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Free Vessel Safety Checks
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons® volunteer to help boaters stay safe: Once again this boating season, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons have teamed up to offer free Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) to all interested boaters.
Qualified Vessel Examiners inspect boats to ensure that required safety equipment is present and in functional condition. The examiners also check for any basic mechanical problems, make sure registration and documentation are current, and offer information on a variety boating safety issues.
The VSC is performed free of charge and without any legal obligations or penalties. If a potential problem or violation is discovered, the Examiner will give the boater options and information for correcting it.
“The U.S. Coast Guard fully supports the Auxiliary and Power Squadrons in their implementation of the Vessel Safety Check program,” commented Rear Admiral Jeffrey J. Hathaway, Director of Operations Policy, U.S. Coast Guard. “The Vessel Safety Check is a great way to expand general safe boating awareness and helps reduce the number of rescues we have to perform.”
Vessel Safety Checks are available on coastal waters, lakes, and rivers across the country. The volunteer examiners are committed to making the waterways safer and will make themselves available to schedule a time and place for the VSC that is convenient for the boater. Vessel Safety Checks can be performed on any kind of watercraft -- from kayaks, canoes, personal watercraft, to large cabin cruisers and sailboats.
Boaters that have received VSCs report that the check opened their eyes to potential safety hazards that they would have never thought of on their own. The Vessel Safety Checks enable boaters to take command of their own boating safety. For more information on Vessel Safety Checks visit www.VesselSafetyCheck.org.
5/10/08
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