ANNAPOLIS – National Safe Boating Week brings reminders for boaters to champion recreational boating safety all summer long. There have been three recent U.S. Coast Guard regulations that have changed. As of April 20, the USCG enacted a regulation allowing them enforce fire extinguishers having a 12-year expiration date from the date of manufacture.
As of April of last year, boat operators have been required to use either a helm or outboard lanyard or wireless engine cutoff switch on certain vessels less than 26 feet when traveling on plane or above displacement speed. Exceptions to the ECOS requirement include if the main helm of the vessel is in an enclosed cabin or the vessel is not operating on plane or at displacement speed. Low-speed activities such as fishing or docking do not require use of an ECOS.
Solving the disposal problem of expired pyrotechnic flares, newer electronic visual distress signal devices use either a white or combination of orange-red/cyan LED lights with infrared (for rescuers with night vision) and are now U.S. Coast Guard-approved. However, for daytime distress situations you’ll still need to carry aboard an orange distress flag.
Weekdays 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
