848
NOUS42 KKEY 190356
PNSKEY

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1156 PM EDT SAT MAY 18 2013

...NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MAY 18-24...

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING WEEK.

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VESSEL SAFETY CHECK PROGRAM...A
FREE...NO RISK...SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
AND THE U.S. SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON. A QUALIFIED VESSEL EXAMINER
WILL CONDUCT AN INSPECTION OF ALL THE REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
CARRIED OR INSTALLED ON A VESSEL AND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE OVERALL
CONDITION OF THE VESSEL. EVEN IF YOU PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO
SAFETY...DANGEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS CAN CROP UP ON THE BEST-
MAINTAINED BOAT. THAT IS WHY THE U.S. COAST GUARD RECOMMENDS THAT ALL
RECREATIONAL BOATS...INCLUDING PERSONAL WATERCRAFT...GET A FREE
VESSEL SAFETY CHECK EACH YEAR.

A VESSEL SAFETY CHECK IS YOUR BEST WAY OF LEARNING ABOUT CONDITIONS
THAT MIGHT PUT YOU IN VIOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL LAWS
OR...WORSE...CREATE AN UNSAFE CONDITION FOR YOU OR YOUR PASSENGERS ON
THE WATER.

BE PREPARED FOR ANY EMERGENCY WHEN YOU ARE AFLOAT. GET A FREE VESSEL
SAFETY CHECK TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VESSEL COMPLIES WITH BOTH FEDERAL
AND STATE REQUIREMENTS. IF THE VESSEL MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS...THE
EXAMINER WILL AWARD A VESSEL SAFETY CHECK DECAL. IF YOUR VESSEL FAILS
TO RECEIVE A VESSEL SAFETY CHECK DECAL...NO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION IS
TAKEN...AND THE EXAMINER WILL PROVIDE A LIST OF ITEMS FOR CORRECTION.

TO LEARN MORE...VISIT THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL ONLINE AT...
WWW.SAFEBOATINGCOUNCIL.ORG

ALSO...VISIT YOUR FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ONLINE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST

$$

KASPER