MANASSAS, Va. (May 6, 2019) – The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service are working together this National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, 2019, to encourage boating safety. The goal of National Safe Boating Week is to encourage a boating lifestyle that is fun, safe, and enjoyable.
“Safety on the water is everyone’s responsibility,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council and lead organization for the Safe Boating Campaign. “It is important to always wear a life jacket and monitor the weather. In coastal areas, pop-up storms are a common occurrence, and advanced training and planning in boat control during inclement weather are important tools for boating safety.”
The NSBC and NOAA’s National Weather Service have partnered since 2000 to develop and release new public service announcements each year for National Safe Boating Week. This year’s safety messages include: safe boating course and vessel safety check; essential boating gear such as visual distress signals and fire extinguishers; life jackets; boating under the influence; marine forecasts and weather such as thunderstorm safety, hurricane preparedness and cold water; environmental factors; and situational awareness.
The public service announcements and additional boating safety information can be found at www.weather.gov/safety/safeboating-week and www.safeboatingcampaign.com/resources.
“Boaters should always check the weather forecast both before leaving the shore and while on the water as the weather can change quickly,” said Darren Wright, national marine program lead, NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Boaters should not rely on cell phones for communication while on the water, but instead have a VHF marine-band radio for distress calling, ship-to-shore communications, navigation, and to monitor NOAA weather radio broadcasts.”
NSBC and NOAA are collaborating with other boating safety groups and organizations to encourage safe boating on the water throughout the 2019 boating season. The NSBC is proud to be a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, as a part of NOAA’s Weather Ready Nation initiative.
About the National Safe Boating Council
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is a national catalyst for recreational boating safety and organizer of the Safe Boating Campaign, with support from boating safety advocates around the world. The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. For more information about the NSBC and its programs, please visit www.safeboatingcouncil.org.
About NOAA’s National Weather Service
NOAA’s National Weather Service is the official government source for weather forecasts, watches and warnings in the U.S. The National Weather Service’s marine forecasts www.weather.gov/marine provide timely weather information relating to U.S. coastal and offshore waters, the Great Lakes, and the open oceans to ensure the safety of life and protection of property, promote international and interstate commerce by improving the efficiency of marine operations, mitigate environmental impacts and enhance the quality of life for the United States. NOAA’s National Ocean Service provides navigation products, such as nautical charts, that protect lives, strengthen the maritime economy, and position America for the future.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our other social media channels.
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Media Contacts:
Yvonne Pentz, National Safe Boating Council, ypentz@safeboatingcouncil.org, 440-670-1294
Maureen O’Leary, NOAA’s National Weather Service, maureen.oleary@noaa.gov, 301-427-9000