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
Stop what you are doing and read this! It could save your life.
By Paul Barnard USCG A local boater lost his life yesterday and two more are lucky to be alive. I am still gathering details, but I know enough about that case and so many more to state this with authority. There are three things you MUST do immediately when you get that "OH BLEEP" feeling while...
AIS/DSC “MOB1” Discussion
This is a review of what may have failed to activate an Ocean Signal MOB AIS/DSC device, resulting in the tragic loss of BRITT TAYLOR, 52, on passage from Puerto Rico to Annapolis, Maryland. The captain of the S/V SMALL WORLD IV, TONY NEWLING WARD, activated his EPIRB when he awakened at 0230 hrs...
USCG and Widow of Missing Kayaker Team Up on Boating Safety
Paul Bernard, USCG Veteran and administrator of the Facebook Group, U.S. Coast Guard Heartland Safe Boating provides important information on boating safety. "This past week I went to Destin to work with a singularly incredible woman, Mrs. Judy Schink. In February her husband went for a quick...
A Story of Survival and Safety Tips by A Coast Guard Veteran
Lessons to Take Away Form This Survival Story Story and Interview by Paul Bernard, USCG *Operate with a layered safety strategy. *Fully plan and prepare for every trip, no matter how quick you think it may be. *Always file a float plan with a picture of the boat. *If you boat on or near...
Small Boat Safety – USCG Rescues Stranded Boaters Texas
Coast Guard locates overdue boaters in Baffin Bay, Texas Editors' Note: Click on image to download . CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard located two overdue boaters in Baffin Bay, Texas, Saturday. Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders received a report from the Kleberg...
Dinghy Security, Lock It Or Lose It!
Previously published in the Caribbean Compass October 2017 and recently in the Facebook group Caribbean Navigator by Ken GoodingsMost everyone in the Caribbean cruising community knows someone who has suffered the theft of a dinghy and outboard motor. Even when you’re insured against such loss,...
Sailor Andrew Baillie rescued by Cable Ship “Dependable” 400 miles off Mexico
S/V "CATAMARAN 2" Captain Rescued by Cable Ship (CS) DEPENDABLE Using VHF DSC Radio. Boatwatch.org would like to thank the Master and Crew of the CS Dependable for their professional and kind care of sailor Andrew Baille. Also, the dedicated personnel at RCC Alameda and JRCC Honolulu for their...
USCG New Regulation re Kill Switches for Boats less than 26 feet
WASHINGTON -- Operators of recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length will be required to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated ECOS link (ECOSL) as of April 1, 2021, as the U.S. Coast Guard implements a law passed by Congress. The ECOS and ECOSL prevent runaway vessels and the...
USCG Rescues Sailor in Sinking SV 120 NM East of Palm Coast, Florida
UPDATE: March 23, 2021 From the Rescued Sailor In his own words: "thank you USCG & Garmin - for saving my life ++ Respect +++" UPDATE From the USCG March 7, 2021 - 1:00 pm JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew rescued a 65-year-old man,...
Do I Really Need An HF SSB Radio?
By Steven Bowden, former owner of SeaTech Systems. Every day in my former business I answered the same question: Do I really need a High Frequency (HF) Single Sideband (SSB) radio for long range cruising? Why not just use a satellite phone or satellite hotspot? Why do most long range cruisers...