Safety at Sea News
The mission of BoatWatch.org is to maintain a worldwide network of resources to aid mariners that are missing or overdue; have a boat stolen; or to whom urgent messages need to be relayed.
Safety at Sea News
Four Sailors Rescued from Liferaft after SV Raindancer Hit by Whale in South Pacific
Key Communications in An Offshore Rescue by Ann Hoffner Contributing Editor Ocean Navigator Magazine May/June 2023 SHORT TACKS On March 13, on a South Pacific crossing midway between Galapagos and the Marquesas, s/v Raindancer with four people on board sank after an encounter with a whale. It...
New GPS EPIRBS And PLB’s Explained
Safety Tips from the United States Coast Guard Advancements in Boating Rescue Technology - New developments expand the capabilities of EPIRBs and PLBs. By Vincent Daniello February 15, 2012 There is no 911 at sea. The premise that boaters must be self-reliant has guided emergency preparedness at...
Layers of Safety – Man Ejected From Boat
Paul Bernard, USCG Veteran and administrator of the Facebook Group, U.S. Coast Guard Heartland Safe Boating provides important information on boating safety. I often speak of preparedness and safety in layers. The best approach is to employ as many layers as is practicable. As it relates to...
Sailor Survival Story, 6 days in a Life Raft
Don Cavers, the captain of SV Starlight tells his gripping story of shipwreck, survival at sea in a life raft and eventual rescue.
FV Gold Eagle Sinks off Honduras – Crew Rescued After Long Swim by FV Lady Victoria
This morning, February 12, 2022, KPK Radio Service received a radio call from FV LADY VICTORIA and learned the FV GOLD EAGLE sank in position 15-59 N / 080-30 W on the banks near Honduras overnight. The FV LADY VICTORIA is a regular caller on the KPK net and reported they heard yelling and men in...
At Sea, Color Can Save Your Life – Wear Fluorescent Green to be Seen
What is the most visible color on water? Mustang Survival On-Water Visibility Study This video was recently hilighted by Paul Bernard's Facebook Group,U.S. Coast Guard Heartland Safe Boating. Several of the USCG Safety experts made some very important comments for all of us regarding the color of...
Boat Watch Presents “Safety At Sea” Punta Gorda Sailing Club
This summary of the seminar comes from Commodore of the Punta Gorda Sailing Club Bob Simmons: "If you missed the October meeting, you missed a good one. In addition to taking care of regular club business, we had an outstanding presentation by local resident Eddie Tuttle of BoatWatch.org. Boat...
Personal Locator Beacon Alerts USCG to Sinking Vessel South Padre Island, Texas
(This photo depicts just one PLB and not necessarily the one used during this rescue)Coast Guard assists 3 aboard vessel taking on water near South Padre Island, Texas CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard assisted three boaters after their vessel began taking on water near South Padre Island,...
USCG Rescues 4 Clinging to Overturned Boat Overnight Cedar Key Florida
Note From Boatwatch: Please buy an EPIRB, and or a PLB, and register it properly. The Coast Guard recommends mariners have an emergency position indication radio beacon or a personal locator beacon on board their vessel at all time, which gives responders exact, updated locations after...
Do I Need An FCC Ships Radio License Re A MMSI Number?
FCC Station License/MMSI# Requirement by National Marine Electronics Association 846 Ritchie Highway, L4, Severna Park, MD USA 21146410-975-9425 info@nmea.org This notification only applies to US registered or documented vessels. If your vessel is NOT US registered or documented you must apply for...