advising vessel owners and operators to examine their vessels' watertight integrity and the placement of high-level bilge alarms within their vessels.

The alert was issued in light of information revealed during the ongoing marine board of investigation for the sinking of the Alaska Ranger March 28, that resulted in the loss of five lives, as well as other accident investigations that identified similar issues.    » read more »

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - 2008-04-11 -- The Coast Guard and North Carolina National Park Service rescued two people whose boat capsized in the surf off Coquina Beach, near Oregon Inlet, N.C., this morning.

Coast Guard watch standers at Station Oregon Inlet received a call from a retired Coast Guardsman at 8:25 a.m. stating there were two people in the water at Coquina beach.

High-speed Coast Guard rescue boat: Photo by Coast Guard

Station Oregon Inlet dispatched a beach rescue party to the scene along with rescue crews aboard a 25-foot rescue boat and a 47-foot motor lifeboat.    » read more »

HONOLULU - Coast Guard search and rescue crews ended the search at 5:30 p.m. for a missing kayaker off of Po'ipu Beach, Kauai.

Coast Guard crewmembers from Air Station Barbers Point and Station Kauai searched more than 175 square miles for the 36-year-old male kayaker since initially responding to the call for assistance March 15.

Kauai Fire Department's dispatch command contacted the Coast Guard at 3:25 p.m. March 15 to aid in the search for the missing kayaker after his wife, the man's kayak partner, was safely brought ashore. The couple's kayak was found at Po'ipu Beach.    » read more »

BOSTON - The Coast Guard aided a scallop boat crew today when their boat lost steering ability in frigid waters about 15 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Faced with 10-15 foot seas, 40-knot gusts and and icing conditions, the crew aboard the Charlotte Jean II radioed Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at about 4 a.m., when their gear failed.

The sector dispatched the Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel, which arrived at about 8:45 a.m., and took the New Bedford, Mass.-based boat in tow.    » read more »

Jan. 26, 2008 -- MIAMI - The Coast Guard is searching for a boater who disappeared from his vessel three miles east of Key Largo, Fla., Saturday afternoon.

Two good Samaritans just off Elliot Key, Fla., located a 25-foot boat with no one aboard heading toward their vessel. They managed to stop the vessel and, after going onboard, located a cellular phone. They called the last number dialed and spoke with a person claiming to be the father of the suspected missing boater, Dan Stonionis, 45.    » read more »

August 28, 2007 -- (ROCKLAND) -- To encourage drivers to stop idling their engines, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) today unveiled plans to participate in the Clean Air Zone program. MaineDOT will place signs that state “Drivers, please stop your engines!” at all Maine State Ferry Service terminals. The action supports the Maine Partners for Cool Communities’ efforts to raise public awareness of the health effects from air pollution.    » read more »

Michigan Secretary Land, boating officials urge watercraft owners to be prepared

May 29, 2007 -- To maximize the enjoyment of their boats, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and boating industry representatives are encouraging watercraft owners to think safety first when on the water.    » read more »