Coast Guard Auxiliary and Active Duty Join Efforts for National Safe Boating Week

By Joseph Giannattasio, U.S.C.G. Public Affairs
CAPE MAY– Local Coast Guard Auxiliary Units and Coast Guard Small Boat Crews jointly celebrated National Safe Boating Week 2010 by conducting complimentary vessel safety checks of recreational boats at local marinas within Cape May County. LT Scott Murphy, Commanding Officer of Station Cape May, NJ; BM1 Dayna Schock, Station Smalls Coordinator at Townsends Inlet / Station Cape May Operations Officer and Auxiliarist Bruce Long, DCAPT (east) developed and implemented Auxiliary Vessel Examiners and active duty Guardians to conduct safety checks over two weekends in May to actively promote Boating Safety within the community.
Onboard two Coast Guard 25-ft. Response Boats-Small (RB-S) and an Auxiliary boat, Auxiliarists and Active Duty Guardians visited over 19 local marinas and several public boat ramps in their area to introduce themselves by conducting free Vessel Safety Checks and discussing the benefits of wearing a Personal Flotation Device in coordination with the event. The Vessel Examiner teams also awarded and installed complimentary aluminum 2′ X 2′ signs at marinas, fuel docks, and boat ramps; the signs promote wearing flotation devices to the public. Initiated by Auxiliarist Bruce Long of Del Haven, the signs were designed by local Auxiliarists and paid for by participating Coast Guard Auxiliary Units in the area.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the Coast Guard, operating both their own vessels and on Coast Guard assets in all missions of the Coast Guard except military and direct law enforcement. The Auxiliary, which was created by Congress in 1939 currently, has over 30,000 members.
Overall, Coast Guard crews and 14 Auxiliary Vessel Examiners conducted 86 Vessel Safety Checks and installed 30 safety signs over two weekends in May. What better way to support boating safety and the Coast Guard by meeting with boaters and the public to discuss recreational boating programs and educational opportunities offered by the Auxiliary! It was a very successful promotion of National Safe Boating Week and an effective team effort from a dedicated group of local Auxiliarists and Active Duty Coasties in Cape May County.