Media Note: Coast Guard spokespersons in your area may be available to discuss the importance of safe boating for the duration of National Safe Boating Week. Please contact us at 216-902-6020 to check on availability. If there is no answer, wait for a voicemail prompt to be forwarded to a 24/7 on-call duty public affairs specialist.
CLEVELAND — As National Safe Boating Week continues, the Coast Guard 9th District is reminding boaters Friday to post a designated lookout, in addition to the operator, every time they get underway.
According to 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, operator inattention was the leading cause of boating accidents
In the maritime environment, many things can directly affect a boaters sight. Environmental factors like inclement weather, sun glare and nightfall can be exacerbated by drug or alcohol use or physical factors.
"Having a designated lookout can be one of the most important things to have aboard while underway," said Mike Baron, the recreational boating safety specialist for the Coast Guard 9th District in Cleveland. "Keeping a proper lookout helps boaters to see potential hazards and take proper action to avoid them before they become a problem."
Breakwalls and piers can be hazardous during times of inclement weather and night. The Coast Guard recommends that boaters reduce their speed and post additional lookouts; especially if they are unfamiliar with the area.
Being a lookout means more than keeping an eye out for your own vessel, it means keeping an eye out for others as well. If it is safe for you to do so, it is ok and encouraged for you to lend a hand to another boater in need of assistance. Doing so can help the Coast Guard, which may be responding to multiple cases at the same time.
The Coast Guard released a new smartphone app for boaters, called United States Coast Guard, Saturday. As the nation's recreational boating safety coordinator, the Coast Guard works to minimize loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and environmental harm. The Coast Guard's boating safety program involves public education programs, regulation of boat design and construction, approval of boating safety equipment, and vessel safety checks for compliance with federal and state safety requirements. The Coast Guard mobile app supports these missions by providing the essential services and information most commonly requested by boaters.