Coast Guard Urges Boaters To Stay Safe At Sea
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In the aftermath of Friday's deadly boating accident, the U.S. Coast Guard is urging anyone who plans to be out on the water to exercise caution. NY1's Mara Montalbano filed the following report. When the collision of two recreational boats collided in New York Harbor killed a 30-year-old man on Friday, it was a shocking reminder of the dangers of boating season.
Police said the driver of the larger boat was drunk at the wheel. So the U.S. Coast Guard is now urging boaters to stay sober and to use just as much caution as if they were driving a car.
"Statistics show that over the last dozen holiday weekends there were 40 fatalities and half of those were known to have alcohol involved," says Lieutenant Eric Hanson of the Coast Guard.
With no lines, signs, or speed limits posted on the open water, boats are coming and going from all directions. Coast Guard officials say it is important to be aware of one's surroundings and to take standard safety precautions.
"You want to have life jackets for everybody on board. You want to make sure your children are wearing life jackets at all times," says Hanson. "Before you even go out, you want to make sure that your boat is sound, the integrity of the vessel is safe."
Coast Guard officials also suggest having more than one means of communication on board. While everyone has cell phones these days, many boaters at the Great Kills Marina say they will not leave the dock without a ship-to-shore radio, as cell service can be spotty on the open sea or in bad weather.
GPS navigation, flares and depth readers are all useful tools, but many say taking a voluntary boating safety course offered by the Coast Guard can go a long way toward preventing tragedy.
"Most people, they buy boats and they just go out and drive their boat. They have no idea of the passing rules of the water, the signals on a tugboat," says Joe Mezzacappa of Great Kills.
Many boaters tell NY1 that New Yorkers can still have plenty of fun on a boat this summer without even leaving the dock.
"I'm having fun because I'm driving, but the rest are sitting there like this. It's when you're stopped that everyone has the fun," says Michael Forzano of Huguenot.
For more information, visit the Coast Guard's boating safety website at www.uscgboating.org.