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Press Release | May 12, 2025

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Coast Guard to host media at Station Emerald Isle for boating safety

Editor’s Note: Media interested in attending are requested to RSVP with first and last names of reporters by Tuesday no later than 2 p.m. by contacting the Fifth Coast Guard District External Affairs office at d5publicaffairs@uscg.mil. Media interested in attending should arrive at the station no later than 8:45 a.m. with close-toed and flatbottom shoes, proper media credentials and appropriate outdoor attire.

WHO: Coast Guard Station Emerald Isle boatcrews

WHAT: A media availability event highlighting essential boating safety practices as part of National Safe Boating Week. Coast Guard personnel will discuss safety tips, demonstrate proper use of life jackets, and provide an overview of their waterway safety enforcement efforts.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 9-11 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Station Emerald Isle 11101 Station St., Emerald Isle, NC 28594

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Members of the media are invited to join the Coast Guard for an event focusing on boating safety Wednesday at Coast Guard Station Emerald Isle in preparation for National Safe Boating Week, which is from May 17-23, 2025.

With the peak boating season approaching, the Coast Guard wants to emphasize the importance of safety on the water.

Based on data for the Mid-Atlantic region, including state-specific and Coast Guard reports, the top causes for recreational boating accidents and deaths consistently include:

  • Operator inattention/improper lookout: This is frequently cited as the leading cause of boating accidents. Distractions, failure to maintain awareness of surroundings, and not having a dedicated lookout can lead to collisions, groundings, and other incidents.  
  • Operator inexperience: Lack of proper training and knowledge of boating rules, navigation, and safe operating practices is a significant contributor to accidents.
  • Drowning (not wearing a life jacket): Overwhelmingly, the primary cause of death in boating accidents is drowning, and the vast majority of victims were not wearing a life jacket. This underscores the critical importance of consistent PFD use.
  • Excessive speed: Operating a vessel too fast reduces reaction time and increases the severity of accidents. It can also lead to loss of control, especially in challenging conditions or congested areas.  
  • Alcohol and drug use: Impairment of judgment, reaction time, and coordination due to alcohol or drug use is a leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.  
  • Collisions: While less frequent than drowning as a primary cause of death, collisions with other vessels or fixed objects can result in fatalities due to trauma or being thrown into the water without a life jacket.

-USCG-

National Safe Boating Week Media Availability Boating Safety

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