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Vessel Examinations
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Accident
statistics indicate that approximately 80% of boating accidents and
fatalities involve boats without a current Vessel Safety Check
The
mission of the Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety program is to
minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage and negative
environmental impact associated with the use of recreational boats,
through preventive means. The VSC program supports one of the
program' s key goals: To improve the demonstrated knowledge, skills,
abilities and behaviors of boaters. The VSC program helps to achieve
voluntary compliance with federal, state and local recreational boating
safety laws, particularly regarding the carriage of safety equipment. It
also heightens the boaters' awareness of safety issues through one-on-one
contact by volunteer vessel examiners.
What
is a Vessel Safety Check?
It is
a free check of a vessel’s equipment for compliance with
federal, state and local safety requirements. Some of the items
checked are:
-
Proper
Display of Numbers
-
Registration/Documentation
-
Life
Jackets
-
Visual
Distress Signals
-
Fire
Extinguishers
-
Ventilation
-
Backfire
Flame Control
-
Sound
Producing Devices
-
Navigation
Lights
-
State
& Local Requirements
-
Overall
Vessel Condition
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Information Sharing During The VSC
During the Vessel Safety
Check, the vessel examiner has an opportunity to discuss with a
fellow boater the purpose of the marine safety equipment,
clarify various federal, state, and local regulations, review
local boating conditions, to answer any boating related safety
questions and encourage additional boater education. Some of the
topics are:
- Accident Reporting
- Charts and Aids
- Survival Tips
- Fueling/Fuel Management
- Float Plans
- Weather and Sea
Conditions
-
Safe
Boating Classes
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Benefits
of a Vessel Safety Check
Vessel Safety Check can
identify Safety and money saving opportunities by:
-
Preventing
citations through
- Meeting federal, state
and local
- Equipment requirements
- Identifying educational
and
- Equipment related
possible
- Boating insurance
discounts
-
Increasing
awareness of safety
- Practices to avoid
accidents and
- Costly breakdowns.
A
Vessel Safety Check can reduce accidents and injuries by
educating the boater regarding the value of marine safety
equipment and other safety practices on the water.
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