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ADM Allen Calls for Action on Small Vessels

In the Department of Homeland Security's Leadership Journal today ADM Thad Allen calls for action on small vessel security.

The tragic terror attack in Mumbai and its maritime nexus represents further cause for action on an effective international and domestic approach to small vessel security. After hijacking a fishing vessel, the terrorists used off-the-shelf GPS technology to navigate from Karachi, Pakistan to Mumbai and then simply rowed ashore in inflatable dinghies. They didn’t make much of an effort to conceal their movements.

Allen also points to another recent article he wrote in the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine, Friend or Foe? Tough to Tell.

Blogging the BLA Workshop – Day Two

Thursday marked day two of NASBLA's third annual Boating Law Administrator Workshop.

This day began on a solemn note, with the sharing of an educational video produced by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Marine Police Division and the Benjamin Russell High School (BRHS) Media Department. The emotionally charged video illustrates the dangers of operating a boat while intoxicated. Re-enacting a fatal boat crash, it helps convey the message that drinking and driving on the water can kill. The video was completed in the spring of 2007.

Next, Mike Baron with the Coast Guard Division of Boating Safety reported on the Marine Patrol Officer Course (MPOC). As of October 2007 Baron is the new MPOC Manager.

MPOC is designed to enhance the maritime operations of federal, state and local marine patrol officers. It offers students a basic understanding of how to conduct operations alongside the U.S. Coast Guard through exposure to tactical training, regulations and policies, and completion of the 24-hour DUI Standardized Field Sobriety Testing approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in addition to several other blocks of instruction. MPOC will soon be going through the accreditation process. This will give added value to the training.

Next, Barry Nobles with the Coast Guard took the floor to discuss the Vessel Identification System (VIS).  He discussed the risks VIS can minimize, the rollout of VIS in October '07, and indicated that to-date, ten states and five territories and the District of Colombia had signed their MOAs.  Mr. Nobles indicated for the system to work as intended, we need 100% participation from the states.  He asked States that haven't signed to contact the Boating Safety Division to discuss how we can resolve any concerns or barriers to signing the MOA. 

Mr. Nobles stated that, as a follow-up to a recent DHS teleconference to which the governors were invited to participate, the Boating Safety Division sent a letter to the governors of each state to ask them to support their states' efforts to participate in VIS.  Mr. Nobles indicated that he understood that some BLAs were upset with the letters and he apologized to those who were offended.  He indicated that VIS depends on cooperation between the states and the Coast Guard and the last thing the Coast Guard wants to do is upset anyone from the states.  He said he understood that some BLAs had specific concerns they wanted to address and he invited them to share their concerns and he would relay them back to the office.  Many BLAs expressed their extreme consternation with the letters and some requested a letter of apology.  Some BLAs said the letter had an accusatory tone and they were extremely disappointed that they had not been contacted by the Coast Guard before the letters were sent.  Others suggested that the Coast Guard be more proactive with regards to communicating with the states in the future – don’t send letters to their governors.  Mr. Nobles reiterated the importance of the relationship between the states and the Coast Guard and that he would relay the BLAs’ concerns to the Boating Safety Division.

Following this discussion, Gary Chappell with the Coast Guard, gave an update on the VIS. This system is a national database of vessel registrations, titles and ownership. Its created was mandated by Congress 20 years ago. Participation by the states is voluntary. The VIS provides access to data that can be used to help identify a vessel’s ownership history. The data can also be used to generate state and national statistics and reports. It is updated at least monthly. Currently, 16 states participate.

Dave Dahms, vice chair of NASBLA’s Education & Awareness Committee, and Gail Kulp, NASBLA’s education director, discussed NASBLA’s education standards. The standards are the minimum body of knowledge required to be covered in boating safety education courses to effect safe, legal and enjoyable boating.

The Education & Awareness Committee has identified some challenges presented by the current course review process:

• The state review of Standard 8 is not seen by anyone in the NASBLA office, yet the final approval letter is issued by NASBLA;
• The content of Standard 8 is comprised of 14 parts, 10 of which are already covered in Standards 1-7;
• The content of Standard 8 has been found to contain plagiarized information in some courses and leads to a liability issue for NASBLA and the states;
• A handful of states will not accept the certification of out-of-state temporary boaters or boaters moving in the state from elsewhere;
• A handful of states refuse to review and/or accept courses.

In an effort to remedy these snags, NASBLA proposes to revamp the course approval process.

The first step would be to redefine the terms “NASBLA-approved” and “Accepted by [state].” A course that has been reviewed by NASBLA and meets Standards 1-9 would be considered “NASBLA-approved.” For a course to be “accepted by [state],” it will meet the state’s requirements and may be taught in that state. States can review the entire course or just a portion of it. Additionally, a state may accept any or all courses. The next step would be to merge the standards, incorporating most of Standard 8 into Standards 1-7. The rest of Standard 8 would remain in place, but NASBLA would complete the review of this information based on the state-specific information provided by the states. Courses would still be reviewed by NASBLA every three years.

The third step would be to create Standard 10 to address delivery and presentation standards for boating safety courses. In as much as content standards are important in creating an effective course, studies show that methods for presenting and/or delivering the content to students are just as important in the education of the students.

The proposal will be discussed with the Education & Awareness Committee in April and with the entire NASBLA membership at the annual conference in September.

Next, Jeff Ludwig with the U.S. Coast Guard, discussed the 2007 JSI PDF Wear Rate Study Executive Studay . Because so many drownings could be prevented if every boater wore a life jacket, it is critical that boating safety advocates understand the circumstances and patterns in which life jackets are used in order to tailor messages and safety education programs accordingly. To help identify potential trends and indicators relating to recreational boaters and life jacket wear, the Coast Guard contracted the JSI Research & Training Institute Inc. to conduct an extensive study. The data are still being analyzed. However, the Coast Guard has some preliminary statistics. The recent JSI study shows that overall the national wear rate is 21.4 percent. This shows no increase from previous years. Additionally, less than 4.1 percent of power boaters (excluding children and personal watercraft users) have been observed wearing a life jacket.  Jeff also reported on progress of the National Boater Survey.  The survey instruments are awaiting approval.  Copies of the proposed survey instruments can be found here, here and here .

During lunch, Kurt and Cindy Kalkomey, owners of Boat Ed, discussed boating safety courses and some of the latest technology being used in presenting educational information. They have incorporated animated video for their online course. They have also worked with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to create a course geared toward those convicted of boating violations. Another project they’ve completed is a boating safety video.

Following lunch, NASBLA staff reported on the NASBLA strategic plan and what is being done to accomplish the plan’s goals and objectives. Much of the work is being done through the organization’s ongoing programs, including officer training courses; marketing, education and outreach initiatives, education; and advances in technology. John Johnson, NASBLA’s Executive Director, also reported on NASBLA’s budget, explaining sources of revenue, uses for state dues, and more.

Next, Alaska’s recent Cold Water Boating DVD was shown to the audience. This video was produced to dispel the myths about hypothermia and explain the dangers of sudden cold water immersion. NASBLA has received a pledge of $16,000 from the United State Power Squadrons to distribute copies of this video.

The day’s meeting adjourned with President John Fetterman encouraging BLAs to stick around for the upcoming Board Academy. NASBLA is a member-driven organization. Recent efforts have succeeded in increasing member participation to nearly 95 percent. This high level of involvement on the part of the members goes a long way toward increasing NASBLA’s national credibility. The Board Academy was developed to explain what Board service entails.

Blogging the BLA Workshop - Day One

Representatives from 40 states and territories, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, BoatU.S., National Safe Boating Council and other boating safety-minded organizations, met Wednesday for the first day of the annual Boating Law Administrator Workshop. The two-day symposium is being hosted by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in Lexington, Ky.

The day’s presentations began with a report from the U.S. Coast Guard. Barry Nobles reviewed the history of the National Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan and discussed some of the products that are meeting the plan’s strategies, such as NASBLA’s Boating Under the Influence Detection and Enforcement training and California’s Wear It! campaign. Nobles also briefed the group on some legislative changes that the Coast Guard is working on with regards to mandatory boater education and discussed the upcoming reauthorization of the Sport Fish and Boating Trust Fund.

Next, Vann Burgess discussed the RBS State Grant Program. The major purposes of this program are:

• Encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts; and
• Permit states to assume a greater share of boating safety education assistance and enforcement activities.

To help BLAs better prepare their grant requests and met federal fiduciary requirements, Burgess got into the meat of the grant program, explaining eligibility requirements, the distribution of funds, applying for grants, classification of costs, and reporting requirements.

Burgess then discussed Performance Report Part II. This data gathered with this report help quantify all the work that’s occurring on our nation’s waterways, such as on-water RBS hours, boardings and officer training. The data are also used to compare various items, including monies spent to persons earning an education certificate, most common violations for trends analysis, accident data to violations for cause and effect analysis, and so on.

During lunch, Karl Gebhardt and Kerry Moher with BoaterExam.com discussed online courses and some of the recent technological advances. Moher remarked upon the fact that boaters, particularly the younger ones, are very technically savvy. Most prefer to have access to information at their convenience. This makes Internet-based courses an appealing choice for boating safety education. Moher explained how his company has updated its online course to incorporate hundreds of graphics both to capture the users’ attention as well as to supplement and help explain the course material.

Following lunch, Bill Engfer, with the Wisconsin Bureau of Law Enforcement, discussed ways to work effectively with state legislature. He stressed the importance of being honest and resourceful in building relationships with legislators. He also explained that taking legislators on ride-alongs to show them firsthand what happens on the water will go a long way toward opening doors for a boating law administrator. Engfer emphasized the need to have statistics to back up your position before approaching legislators. Setting a media plan in motion is also crucial to promoting potential legislation.

Charlie Sledd, with the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, echoed Engfer’s sentiments. He added three keys to dealing with legislators:

•    Relationships – with legislators, as well as with your agency’s leadership and legislative services;
•    Constituent Support – this is important because legislators pass bills for the people who vote; and 
•    Timing.

Ed Carter, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, discussed the history of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Three major areas that benefit from the trust fund are boating, fishing and wetlands. NASBLA’s policy position on the upcoming trust fund reauthorization includes changing the federal/state matching share from 50/50 to 75/25; implementing a maintenance of effort clause requiring states to maintain same state spending level; changing the distribution of boating safety set-aside monies to be taken off the top of the fund; and supporting an increase in the amount of direct funding for USCG Boating Safety Division programs.

Matt Long, NASBLA’s government affairs director, reported on recent meetings NASBLA has had with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He termed the meetings as “good” and explained that there was a high level of communication. He also discussed the EPA’s permit proposal. This is a daunting prospect, considering that if passed, 18 million recreational boaters will be required to acquire the permit. Additionally, it would fall to state agencies to issue those permits. Long discussed his hope to establish a grassroots effort within NASBLA to keep the lines of communication open between NASBLA and the states.

The day finished with Virgil Chambers, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council, talking about Safe Boating Week, which is May 17-23, this year. This annual event is used to spread the message of safe and responsible boating. This year the campaign will focus on educating the boaters about life jacket wear and the options that are available when it comes to comfortable and lightweight jackets. Chambers also reviewed the success of California’s recent Wear It! campaign. The objectives of the campaign were to raise boaters’ awareness of inflatable life jackets and to increase the wear rate. Wear It! made use of the power of one voice, which makes a message more consistent and effective. The campaign employed an experiential approach – by offering boaters a positive hands-on experience, it becomes part of a lifestyle.

NASBLA Enforcement & Training Committee Meets

The NASBLA Enforcement and Training Committee met this week in Lexington, Kentucky. Approximately 25 BLAs, state staff and associates attended the meeting. The committee work was accomplished through three subcommittees, including the Training and Certification Subcommittee, the Enforcement Techniques and Technology Subcommittee and the Uniform Boating Laws Subcommittee.

Highlights of the Training and Certification Subcommittee work included review of three NASBLA training programs, including the Boating Accident Investigation program, the Boating Under the Influence Detection and Enforcement program and the Motorboat Muffler Noise Enforcement program. Those three programs are now NASBLA certified training courses. Additionally, the subcommittee is developing new training modules covering boarding procedures, federal documentation and marine theft, and the committee has developed and is formalizing training in personal watercraft (PWC) law enforcement and search and rescue. Finally, the subcommittee approved the 2009 boat accident investigation seminar locations, which will be published after state confirmations.

The Enforcement Techniques and Technology Subcommittee studied the issue of noise detection and enforcement. There is some confusion among the states as to which standards are applicable and under what conditions they can be used. The subcommittee is going to verify the correct standards are being used under the correct conditions, and will develop a NASBLA policy position paper outlining the need for states to use the correct standards and to use the NASBLA Motorboat Muffler Noise Detection course to properly train their officers in those standards. The subcommittee is working on the development of a BUI checkpoint checklist and has obtained information from several states and the U.S. Coast guard to develop the final product. The subcommittee is also developing a policy position paper on increasing BUI patrols and increasing effectiveness through the use of the latest technologies.

The Uniform Boating Laws Subcommittee worked on updating the NASBLA Charter Boat Model Act. The committee reviewed and adopted suggestions from the National Transportation Safety Board to upgrade the model act and the accompanying Rules document, to be approved by the NASBLA membership this fall. Additionally, there will be a policy position paper in support of adoption of the revised model act. The subcommittee also created policy position papers in support of linking BUI infractions with driving privileges and in support of professional safe boating practices, including the wearing of life jackets by marine law enforcement officers while on patrol and supporting the concept of marine law enforcement officers taking boating safety education courses prior to operating patrol vessels.

Copies of the model act and policy positions will be posted soon on the NASBLA website.

Reporter takes the plunge to teach water safety

http://www.katu.com/home/video/7383841.html?video=pop&t=a

New-boat registrations down 3 percent

Registrations for new powerboats fell 3 percent in the third quarter of 2007 and 7 percent year-to-date through September, according to a recent report compiled by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

A total of 352,418 new powerboats were registered in the United States for the rolling 12-month period through September 2007. Jet-drive boats were the only segment to see an upward trend, with registrations up 9 percent on a rolling 12-month basis through the third quarter of last year.

Wholesale shipment data collected from the NMMA's control group of boat manufacturers, representing 77 percent of the U.S. market, indicates traditional powerboat shipments declined at twice the rate of new powerboat registrations. Shipments are down 14 percent year-to-date through September in terms of unit volume and 12 percent in terms of wholesale dollars.

While double-digit declines may seem daunting, NMMA president Thom Dammrich says inventory reductions may put the industry in a better position in the latter half of this year.

"With wholesale unit shipments down twice as much as retail unit sales, indications are field inventory is returning to very manageable levels industry-wide, putting the industry in a good position for a rebound in sales later in 2008," Dammrich said in a statement.

Contact NMMA market research manager Vicky Yu at (312) 946-6202 or vyu@nmma.org.

Women & Boating Education -- Another Look

A recent Small Craft Advisory article has prompted dialog about boating safety in Dealer Outlook -- a blog by Norman A. Schultz published on the Soundings Trade Only website.

Schultz discusses the September-October Small Craft Advisory article, Reality Check:  Women & Boating Education, by Jo Calkin with the U.S. Coast Guard's Division of Boating Safety.  Calkin suggests many women are not prepared to operate a boat by their self, because captaining is viewed as a man's role.

In his blog, Schultz adds to the conversation with a suggestion for dealers:

It makes a lot of sense that women boaters should have a chance to acquire the basic skills and knowledge to operate the family boat, if only for an emergency situation. I know of a few dealers who encourage their customers, husband and wife, to take a boating course. Some of those dealers hold the course right in their showroom. I also know one or two dealers that annually hold an on-the-water women-only boating class at their dealership including hands-on boat operating instruction using a new demo boats, of course.

It’s a fact that boating education efforts are an excellent vehicle not only to help your customers become more confident and safer on the water, but to bring them into the store more often. I call that a win-win.

Be sure to read the comments on the blog.  One commenter is compiling a list of women-focused boating education courses.  She indicates that Texas has such a course.  Do you know of other states or organizations offering classes for women?

'Dean of the Waterways,' dies at 99

The recreational boating safety community lost a pioneer this weekend.   From the Knoxville News Sentinel:

W. Claude Fox, a nationally recognized pioneer in boat racing, marine sales and boating safety, died Saturday at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He was 99.

Mr. Fox, often referred to as "Dean of the Waterways," was the oldest member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. For more than 30 years, he served as executive director of the Knoxville-based National Outboard Association and officiated boat races throughout the country. He also was former owner of Fox & Co., a Knoxville marine sales and sporting goods company.

From a 1986 interview, Fox talked about boating years ago:

"In the early days, if you went for a boat ride, you always went upstream," he said. "That was so you could float back down in case of a breakdown. It was a rare thing to complete even a short trip without your engine quitting at least once. Nowadays, outboards are so reliable, there are plenty of people who would think nothing of setting out to cross the ocean with one."

According to the News-Sentinel, Fox's greatest contribution to boating was in safety. He helped organize the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Flotilla 12-1, the oldest in the nation. Mr. Fox conducted more than 300 boat safety exams for the auxiliary -- including conducting one for Elvis Presley.  He won numerous honors, including one for saving a man's life on Fort Loudoun Lake.

Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Fox.

Nebulus Flotation Device - Boating Safety Uses?

I ran across an article about the Nebulus Emergency Flotation Device.

The University of Minnesota has recently teamed up with JTW Associates to develop the Nebulus Emergency Flotation Device. It is a self-inflating case that set ups quickly and allows a water or ice rescue to be executed by single individual without waiting for help.

How it works? Once the rip-cord is pulled, two pressurized carbon dioxide bottles pump up an enclosed lift bag which is proficient in providing momentary flotation for up to 1,000 lbs of the sunken vehicle and riders. The Nebulus Emergency Flotation Device retails for $525 and will likely be used by snowmobile and ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) enthusiasts.

There's video of the device being inflated at the Nebulus website.  Think this has any uses in the boating realm?  This could serve as a mini life raft for a boater.  It might come in hand for small boats in coastal or cold-water environments.

Woman Hurled into Water When Boat Engine Explodes

Peggy Willoughby was enjoying a peaceful day on Estero Bay, Florida until her boat's engine cover exploded launching her into the water.

WBBH - NBC2 had the details from Willoughby:

"It started chugging and Tom says it sounds like it's missing the spark plugs," said Willoughby.

Somehow the engine exploded and threw Willoughby across Estero Bay and into the water.

"Here I am in the water and I came up and started to panic," said Willoughby. "Then when I saw him standing there with the flames behind him - that's a picture hard to get out of your mind."

It's hard to imagine but as the Willoughbys were treading water and searching for help - a boater turned them away.

"One boat came. I'll be honest they didn't let us on. They said they were overloaded," said Willoughby.

Willoughby did not have a scratch on her body and her husband's arm was only slightly burned.

The Coast Guard pulled up the remains from the boat on Monday and the FWC will investigate what happened.

NBC2 has a video of the aftermath here.