BOATUS Offers Required Safety Course
The state of Virginia is requiring that all operators of vessels and personal watercraft that have 10 horsepower or more complete a boating safety education course. Compliance is mandatory for operators of all ages, and will be required after July 1.
To help boaters easily meet the requirement, which was established with a 2007 state law, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering a free, online course at www.BoatUS.org/virginia; virtual students of the class can take the course at home and can pause and restart it at any time.
Our online course is great for busy schedules and is the only free online boating safety courseapproved by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, said BoatUS Foundation Director of Education Amanda Suttles Prez.
Boaters who successfully pass the course can print their own certificate of completion or order a plastic boater education card for a $10 fee. Just like a fishing license-holder, vessel and PWC operators must keep the completion certificate or card, along with picture identification, on hand when onboard. Passing the course also could earn a discount on a boats insurance policy.
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water promotes safe, clean, and responsible boating. A range of boating safety courses-including 34 free, state-government-approved boating safety courses-can be found at www.BoatUS.org/courses.
Funded primarily by donations from the over half-million members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the non-profit provides educational outreach to boaters with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of Americas waterways and keeping boating safe for all.
FWC Derelict Vessel Meetings
This summer, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will be holding five public meetings on managing derelict vessels in Florida. According to an FWC press release, As part of its efforts to deter and address derelict vessels in Floridas waterways, FWC staff will meet with stakeholders to gather input as well as discuss potential proposals that would affect the management of at-risk and derelict vessels.
Were assuming this overlaps with the mooring regulations that have recently been the subject of debate between boaters, FWC, and Florida legislators.
The FWC meetings schedule is as follows: St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, 5 p.m. Aug. 3, 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, FL 34982; Edgewater City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Aug. 11, 104 N. Riverside Drive Edgewater, FL 32132; Brandon Regional Service Center, 2:30-5 p.m. Aug. 12, 311 Pauls Drive Brandon, FL 33511; Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, 2:30-5 p.m. Aug. 13, 102050 Overseas Highway Key Largo, FL 33037; Bay County Board of County Commissioners, 2:30-5 p.m. Aug. 17, 840 West 11th street Panama City, FL 32401.
We encourage those who can to attend these public meetings. For more information, go to www.myfwc.com or call 850/488-5600.
