The U.S. Coast Guard’s Flotilla 57 will celebrate Marine Safety Week Saturday with vessel safety checks and refreshments. The celebration also concludes Safe Boating Week.
Vessels passing the safety checks will receive a Coast Guard Auxiliary decal that shows boating law-enforcement and other safety agencies the boat complied with all federal and state laws during the check.
There is no charge for this examination. Nor are citations issued to vessels that don’t pass. Instead, owners will be given a written advisory how to get any discrepancies corrected.
Nor are inspections or the decals required to operate a boat, said Division 5 Vice Commander Ingemar Olsson. However, the examinations “will point out if the vessel has all legal safety requirements,” he said.
Life jackets, registration and numbering, navigation lights, ventilation, fire extinguishers, destress signals and the vessel’s battery cover and connections are required by state and federal laws.
The Auxiliary is promoting these checks so boaters can be confident their craft meets standards and that they have all the equipment needed to save lives and summon help in the case of emergencies, according to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which advised that boaters who later fail to have required equipment on board while sailing can be cited.
Martinez Marina Harbormaster Olivia Ortega, will provide a table, chars, canopy and refreshments for the public Olsson said.
Appointments aren’t needed for the safety checks, Olsson said. “Just show up at the Martinez launch ramp between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday,” he said. “It is a courtesy service by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.”
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 57 boating safety checks will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Martinez Marina.
