Date: May 22, 2008

Contact: 
PA3 Sondra-Kay Kneen
(305) 965-4672

Coast Guard Reminds Memorial Day Boaters to Stay Safe

TAMPA, Fla. - The Memorial Day holiday will bring thousands of boaters to the Tampa Bay area for some fun in the sun.  The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to stay safe, sober and aware while on the water this weekend.

Coast Guard law-enforcement crews will be patrolling, conducting safety checks and watching for people boating while intoxicated or operating in an unsafe manner.  Coast Guard Auxiliary members will be at several boat ramps along the west coast of Florida providing information, answering questions and giving no-penalty vessel safety inspections to any boaters interested.  Auxiliary members will also be doubling their safety patrols in the area.

Boaters should be more aware of their surroundings, including watching the weather and understanding the hazards of boating under the influence of alcohol.  Weather conditions can change instantaneously.  The National Weather Service broadcasts marine weather forecasts regularly.  The forecast can be heard by tuning into channels one through five on VHF marine radios or by checking the NWS website at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.

In addition to monitoring the weather, boaters are reminded of the dangers of drinking while boating.  The marine environment is inherently dangerous and the addition of alcohol to the mix can be deadly.  Nearly 30 percent of all recreational boating fatalities can be attributed to alcohol use. 

In addition to decreasing the operator's ability to make good judgments, the consumption of alcohol also negatively affects the ability of passengers to respond in the case of an emergency on the water.  Intoxicated boaters can face both federal and state charges with penalties of up to one year in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.

Florida state laws mandate that boaters 6-years of age and under must wear life-jackets while underway, however, the Coast Guard strongly encourages that ALL boaters wear a life-jacket.

The Coast Guard also recommends that boaters file a float plan with a friend or family member staying ashore.  An example of a float plan can be found at http://floatplan.uscgaux.info/.  Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, Fla., also distributed signs at boat ramps and marinas from Apalachicola Bay, Fla., to Hernando Beach, Fla., reminding boaters of the specifics of a float plan.  Click here to view an example of the sign.

The Coast Guard encourages that boaters have a working VHF radio and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on board and that they observe safety and security zones while on the water this Memorial Day weekend.

Additional information on safe and secure boating practices can be found at the Coast Guard's Office of Boating safety page at http://www.uscgboating.org/ or by calling (800) 368-5647.