June 18, 2002
Tuesday - 12:25 pm

---- JUNEAU, Alaska - 17th District Boating Safety Coordinator Sue Hargis prepares life jackets for mailing to several Alaska communities in support of  Kid's Don't Float boards; a program that allows people to borrow personal flotation devices for free and return them to the board when they're done. Sponsoring organizations put up the "board", and the Coast Guard and state of Alaska provides the PFDs. There are 300 Kid's Don't Float board sites across the state.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Christopher S. Grisafe. ---

JUNEAU, Alaska - Coast Guard law enforcement teams across Alaska, some paired with Alaska State Troopers, conducted more than 50 boardings and terminated 14 vessel voyages during the weekend.

Coast Guard law enforcement teams from Kodiak-based cutters Firebush and SPAR, paired with ASTs, and law enforcement teams from Stations Juneau and Ketchikan to conduct several boardings throughout the weekend encouraging boating safety.

Lack of life vests underlined the reason for most of the voyage terminations during the two-day period. Officials also cited many boat operators for expired flares and improper boat registration.

"For they're own safety, we highly recommend that people wear their life jackets at all times when they're on the water," said Mike Swanson, 17th Coast Guard District boating safety assistant coordinator.

Federal regulation requires an available life jacket for each person on board a vessel. State law requires children 13-years-old wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device in an open boat, on a boat's deck or when water-skiing. Additionally, any boat more 16-feet is required to have a type-four throw-able device, such as a seat cushion or throw ring.

Source of News Release:

United States Coast Guard
Web Site

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