Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign. The mission of ODW is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water. During the 2019 Operation Dry Water weekend, July 5 – 7, more than 7,600 law enforcement officers were on patrol, identifying impaired boaters and removing them from the water.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has announced that registration is open for the fourth annual Marine Law Symposium, “Fire, Explosions and Other Thermal Events,” Jan. 7, 2020, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S.5685/A.4853.A) – or Brianna’s Law – to phase in requirements that all operators of motorized watercraft must complete a state-approved boating safety course. Brianna’s Law is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old Long Island girl who was killed in a 2005 boating accident. The Governor also directed State Parks to launch a boating safety promotional campaign to remind boaters of the new requirement to take a safety course.

Starting Aug. 1, Everglades National Park will require all marine boaters to have completed the park’s Boater Education Program. Over 4,000 boaters have already completed the free online course, which became available in late 2018. The purpose of the program is to educate boaters to the unique features and challenges of the park’s marine waters in order to promote boater safety, protect park resources and enhance visitor enjoyment.

Last week, the Oregon Senate and House passed SB47 – legislation that would require operators of nonmotorized boats to purchase a waterway access permit – sending the measure to Governor Kate Brown who is expected to sign it into law.

It’s important to be a responsible boater and take necessary precautions this Fourth of July holiday, the highest-boating traffic time of the summer. The Safe Boating Campaign, a program of the National Safe Boating Council, reminds boaters of three key tips to prevent a boating accident – always wear a life jacket, never boat under the influence, and use an engine cut-off device.

The law requires boaters to use their emergency cut-off switch.

The Coast Guard has encouraged the public to be safe on the water this Memorial Day weekend. Cold water awareness: Although the air temperature is warm, New England waters are still cold. Ensure you are dressing for the water temperature, not the air temperature.

When constituents talk, Congress listens. Join other leading organizations in recreational boating and fishing to ensure your voice is heard. Make a diffference for your business, members and stakeholders by having a seat at the table and demonstrating your support as we address our industry’s most pressing issues.

The Coast Guard and National Safe Boating Council are reminding recreational boaters of the importance of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons in conjunction with 406Mhz Beacon Awareness Day.

The United States Power Squadrons® (USPS) continues the debut of its third season of safe-boating videos on America’s Boating Channel™ with “SAFETY TIPS FOR PADDLE SPORTS.”

Wyoming lawmakers debate legal limit for boating under influence of alcohol.

The NASBLA Annual Conference is a combination learning conference, annual business meeting, committee meeting, workshop, learning lab and colleague roundtable event for state recreational boating safety professionals and others in the RBS community. Every year, the annual conference provides focused learning sessions, thought-provoking speakers, an expansive expo hall and plenty of networking opportunities.

FLIR Systems, Inc. announced the Raymarine DockSense assisted docking system, an intelligent object recognition and motion sensing assisted docking solution for recreational boating.

Boats under 26 feet will have to include engine cutoff switches, thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Authorization just passed by Congress.

NMMA announced today the launch of a new Boating Safety Awareness Series—boating safety brochures to help educate consumers on important boating safety guidelines.

The IBWSS Media Campaign Contest showcases the outreach efforts of organizations, agencies, and groups who advocate for boating and water safety. Accepting entries through March 1, 2019.

New research from North Carolina State University demonstrates that consumer-grade drones are effective tools for monitoring marine species across multiple sites in the wild.

Boating Safety Dashboards are for use by recreational boating safety (RBS) program managers and other stakeholders to make better informed policy and program decisions by providing ready access to U.S. Coast Guard and state-level RBS data.

Registration is open for #IBWSS19! The International Boating and Water Safety Summit is the premier professional development and networking event for boating and water safety professionals.

The 2018 Operation Dry Water annual report summarized this year’s enforcement, outreach and awareness activity.

The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is the first organization to receive voluntary third-party verification for an on-water powerboating course based on the American National Standard for recreational boating skills.

As part of a U.S. Coast Guard funded grant program, the American Canoe Association created a series of paddling safety infographics.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to announce the regional winners of the Boating Educator of the Year Award.

The 2017 Recreational Boating Statistics, released May 29, 2018, contain statistics on recreational boating accidents and state vessel registration.

Join the Safe Boating Campaign in promoting boating and life jacket safety to boaters around the world. Resources for these events and more available at www.safeboatingcampaign.com/resources.

The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), National Water Safety Congress (NWSC) and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recently announced the International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS) Media Campaign Contest winners.

Mercury Marine announces an exciting new partnership with FELL Marine, a leader in marine wireless technology, to co-develop Mercury-exclusive wireless and IOT connected products that will seamlessly integrate with Mercury’s SmartCraft suite of digital technology (gauges, sensors, monitors, and vessel systems) to make boating easier, safer, and more enjoyable than ever before.

The new “Life Jacket Flotation” video explains buoyancy – the tendency of a body to float or sink in water.

Spring Aboard – Take A Boating Education Course campaign encourages boaters to get educated prior to the kick-off of the boating season. Many education providers offer discounts or other incentives for students during the week of March 18-24, 2018 to enroll in a boating education course.

As part of the ongoing Hazard Simplification Project, the National Weather Service (NWS) is proposing to consolidate Marine hazard messages. In support of this project, NWS is asking for public comment.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association and several of its Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundable partners met with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to highlight the importance of forests to recreations that include boating, fishing and skiing. (SOURCE: Soundings Trade Only Today)

Pennsylvania is changing its rules around wakesurfing and tow boats to allow for innovations such as Volvo Penta’s forward-facing drive. (SOURCE: Soundings Trade Only Today)

There were 518 boating under the influence arrests nationwide during 2017 Operation Dry Water.

More than 40 million Kidde fire extinguishers have been recalled.

New accident response case studies offer general boating best practices for the media to enhance their reporting so that the recreational boating public can learn safer boating practices. Boatbeat also now offers in-depth boating best practices for 20 different recreational boating topics.

Websites lure boaters with the appearance and convenience of an official government website.

Get Connected, the latest initiative from the National Safe Boating Council, encourages boaters to use their engine cut-off device every time they go boating.

Carbon monoxide poses risks for boaters. ABYC President John Adey was interviewed by GMA correspondent Gio Benitez to educate the boating public about the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) and being safe on the water.

United States Power Squadrons® (USPS) anuncia el estreno de la transmisión de su video sobre Revisiones de Seguridad para la Embarcación en la Biblioteca de Recursos Digitales (BRD). (English Translation Available)

Boaters nationwide will be encouraged to “Get Connected” and use their engine cut-off device, more commonly referred to as a “kill switch,” every time they go boating through a series of branded messages and resources as part of the NSBC’s new campaign.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Florida man’s latest appeal in a landmark case involving the seizure and destruction of his floating home.

Register now for the three-day heightened enforcement weekend taking place nationwide June 30 – July 2, 2017.

With possession of small amounts of marijuana now legal in eight states, boaters are asking whether the U.S. Coast Guard, a federal agency, will abide by those state laws. Read more from Boating Magazine.

The annual campaign kicks off the weekend before Memorial Day with National Safe Boating Week and continues throughout the year with family-friendly boating safety events.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) Consumer Protection Department is advising boaters with vessels having a US Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation to be wary of any letter arriving by US mail offering renewal.

IBWSS is the premier event for professional development with increased focus on training, education, meeting, and networking for professionals, volunteers, and anyone involved in boating and water safety.

A new online hub for the media, boating educators, boating accident reporters, public information officers, law enforcement officials, and the general public promises to make the waters safer.

Quite simply, reporters have a huge impact on the promotion of safe boating behaviors.

The U.S. Coast Guard recently launched its new online newsroom, U.S. Coast Guard News, available at http://www.news.uscg.mil.

Do not let the temperature outside fool you. Cold water immersion and hypothermia can occur in water as cool as 70 degrees at any time of the year.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety has released the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program 2017-2021.

The RBS In-Network connects instructors to course providers and credentialing opportunities in recreational boating safety professional programs.

This safety alert reminds all vessel operators to routinely inspect their life jackets to ensure they are suitable for service.

The National Safe Boating Council is embarking on a new initiative to be a resource for survivors of recreational boating accidents.

NOAA’s fleet of weather satellites helped save 240 people last year from potentially life-threatening situations throughout the United States and its surrounding waters.

NASBLA hosted two webinars to assist states in setting up a HIN Validation System.

ISO based standards for Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets) published on December 31, 2015