JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard will join the rest of the nation in observing National Safe Boating Week starting Saturday throughout Alaska to encourage safe boating practices and prevent recreational boating accidents.

National Safe Boating Week is organized by the National Safe Boating Council with many partner agencies in the U.S. and Canada, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary, United States Power Squadrons, BoatUS, the American Canoe Association, and local groups to encourage safe boating practices and educate the public timed to coincide with Memorial Day weekend, one of the biggest recreational boating weekends of the year.

The Coast Guard released its 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics Monday, revealing that boating fatalities that year totaled 651 nationwide, the lowest number of boating fatalities on record. The report states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents and almost 71 percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, with 84 percent of those victims were reportedly not wearing a life jacket. In Alaska there were 22 recreational boating deaths and five injuries reported in 2012.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water and avoid the consumption of alcohol. The use of life jackets, emergency beacons, flares, float plans and appropriate communications devices are advised for anyone operating watercraft. To ensure compliance with boating safety requirements, Coast Guard Auxiliarists will be offering vessel safety checks and safety classes in many coastal Alaskan towns. For times and locations click here.

"Alaska is a vast and beautiful area but it is wild and unpredictable as well," said Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, commander, Coast Guard 17^th District. "I encourage anyone going out on the water to plan ahead, check the weather, file a float plan and wear their life jacket! Our goal is zero recreational boating fatalities in 2013."

More information on the importance of boating safety and resources detailing steps that can be taken to minimize risk on the water can be found at safeboatingcampaign.com and uscgboating.org. In addition, video and radio PSAs with tips for safe boating are available here:

Preparedness - Video
Preparedness -Audio

EPIRB - Video
EPIRB -Audio

Life Jacket -Video
Life Jacket - Audio

Float Plan - Video
Float Plan - Audio

To view the 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx.

Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is moored at Millard D. Olds Memorial Moorings at the cutter's homeport of Cheboygan, Mich., Feb. 9, 2013. This was the first time the crew of the cutter had been home in 40 days and commemorates the midwinter period. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Stephen Elliot

Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is moored at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Mich., Aug. 7, 2008. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Fireman Diantha Kaufman

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is scheduled to hold an open house, allowing members of the public to tour the ship and speak with members of the crew, Saturday at the ship's homeport of Cheboygan.

The cutter's crew will be available for visitors from 9 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 3 p.m.

For further information, contact Lt. j.g. Katie Braynard, Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw public affairs officer, at 231-597-2030.

Capt. John Bingaman (right), chief of staff of the 9th Coast Guard District, recognizes and presents Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Rofidal, a Coast Guard reservist assigned to Marine Safety Unit Duluth, Minn., with the 9th Coast Guard District’s Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year award at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, May 18, 2013. Rofidal, a maritime enforcement specialist, was also awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal during the ceremony. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Elmer Engman

Capt. John Bingaman (right), chief of staff of the 9th Coast Guard District, recognizes and presents Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Rofidal, a Coast Guard reservist assigned to Marine Safety Unit Duluth, Minn., with the Coast Guard Achievement Medal at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, May 18, 2013. Rofidal, a maritime enforcement specialist, was awarded the medal during a ceremony where he was recognized at the 9th Coast Guard District’s Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Diane Martinek

DULUTH, Minn. — A Minnesota-based Coast Guardsman was recognized during a formal ceremony Saturday morning for being named the 2012 9^th Coast Guard District's Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year.

Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Rofidal, a maritime enforcement specialist stationed at Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Duluth, was named the Reserve EPOY for the 9th Coast Guard District.

Rofidal was recognized at his unit with a special visit by Capt. John Bingaman, chief of staff of the 9^th Coast Guard, who also awarded Rofidal a Coast Guard Achievement Medal.

“Petty Officer Rofidal, through his exemplary commitment to Coast Guard missions and servant leadership, really exemplifies our service’s core values,” said Cmdr. Kenneth R. Bryan, commanding officer of Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Duluth. “His individual contribution, and those of the entire Reserve cadre throughout the 9^th Coast Guard District, is absolutely critical to team Coast Guard meeting missions and serving the public.”

In addition to his extraordinary performance of duty, Rofidal voluntarily served as chairperson for the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial Committee in charge of coordinating the Memorial Day tribute.

In 2012, Rofidal liaised with Coast Guard historians, and staff at the National Personnel Records Center and the Officer Down Memorial that resulted in the successful verification of 11 Coast Guard reservists, allowing their names to be engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Rofidal continues to proudly serve with distinction in the 9^th District as he has since the beginning of his Coast Guard career.

Stretching from northern New York state to northern Minnesota, the 9^th Coast Guard District encompasses the five Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and parts of eight surrounding states, including 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of shared international border with Canada. Out of about 1,700 members in the district who are in the eligible enlisted rates, only one person is chosen as the active-duty and reserve EPOY of the Great Lakes.

Media interested in speaking to the 9^th District Reserve EPOY can contact the 9^th District external affairs office at 216-902-6020.

Throughout his career, Rofidal has deployed to various responses around the country and taken part in several memorable events. Click on photos below to see a few of the responses that he not only responded to, but also provided imagery.

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard assisted two men aboard a grounded 21-foot personal craft in the vicinity of Gardner Island near the Mississippi Gulf Outlet, Sunday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report from the good Samaritan vessel Capt. Blake Kerry at approximately 9 a.m. that a flare alerted the location of two men aboard a grounded boat in a marshy area. The two men initially declined assistance until one of the boaters, a 70-year-old man, began to experience health concerns.

Sector New Orleans directed the lauch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Venice 24-foot Special Purpose Craft — Shallow Water boatcrew to the scene. Air Station New Orleans arrived on scene at approximately 10:45 a.m. and delivered a radio for the men to maintain communication. The Station Venice boatcrew remained on scene until the aircrew returned from base. Upon return at approximately 12:30 p.m. the aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer down to the grounded boat. The rescue swimmer asssessed the situation and rigged a towing line from the grounded boat to the Blake Kerry.

The Blake Kerry towed the boat and the two men to the nearest port. Both men reported no injuries or medical concerns.

"This was the first case we had a rescue swimmer who was able to help a boater in a shallow, marshy area; he earned his keep, he was pretty muddy," said Lt. Bryan Conrad, Air Station New Orleans pilot. "It was very helpful to have a good Samaritan who was able to help in such a shallow area."

The men's condition are unknown.

The Coast Guard recommends all boaters have a working VHF-FM marine-band radio on board their vessel. With marine-band radios on board and set to channel 16, a boater is only a call away from help. The Coast Guard, other rescue agencies and other boaters monitor marine band radios 24/7, which increases the number of people who can respond.  The radios are better than cellular phones because their signals can be of assistance locating a person in distress. Though cell phones are better than no communication device at all, they tend to have gaps in coverage while on the water, and they have limited battery life.

In addition, the Coast Guard advises boaters to always wear their life jackets.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard has updated its schedule for the formal marine casualty investigation hearing into the Kulluk grounding, scheduled to take place at the Anchorage Loussac Library, Assembly Hall Chambers, beginning Monday at noon.

May 20 - Shell
May 21 - Offshore Rig Mover’s International*, Shell
May 22 - Noble, Crowley
May 23 - Edison Chouest Offshore
May 24 - Shell Marine, Edison Chouest Offshore Alaska Operations
May 25 - Shell Alaska Operations, Nobel*
May 28 - Delmar*, Offshore Rig Mover’s International
May 29 - Offshore Rig Mover’s International, U.S. Coast Guard
May 30 - Shell*, Edison Chouest Offshore
May 31 - Edison Chouest Offshore
* Testimony is scheduled to be conducted via telephone.  All scheduled testimonies are subject to change at the needs of the investigating officer.

Hearings beginning on Tuesday will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are closed-door hearings, and attendees will not be authorized to leave during testimony unless in an emergency situation.

Throughout the hearings, only one photographer, one video camera operator and one audio technician will be allowed in the proceedings at a time so pooling of photographs, video and audio may be necessary.

Media members are solely responsible for designating pool representatives and will be required to follow all ground rules for attending the hearing.

For more information, contact Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley at: 907-227-9248. Media members who confirm their attendance will be provided with a full copy of the marine casualty hearing attendance ground rules.

ATLANTIC OCEAN - A fourth class cadet carefully makes up a taught line after hauling around in the rain during sail stations aboard the Coast Guard Barque Eagle, May 14, 2013. second and fourth class cadets are underway for their summer training deployment to further develop their teamwork and leadership skills. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Swanson.	ATLANTIC OCEAN - Fourth class cadets examine the altitude reading after shooting a sun-line using a sextant during a celestial navigation course held on the fantail of the Coast Guard Barque Eagle, May 12, 2013. Second and fourth class cadets are underway for their summer training deployment to further develop their teamwork and leadership skills. U.S. Coast Guard photo by 2nd class cadet Samuel Keith.	ATLANTIC OCEAN - Petty Officer 2nd Class Franklin Johnson, a damage controlman, instructs fourth class cadets how to don a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, May 13, 2013. This equipment is used on all Coast Guard Cutters to help Coast Guardsmen fight fires. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Swanson.

UNDERWAY ABOARD BARQUE EAGLE – The Coast Guard Barque Eagle successfully completed its first week of 11 of the cadet summer training deployment in the Atlantic Ocean, Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Eagle left its homeport in New London, Conn., and sailed more than 600 miles headed to the Caribbean while under sail power and using celestial navigation. Serving as an afloat training platform for more 140 Coast Guard Academy cadets at a time, Eagle’s summer deployment spans 11 weeks, visiting at nine port calls in five countries, with four different groups of cadets training onboard.

"The Eagle crew has challenged these future officers, especially the upper class cadets, to assume the leadership roles of junior officers while sailing the Barque, and they have truly taken ownership of this responsibility, said Capt. Wes Pulver, Commanding Officer of Eagle. “Upperclass cadets are leading the rising sophomores during navigation, engineering, bridge, and deck watches, and are helping them understand how a Coast Guard cutter operates while at sea. The challenges of living aboard and manning a square-rigger on the open ocean are building the teamwork, character, and leadership skills necessary for success as officers in the Coast Guard."

There are currently 24 upper class cadets from the Coast Guard Academy and 120 cadets who just completed their freshman year.  

The cadets have faced a myriad of challenges since stepping aboard Eagle working through nearly 12-foot seas to set and handle the 23 sails onboard as thet acquire their sea legs. They have climbed the barque’s 147-ft. tall masts through harsh weather and stood bridge, command in control, and engine room watches in the 24-hour classroom. Cadets are learning and training in fire fighting, celestial navigation and weather forecasting.  The ship’s navigator secured all means of electronic navigation, leaving the cadets to ensure they arrive at their next portcall with only a sextant and the stars.

“Eagle has been a good introduction into the Coast Guard and has given us the opportunity to apply many of the things we've learned at the Academy,” said 4^th Class cadet Townsend Hirst.

With more than 23,500 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging, Eagle has been a classroom at sea for future Coast Guard officers since 1946, providing in-depth leadership and professional development experience.

A permanent crew of seven officers and 50 enlisted personnel maintain the ship throughout the winter and are now guiding the cadets in an extensive underway and in-port training schedule.  Instruction is focused on teaching the skills of navigation, damage control, watchstanding, engineering and deck seamanship. 

The Eagle is on schedule to arrive at its first foreign port call of St. Martin, Friday, May 24.

At 295 feet, the Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service. Constructed in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German Navy, the Eagle was taken by the United States as a war reparation following World War II.

More on Eagle's port call schedule: http://www.uscga.edu/eagle  

To follow the Eagle’s summer cruise, visit the ship’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/CoastGuardCutterEagle

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a 50-year-old man Saturday from the Carnival Splendor, a 952-foot cruise ship, approximately 150 miles east of Cape Lookout, N.C.

A medical representative aboard the Carnival Splendor contacted Coast Guard watchstanders at approximately 8 p.m. reporting a man suffered a heart attack and was in need of assistance.

Personnel from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., dispatched crews aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft to assist.

"The Hercules is launched as a safety asset to provide cover for the Jayhawk crew when they're conducting search and rescue cases far from shore," said Lt. Zach Huff, the operations duty officer and a Hercules pilot.  "The Hercules crew uses their weather radar and relays that information to the helicopter for safe navigation. They're also able to locate the ship, conduct a safety brief with the ship's crew prior to the helicopter's arrival and vector in the Jayhawk."

With coordination from Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders, the Hercules crew arrived on scene, located the vessel and established communications with the Carnival Splendor. When the Jayhawk crew arrived on scene, they hoisted the man and a nurse into the helicopter and took them to the air station. There, the Jayhawk crew swapped out with a standby crew, who flew the man and nurse to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

The patient was reported to be in stable condition.

"I got to help someone today," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Steve Scheren, the rescue swimmer aboard the Jayhawk. "This is why I joined the service. You spend so long training, hearing instructors yell ‘so others may live,’ it’s nice to really feel that you’re living your creed."

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A Coast Guard helicopter crew located an overdue boater Saturday after his 19-foot boat ran aground on a sandbar near Corson's Inlet.

The boater’s son, who knew his father’s float plan, alerted Coast Guard watchstanders at approximately 5 p.m. that his father was overdue from what was supposed to be a short transit. He said his father put his boat in the water from the Corson's Inlet State Park boat ramp and failed to reach his destination, which was two miles away.

Watchstanders diverted an already in-fight crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City to locate the man. The helicopter crew found the man, who was signaling them with a flashing light, and the helicopter crew lowered a radio to communicate with the boater.

After confirming he was the missing boater, Coast Guard watchstanders from Sector Delaware Bay, in Philadelphia, established communications with him via VHF-FM channel 16 and arranged for a commercial towboat crew to take the vessel back to the boat ramp at Corson's Inlet State Park.

Media Note: Coast Guard spokespersons in your area may be available to discuss the importance of safe boating and swimming for the duration of National Safe Boating Week. Please contact us at 216-902-6020 to check on availability. If no answer or after hours, wait for a voicemail prompt to be forwarded to a 24/7 on-call duty public affairs specialist. Click here for more information about the 9th Coast Guard District's NSBW outreach.

CLEVELAND — As National Safe Boating Week continues, the 9th Coast Guard District is reminding boaters Sunday that, just like on the road, they need to make a commitment to boat sober.

According to the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety's Recreational Boating Statistics 2012, alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents last year. It was listed as the leading factor in 17% of deaths.

When the Coast Guard determines that an operator is impaired, the operator’s voyage may be terminated.  The vessel may be brought to a mooring by the Coast Guard or turned over to a competent and un-intoxicated person aboard the vessel.  Depending on the circumstances, the Coast Guard may arrest the operator, detain him until sober, or turn him over to state or local authorities.

The Coast Guard and every state have stringent penalties for boaters violating BUI laws.  The federal statute can be found in Title 46, U.S. Code, Section 2302.  Penalties can include large fines, suspension or revocation of boat operator privileges, and jail terms.

"When mariners boat under the influence, it puts all those around them at significant risk,” said Capt. Stephen Torpey, chief of response for the 9th District.  “We want mariners to enjoy our nation's waterways but to do it safely and responsibly.  The Coast Guard will continue to work closely with federal, state and local partners to ensure the safety of those on the water.”

Alcohol affects judgment, vision, balance and coordination.  These impairments increase the likelihood of accidents afloat — for both passengers and boat operators.  Coast Guard data shows that in boating deaths involving alcohol use, more than half the victims either capsized their boat or fell overboard.

Alcohol is even more hazardous on the water than on land.  The marine environment — motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray — accelerates a drinker's impairment.  These stressors cause fatigue that makes a boat operator's coordination, judgment and reaction time decline even faster when using alcohol.

Click HERE to read more about the dangers of BUI.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a 50-year-old man Saturday from the Carnival Splendor, a 952-foot cruise ship, approximately 150 miles east of Cape Lookout, N.C.

A medical representative aboard the Carnival Splendor contacted Coast Guard watchstanders at approximately 8 p.m. reporting a man suffered a heart attack and was in need of assistance.

Personnel from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., dispatched crews aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft to assist.

"The Hercules is launched as a safety asset to provide cover for the Jayhawk crew when they're conducting search and rescue cases far from shore," said Lt. Zach Huff, the operations duty officer and a Hercules pilot.  "The Hercules crew uses their weather radar and relays that information to the helicopter for safe navigation. They're also able to locate the ship, conduct a safety brief with the ship's crew prior to the helicopter's arrival and vector in the Jayhawk."

With coordination from Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders, the Hercules crew arrived on scene, located the vessel and established communications with the Carnival Splendor. When the Jayhawk crew arrived on scene, they hoisted the man and a nurse into the helicopter and took them to the air station. There, the Jayhawk crew swapped out with a standby crew, who flew the man and nurse to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

The patient was reported to be in stable condition.

"I got to help someone today," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Steve Scheren, the rescue swimmer aboard the Jayhawk. "This is why I joined the service. You spend so long training, hearing instructors yell ‘so others may live,’ it’s nice to really feel that you’re living your creed."

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Capt. Joanna Nunan, Commander of Sector Honolulu, was relieved by Capt. Shannon Gilreath during a ceremony at Coast Guard Base Honolulu Friday.

Gilreath is a native of LaFayette, Ga. and graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1991 with a B.S. in Government. He received his J.D. with honors in 2001 from Tulane Law School and is a member of the bar in the state of Louisiana.

Gilreath was promoted from Sector Honolulu's deputy commander position. His previous assignments include the Coast Guard Cutter Northland, Marine Safety Office New Orleans, Eighth Coast Guard District Legal Office, Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge, and Chief of the Prevention Law Group within the Office of Maritime and International Law at Coast Guard Headquarters.  He also served as a Senior Military Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a non partisan think tank based in Washington, DC. 

Gilreath’s military awards include the Legion of Merit with gold star, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.  He was honored by the Judge Advocate Association with the Coast Guard Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Award in 2011.

Nunan will be the new chief of staff at Force Readiness Command in Norfolk, Va. Her previous assignments include Deputy Commander of Sector San Juan, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutters SPAR and Ironwood and executive officer of the Basswood. 

Previous to her assignments afloat Nunan served as the Coast Guard Academy admissions officer, personnel services division chief, deputy director in the Civil Rights Directorate, military assistant to the Secretary of Transportation and as the Coast Guard Innovation Manager.

Rear Adm. Charles Ray, Commander of the Coast Guard’s 14th District, was the presiding official for the ceremony.

For more information contact the 14th District Public Affairs Office at (808) 535-3230.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday for two men in the Rappahannock River near Tappahannock after divers with the Virginia Marine Police recovered the bodies.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased," said Capt. John Little, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads.

A good Samaritan noticed a capsized vessel in the Rappahannock River from his home and got underway aboard his boat to assist. Once he arrived on scene, he was able to rescue a man from the water.

The rescued man stated two additional men were missing and not wearing life jackets. Once the good Samaritan and the survivor arrived on shore, they called 911 to report the missing men. Shortly after, the survivor reportedly suffered a heart attack and was taken to a hospital in Richmond.

An emergency dispatcher contacted Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders at approximately 10 a.m. reporting a 15-foot boat had capsized in the Rappahannock River.

Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, launched crews aboard two 25-foot Response Boat - Smalls from Coast Guard Station Milford Haven, diverted two Coast Guard Auxiliary boats and an aircraft and requested an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., to search. A fire department boatcrew from Lancaster County and divers with the Virginia Marine Police also assisted in the search.

VMRC divers located the bodies of the missing men at approximately 3:30 p.m. near the capsized boat.

It was previously reported that Station Milford Haven responded with a 25-foot Response Boat - Small and a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water. The station responded with two 25-foot Response Boat - Smalls

Media Note: Coast Guard spokespersons in your area may be available to discuss the importance of safe boating and swimming for the duration of National Safe Boating Week. Please contact us at 216-902-6020 to check on availability. If no answer or after hours, wait for a voicemail prompt to be forwarded to a 24/7 on-call duty public affairs specialist. Click here for more information about the 9th Coast Guard District's NSBW outreach.

CLEVELAND — In conjunction with National Safe Boating Week, which begins Saturday, the 9th Coast Guard District is urging all Great Lakes boaters to not only have life jackets for every person aboard their vessels as required by law, but to go one step further and ensure everyone aboard is wearing a life jacket at all times while underway.

The theme for National Safe Boating Week this year is "Wear It!" Click here for more information and promotional materials.

To meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, a boat must have a Coast Guard-approved type I, II, III, or V (wearable) life jacket for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must have at least one type IV (throwable) device as well.

“A life jacket is the single-most important piece of survival equipment a boater can possess," said Cmdr. Nathan Podoll, chief of the 9th Coast Guard District Auxiliary and Recreational Boating Safety Branch. "Boaters should wear them at all times while underway, since most people enter the water unexpectedly. A life jacket can save your life — but only if you're wearing it."

According to the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety's Recreational Boating Statistics 2012, the most current validated statistics available, 651 boaters died in U.S. waterways during that calendar year with more than 70 percent of those deaths the result of drowning. Among those 459 drownings, 379 deaths — or nearly 85 percent of the drowning deaths — involved victims who were known to not be wearing a life jacket.

In July 2012, four boaters — including two young boys — spent 14 hours adrift in Lake Huron after their boat capsized. The boaters, all from Michigan, were rescued by the Coast Guard with no injuries. Click here to read the original news release.

The boaters were able to survive for 14 hours in open water because they adhered to several important boating safety practices: they stayed with the boat; they had a float plan; and they were all wearing life jackets.

Their story was so representative of how to prepare for, and respond to, an emergency that the group of boaters — Ryan Miller, Brian Nelson, 12-year-old Cody Mack, and 10-year-old Jack Fischer — was named the Coast Guard's "Shipmate of the Week" a few days after the rescue. Click here to read about it on the Coast Guard's official blog site, the Coast Guard Compass.

National Safe Boating Week is a public outreach effort held annually during the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend to encourage responsible boating and swimming on our nation's waterways.

Click here for additional information about life jackets.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is searching for two men in the Rappahannock River near Tappahannock Saturday, after a good Samaritan rescued a man from a 15-foot boat that capsized with three people aboard.

A good Samaritan noticed a capsized vessel in the Rappahannock River from his home and got underway aboard his boat to assist. Once he arrived on scene, he was able to rescue a man from the water.

The rescued man stated two additional men were missing and not wearing life jackets. Once the good Samaritan and the man arrived back to shore, they called 911 to report the missing men.

An emergency dispatcher contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders at approximately 10 a.m. reporting a 15-foot boat had capsized in the Rappahannock River.

Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, launched crews aboard a 25-foot Response Boat - Small and a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water from Coast Guard Station Milford Haven, diverted two Coast Guard Auxiliary boats and an aircraft and requested an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., to search. A fire department boatcrew from Lancaster County is also assisting in the search for the missing men.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Coast Guard medevaced a 72-year-old man from a cruise ship Saturday approximately 100 miles southeast of Atlantic City.

Personnel aboard the 952-foot Carnival cruise ship Splendor contacted Coast Guard watchstanders at approximately 2:30 a.m. and reported a man aboard suffered a stroke and was in need of immediate medical attention.

Watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., to assist.

The helicopter crew hoisted the man and took him to Atlantic City where his care was transferred to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center personnel. 

BOSTON — The Coast Guard ended its search for a missing boater after he was found safe at approximately 5:50 a.m. Saturday at Hoppy's Landing, on West Island in Fairhaven, Mass.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole, Mass., were notified by the Fairhaven Fire Department that Gary Alves, 57, of East Freetown, Mass., had been located safely and was not in distress.

The Fairhaven Police Department is investigating the incident.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole, Mass., were notified of a missing person at 6 p.m. Friday, from the New Bedford, Mass., Police Department.

The police were contacted by Alves's secretary, who reported that Alves had contacted her from aboard his sailboat at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Alves stated he would be returning in approximately 20 minutes.

It is reported that he intended to be on the water for two-to-three hours.

His sailboat was found ashore on the southern side of West Island with a cell phone and a bag containing some of his belongings.

Alves was reported to be wearing a black, long-sleeve thermal wetsuit.

Searching were members from:

• Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.
• Coast Guard Station Menemsha, Mass.
• Coast Guard Station Woods Hole
• The Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark
• Mattapoisett, Mass., Fire and Rescue
• New Bedford, Mass., Marine Police
• Fairhaven Fire and Rescue

View Larger Map

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard is reminding all mariners to be safe prior to National Safe Boating Week's kick-off, Saturday. 

Memorial Day weekend marks the informal beginning of summer and extra traffic on the water is expected. The holiday weekend coincides with National Safe Boating Week and Coast Guard stations throughout the Seventh Coast Guard District will be on patrol. 

The Coast Guard will be paying particular attention to recreational boating safety and reminds all water enthusiasts to consider the following prior to making way:

• Make sure a friend or relative knows your float plan. A float plan states where you are going and how many people are aboard your vessel. It also gives a vessel description, details your destination and what time you expect to arrive there. If you are delayed for some reason, make sure you let someone know.
  
  
• Inspect your boat to avoid breakdowns that often lead to tragedy in the water. Obtain a free, no-fault vessel safety check, which can be conducted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, before heading out on the water. The safety checks are courtesy examinations of your vessel, verifying the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations.
   
• Have working communication equipment aboard your vessel. A VHF-FM radio is the best method of communication while on the water. Although cell phones are a good backup, they can be unreliable due to gaps in coverage area and the inevitable dead battery. 
  
  
• Don't allow friends and family members to carelessly bow-ride. Bow-riding refers to the unsafe practice of passengers remaining on the bow of a recreational vessel while it is making way.
  
  
• Make certain to check the local weather prior to departing the dock. Weather can change rapidly, so mariners planing on making way should keep a watchful eye on the forecast conditions.
  
  
• Wear your life jacket! More than 90 percent of boaters who drown were not wearing their life jackets. In an emergency there might not be enough time to put one on, so wearing one at all times may save your life.

Click any of the links below for further boating safety information.  

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 

Vessel Safety Checks

Coast Guard Boating Safety page

National Safe Boating Council

U.S. Power Squadrons

Boating Safety Sidekicks

BOSTON — The Coast Guard is searching for a missing boater after he was reported overdue and his sailboat came ashore on West Island, in Fairhaven, Mass., Friday.

Missing is Gary Alves, 57, of East Freetown, Mass.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole, Mass., were notified of a missing person at 6 p.m. Friday, from the New Bedford, Mass., Police Department.

The police were contacted by Alves's secretary, who reported that Alves had contacted her from aboard his sailboat at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Alves stated he would be returning in approximately 20 minutes.

It is reported that he intended to be on the water for two-to-three hours.

His sailboat was found ashore on the southern side of West Island with a cell phone and a bag containing some of his belongings.

Alves was reported to be wearing a black, long-sleeve thermal wetsuit.

Currently searching are members from:

• Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.
• Coast Guard Station Menemsha, Mass.
• Coast Guard Station Woods Hole
• The Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark
• Mattapoisett, Mass., Fire and Rescue
• New Bedford, Mass., Marine Police
• Fairhaven Fire and Rescue

Anyone with information is requested to contact Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at 508-457-3211 or on VHF channel 16.

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