Guam to celebrate National Safe Boating Week

May 21 through 27, 2016 is National Safe Boating Week. The volunteer membership of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Guam Flotilla 2-24, together with the United States Coast Guard, Guam Boating Law Administrator’s office, Guam Police Department Marine Patrol, Guam Fire and Rescue, the Guam Fisherman’s Co-Op, National Weather Service, and local marine dealers want to remind local boaters to have the proper gear, and when it comes to life jackets to always, “Wear It!”

Everyone is invited to attend the celebration of Guam Safe Boating Week, part of the 2016 North American Safe Boating Campaign. Sponsored jointly by the U.S. Coast Guard, USCG Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council, this week’s activities are designed to increase the awareness and enhance the importance of safety for boaters and water sports enthusiasts. This campaign will kick-off with a Proclamation issued by the Lt. Gov. Raymond Tenorio.

There is also a display of safety equipment and capabilities of each participating agencies at the Agana Shopping Center on Saturday, May 21, from 10am to 3pm. Emphasis is on the use of life jackets as a key piece of safety equipment and the need to be worn at all times while afloat. Also highlighted is Rescue 21, the Coast Guard’s advanced command, control and direction-finding communications system created to better locate mariners in distress and save lives and property at sea and on navigable rivers. Rescue 21 enables the Coast Guard to execute its search and rescue missions with greater agility and efficiency, and provide more reliable VHF marine radio communications throughout Guam and the CNMI.

As a continuing effort to promote safe recreational boating, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will once again be visiting various sites around the island providing safe boating information.

Free Vessel Safety Checks are also available at a time or location by contacting the Auxiliary.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service’s missions. For more information on National Safe Boating Week Activities or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, call Guam Flotilla National Safety Boating Week Activities Chairman Brian Duenas, at 489-3761 (brian.duenas@fe.navy.mil) or Co-chair Patrick Atherton, at 727-6999 (pat.atherton.ctr@fe,navy.mil). (PR)