By Bob Currie, Vessel Examiner
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 081-06-08
Flotilla 081-06-08 is based at Coast Guard Station Galveston. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the US Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.

As part of its Float Plan, The Coast Guard has developed a Boating Emergency Guide ™ to be used whenever someone is concerned about the safety or welfare of any persons on board a vessel. This guide is designed to work with or without a Flat Plan, but it is in every boater’s best interest to file a detailed float plan with someone ashore (but NOT with the Coast Guard). Remember, this guide is to be used by a concerned friend or relative, and the more information they have at hand to give to the rescue authority, the easier it will be on them and on the person trying to obtain rescue information.

The easiest way to file a Float Plan is to have one stored on your Coast Guard app on your smart phone. However, you may also complete a fillable PDF form provided by the Coast Guard and email that to up to three contacts. The PDF form has a place to list the Rescue Authority and phone number. For those of us who boat in the Galveston area, our Rescue Authority is the US Coast Guard and the emergency contact number is (281) 464-4854. The smart phone app doesn’t have a place to list the Rescue Authority, but you can make the Coast Guard your third contact.

Step 1: Genuine Concern
The first step in the use of the Boating Emergency Guide ™ is to answer this question: Do you have a genuine concern for the safety or welfare of any persons who have not returned or checked-in within a reasonable amount of time? The anxiety level increases dramatically with the length of time passed without hearing from the boater. Are they 30 minutes overdue? An hour? Have you tried reaching them by phone or radio? Most of the time contact with the boater or one of the contacts listed on the float plan resolves the issue; it may have taken a little longer than anticipated to get the boat out of the water or the time just got away from the boater. It is important as a boater to get in touch with your contacts at the designated check-in times to assure your friends and loved ones that you are safe, and if necessary establish a new check-in time.

Step 2: Were you given a prepared Float Plan by anyone on board the vessel? If so, go to Step 3. Otherwise, go to Step 5.

Step 3: Call Contact #1
At this point, the concerned friend or relative has been unable to contact the overdue boater, but they have a copy of the Float Plan with all the necessary information to give to the Rescue Authority. This step involves calling the first contact listed on the Float Plan and letting them know you are responding to a late return or check-in by the individuals listed on the Float Plan. Determine if the person you are talking to, or anyone at that location, has recently had contact with anyone on the vessel, and when and where that contact occurred. If no one at the first contact number has had contact with anyone aboard the vessel, then continue to Step 4.

Step 4: Call Contact #2
If calling the first contact number does not resolve the issue, or if you could not reach anyone at the first number, call the second contact listed on the Float Plan. Again, let them know you are concerned about a late return or check-in. If the issue is still not resolved, then proceed to Step 6, calling the Rescue Authority.

Step 5: Used If No Float Plan Is Available
Using the checklist below, write down what you know about each item in the checklist. Do not speculate, as incorrect information may mislead Search and Rescue personnel, add to the overall search and rescue time, an adversely affect the outcome.

• Period of time the vessel has been overdue.
• Purpose of the trip or voyage.
• Description of the vessel (Type, size, color, features, etc.)
• Vessel’s departure point and destination.
• Places the vessel planned to stop during transit.
• Navigation equipment aboard. (Examples: GPS, radar, compass, sounder, etc.)
• Number of persons aboard. Relevant characteristics such as dependability, reliability, etc.
• Was the vessel initially docked or moored or did a vehicle tow it to a launch point?
• License plate number and description of the tow vehicle and/or the passenger’s transport vehicle.
• Communications equipment aboard, including type of radio and frequencies monitored, cellular or satellite phone numbers of individuals, etc.
• Additional points of contact along the vessel’s planned route.
• Operator and/or a passenger/crew member absolutely had to be back at the scheduled return time.
• Call your local Rescue Authority that responds to marine emergencies (Police, Sheriff, Constable, Coast Guard, etc)

Step 6: Contacting The Rescue Authority
Call the Rescue Authority contact listed on the Float Plan. Tell the dispatcher you are responding to a late return or check-in by persons on board the vessel. The dispatcher will instruct you from there.

Step 7: Be Patient
You have done everything that you can possibly do for now. It is important to keep the telephone available so emergency personnel can contact you with additional information and/or questions concerning the search and rescue effort.

The USCG Float Plan is the official Float Plan of the US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Auxiliary. For more information visit: www.floatplancentral.org.

For more information on boating safety, please visit the Official Website of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division at www.uscgboating.org. Questions about the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or our free Vessel Safety Check program may be directed to me at [email protected]. I am available to perform free Vessel Safety Checks, and I will come to your location to perform them. SAFE BOATING!

[2-5-2018]