Ohio Joins National Vessel Safety Check Program The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA) that now includes Ohio as the second state to participate in a new national vessel safety check program. ODNR Division of Watercraft chief Jeff Hoedt, District Commodore William Calarke USCGA District 8, and District Commodore Raymond Block USCGA District 9 signed the agreement during ODNR's Confluence 2001 boating conference held October 22-26 at Deer Creek State Park. Also participating in the signing ceremony were Anthony D. Oldham, USCGA state liaison officer and Commander Bob Atkin, U.S. Coast Guard Director of Auxiliary. "We are proud to join with Maryland in being among the first states to participate in a safety program that will benefit recreational boaters as well as state watercraft agencies," said Hoedt. Under the new USCGA program, each state is being asked to participate in and honor a unified set of vessel safety check standards as well as recognize the new vessel safety check program decal. It is intended that the new decal, which features the USCGA logo and the logos of other sponsoring agencies and organizations, will be recognized by each state as a sign that a watercraft has been adequately inspected under the USCGA's unified guidelines. Ohio's watercraft officers conduct as many as 13,000 vessel safety inspections annually. Beginning next year, the program's new decal will begin appearing on boats across the state. According to the USCGA, their long-term commitment to further improve boating safety will be enhanced as more states become aware and participate in the national Vessel Safety Check program following the lead of Maryland and Ohio. Whereas Maryland trains volunteers to conduct vessel safety inspections, Ohio is the first state to use its state watercraft officers in addition to local marine patrol units for vessel safety inspections. Additionally, trained volunteers with the U.S. Power Squadrons and other boating organizations conduct vessel safety checks for recreational boaters. For more information about the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Auxiliary's vessel safety check program, visit http://www.cgaux.org/ or http://safetyseal.net/. Got a question about boating safety? Post your question in one of our Boating Forums! Got a boating safety tip to share with others? Share it in one of our Boating Forums or submit an article about it and have it published right here on BOATOhio.com! Back to the top... Back to the Boating Safety Index...