Coast Guard Ramps up Safety Patrols to Support Operation Dry Water

From US Coast Guard: Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary units throughout the Bay Area are scheduled to increase boating safety patrols in an intensified nationwide effort Friday through Sunday in support of Operation Dry Water to enforce Boating Under the Influence laws.

Operation Dry Water is aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of operating under the influence in an effort to decrease the number of recreational boating accidents and deaths.

Boating under the influence, or boating while intoxicated, is just as deadly as drinking and driving. It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in every state. Penalties for violating BUI/BWI laws can include large fines, suspension or revocation of boat operator privileges and jail terms.

Boaters can expect increased presence from the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary who will be paying particular attention to recreational boating safety this weekend via dockside safety equipment inspections and boating safety boardings on the water to raise awareness.

"Throughout the holiday weekend, the Coast Guard will be working with local agencies on Operation Dry Water, a nationwide initiative to promote education and awareness on boater safety including responsible use of alcohol and proper use of life jackets," said Lt. Cmdr. Walter Daniel, Chief of Enforcement at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco. "We would like to thank the local law enforcement partners for their support in this initiative. With the continued support of our partner agencies and Bay Area boaters, we are working together to keep our waterways safe."

California has the third largest number of recreational boats in the country and has the second highest number of boating-related accidents and deaths according to the Coast Guard’s 2016 statistics. (http://uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.php)

Nationwide, 624 people died in boating and paddling accidents in 2016. Approximately 80 percent drown, and more than 83 percent of those people were not wearing a life jacket. Alcohol use is the lead contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, accounting for nearly 15 percent of all reported fatalities.

Some other tips to help boaters have a safe and pleasant weekend on the water include:

* Make sure a friend or relative knows your float plan. A float plan states where you are going and how many people are on board your vessel. It also gives a vessel description, details your destination and what time you expect to arrive there. If you are delayed for some reason, make sure you let someone know.
* Make certain to check the local weather prior to departing the dock. Weather can change very rapidly and you should keep a watchful eye on the forecasted conditions.
* Have nautical charts of the area you are boating in, a global positioning device and a reliable means of communication on board your vessel. VHF-radio is the best method of communication while on the water. Although cell phones are a good backup, they can be unreliable due to gaps in coverage area and the inevitable dead battery.
* Wear your life jacket! More than 83 percent of boaters who drown were not wearing their life jackets. In an emergency there might not be enough time to put one on, so wearing one at all times may save your life.

Further boating safety information can be found online at the following:
Coast Guard Pacific Southwest's Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/USCoastGuardPacificSouthwest
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: http://www.cgaux.org/
Vessel Safety Checks: http://www.vesselsafetycheck.org/
Coast Guard Boating Safety page: http://www.uscgboating.org/
National Safe Boating Council: http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/

Image courtesy of USCG