WILDWOOD – Flotilla 83 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be sponsoring a Vessel Safety Examination and Open House on May 25. This event will be held at the Schooner Island Marina, 5100 Lake Rd, Wildwood, NJ. This event is open to the public. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. The examinations will be performed by Certified Vessel Safety Examiners who are members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is a volunteer, non-military branch of the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is charted by Congress to promote safe Recreational Boating. One of the Auxiliary programs that is available to the public is the Vessel Safety Examination (VSE).
The Vessel Safety Examination (VSE) program provides an opportunity for the recreational boater to meet with a certified member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary to discuss ways to make sure the boater’s vessel has all the safety equipment mandated by local law. In addition, the proper use of the proscribed safety equipment is discussed. The Vessel Examiner (VE) will check for all required safety items on board your boat and if everything is present and in good working order, they will award a decal to affix to your boat. If you wish, they will also gladly explain the reason for the various safety equipment requirements and explain how safety equipment works. Successful completion of the VSE results in the issuance of the VSE decal. The VSE decal attests to the fact that the boat is in compliance with Federal and State requirements.
The Auxiliarists who do these examinations, Vessel Examiners (VE), are specially trained and knowledgeable in the field who are kept informed on the latest legal requirements for boaters. The VSE is not a law enforcement action by the Auxiliary. The goal of the program is to prevent boaters from getting equipment-related citations and to prevent safety-related accidents. These safety checks are meant to be an educational experience. No official report is made to any law enforcement authority.
A Vessel Safety Check is a free, voluntary courtesy examination of your boat (vessel) to verify the presence and condition of the boat safety equipment that is required by State and the Federal regulations. The Vessel Examiner is a trained specialist and is a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. As well as reviewing your boat’s safety equipment, the Examiner may also make other safety related recommendations and discuss certain safety issues that will help to make you a safer boater. Additionally, you will avoid substantial fines should you ever be boarded by the U.S. Coast Guard or other law enforcement representative and found to be in violation. A Vessel Safety Check is performed at your boat − ranging in locations from your boat at its dock, at your local boat ramp to your boat on a trailer in your driveway. A Vessel Safety Check usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending upon the size of your boat.
Vessels passing safety checks are awarded a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Decal that informs the Coast Guard, Harbor Patrol, Marine Police, Sheriff’s Department and other boating law enforcement & safety agencies that your boat was in full compliance with all Federal and State boating laws during a safety check for that year. Best of all, every Vessel Safety Check is 100% Free of charge! In addition, some boating insurance agencies offer discounts for vessel that undergo a Vessel Safety Check every year.
Safety! The peace of mind that your boat meets federal safety standards and that in an emergency you will have the necessary equipment to save lives and summon help.
To request a Vessel Safety Check, go to:
http://www.cgaux.org/vsc or http://www.uscgaux-wwnj.org/VSC.htm