USCGAUX District 11NR - Division 4 - Vessel Safety Checks

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Vessel Safety Checks

Vessel Safety Checks are a very important function of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The free safety checks help boaters understand potential safety problems with their vessels and provide boaters with insight into keeping their vessels safe for crew and passengers.

Obtaining a free Vessel Safety Check will allow a trained Vessel Examiner to look at a specific boats configuration and advise the owner on standards compliance, risks and safe operational procedures. Safety checks do not require the boater to fix problem areas, but do result in improved boater awareness of potential safety problems. Most boaters find these safety checks very informative and accept recommendations to improve the safety of their vessel. Many insurance companies provide reduced insurance rates for vessels that pass the safety check.

The goal of every Vessel Safety Check is to increase boating safety with safe and compliant boats. Vessel Examiners will work with boaters to achieve a passing safety check (this may take multiple checks). Vessel safety check parameters are available to boaters so they can determine their own boats compliance with rules and standards prior to the safety check. Some of the Vessel Safety Check parameters an examiner will be looking at are:

	Current registration and/or documentation.
	On-board equipment such as fire extinguishers, sound producing devices, navigation lights, engine ventilation, MARPOL/pollution placards as required for the vessel.
	Overall condition and safety considerations of vessel equipment.
	Compliance with added state and local requirements.

Vessel examiners can also discuss the following items with the boater.

Recommended extra items for your vessel such as marine radios, dewatering pumps, anchors and lines, first aid kits and distress signals.

Vessel capacity and certification of compliance.

General operating procedures as applicable including:

	Fueling and fuel management.
	Boating check lists and Float plans.
	Charts, navigation aids and survival tips.
	Safe boating classes.
	Insurance considerations

Vessel safety checks are scheduled at various locations and times to make it convenient for trailerable boat owners to get to get a free safety check. The following table shows the currently scheduled vessel safety checks.

Date	Location	Contact	Phone
2^nd Saturday - 4/14 thru 9/8/07	Anderson & Calero Reservoir	J. Duran	408-2388443
3^rd Saturday -7/21 thru 9/15/07	Coyote Reservoir	D. Naumann	408-2492983
April 7, 10AM thru 1PM	Pete harbor/marina-Redwood city	J. Wilcox	650-3651874

For additional VSC information or to arrange for a "in the water" VSC contact the Division VSC officer .

This page was updated 04/05/2007

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