Prepare To Be Boarded
Know what to expect when your boat is stopped by the Coast Guard.
by Joseph J. Carro, BMC, USCG Ret., Program Analyst, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Boating
January 30, 2008
T
he U.S. Coast Guard is a multi-mission agency. While our legacy mission of rescuing lives
at sea remains a priority, the enforcement of maritime laws and homeland security has become the
Coast Guard's newest focus of concern. The Coast Guard, in addition to the thousands of boardings
conducted each year by state and local maritime enforcement agencies, conducts nearly 70,000
boardings a year in its multiple roles of enforcing maritime laws, conducting search and rescue
operations, promoting boating safety, preventing damage to marine environments, and assisting in
the nation's border security. The greater amount of time any boater spends on the water, the more
likely he or she will have the pleasure of a Coast Guard boarding. The spectacle of flashing blue
lights and a Coast Guard vessel coming up alongside your boat, however, is no reason to panic.
Most often, the decision to board is based on the activity, the location, and, in some
circumstances, obvious violations such as operating at night without your navigation lights, or
improper display of registration numbers. In order to help us decide, we usually ask a series of
pre-boarding questions: What was the vessel's last port of call and next port of call? How many
persons are on board? What is the purpose of your voyage?
If we decide to board, consider it an important opportunity to learn something new about
safety equipment and safe boating practices. Typically, a uniformed Coast Guard boarding team of
two to four boarding officers will come aboard, introduce themselves and state the reason for the
boarding. The officer in charge will ask if you have any weapons on board. The boarding team will
then conduct an initial safety inspection to identify any obvious safety hazards and to verify the
general seaworthiness of your vessel.
Board Games: Keep your cool — a Coast Guard boarding is no reason to panic. Consider it an
opportunity to learn about safe boating practices.
At this point, the officer will ask to see the boat's registration or other documentation
and proceed to a more detailed inspection of your vessel's required safety equipment - PFDs, fire
extinguishers, flares, etc. You should know that we check every aspect of each item on our list.
For example, with PFDs - the item most frequently cited for violations - we check to see whether
you have them on board, if they are in good and serviceable condition, Coast Guard-approved,
properly stowed, and are the correct size for the intended wearers. When the boarding is completed,
the officer will provide the operator with a copy of the Boarding Report and any additional
information.
The Coast Guard would like to see all vessels in full compliance, and safely operated. One
way to make sure you're in compliance, or if you're uncertain about the safety requirements for
your vessel, is to schedule a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) - which is offered free of charge by the
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons(r) and state boating agencies. To find out
more about VSCs, log onto www.safetyseal.net. Qualified examiners will come to your vessel and
inspect it for all the required equipment. Those vessels that pass will be issued a VSC decal,
indicating a successful check. Remember, drowning is the No. 1 cause of boating fatalities, and the
most preventable. As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends that you and your passengers always
wear your PFDs.
The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters, "You're in Command. Boat Responsibly!" For more
information, visit
www.USCGboating.org.