Steve Johnson's Boating Safety

Boating basics begin with 'Bowditch, Chapter 25'

Steve Johnson, US Coast Guard (ret). is with CPO Johnson, Inc. More info: stevejohnson@navteach.com, www.navteach.com.






August 2016 column

The big three...

July 2016 column

New technology allows you to 'Kow Where To GO'

June 2016 column

A glimpse into the future

May 2016 column

A new term in boating: wing in ground

April 2016 column

Social mapping: Check out new navigation technology

 

March 2016 column

Here"s how to use 'Set and Drift'

February 2016 column

New series begins focusing on actual training methods

This month begins a series of actual training not only found on US Coast Guard Mercator charting exams, but something that you need to be aware of when operating your vessel in all locations.  We would all agree that the main objective is for the boat to go the direction you are intending it to travel. That can be a tall order sometimes depending on the variety of elements that could cause it to move from that path.

Keeping in mind the three things a navigator has to do:

1. Know where they are going
2. What they will see on the way
3. What time they will get there.

Given the fact that a “picture is worth a thousand words” the accompanying diagram explains in simple and direct detail.

Bottom line: most of the time you will never reach your initial destination without some type of correction in course, speed, or both. It is your responsibility to know how much change to supplement and get the desired results.

It’s all part of the science of navigation and is available for you to enjoy and learn in many formats and media. If you want to discover more about your vessel, how to identify hazards, improve collision avoidance then please contact me for more information.  

Next month the training series will explain more in detail how to acquire this skill set and utilize basic methods to not only recognize Set and Drift, but use it to your advantage.


January 2016 column

Safe boating involves your 'Point of View'

A point of view. Everybody has one or more of these, especially when it comes to boating. Welcome to the 2016 Atlanta Boat Show! Always fascinating, looking at the latest in technology, styles of vessels, and other components of the boating life. Plenty to select from and a wide variety of options as well, for all types of enthusiasts and professionals.

When choosing a watercraft, regardless of size, model, and make, there should be some considerable thought about navigation, handling characteristics, and other important aspects of safe operation. There are a lot of factors to think about depending on the area you intend to travel. Some operators perceive that local boating is less difficult than offshore, but each version has its own set of dynamics and that in fact is a – Point of View.

Boating safety training, in general, incorporates all those common information needs and skills to produce a well rounded, effective learning experience for everyone that takes to the water. The lake is big, the shore is lined with endless rows of trees and houses dotting the redundant landscape. It’s an easy place to get lost if you don’t have the necessary gear to guide you such as GPS charting or even a simple magnetic compass.

Water conditions can get rough at times, this region is no stranger to severe storms, and let’s not forget the most important of all – changing depth of the water. All these various conditions present the necessity to either understand, avoid, or respond when the need arises. The quickest and most accurate methods are through advanced technology such as sonar, satellite, and understanding the basic techniques taught in the US Coast Guard license courses and safety seminars.

Years of experience in the advanced navigation and communications technology spectrum taught me one very enduring lesson: know your systems well and practice using them. The rewards will be greater confidence and a safer voyage for everyone. Please give some consideration and thought as to where you intend to travel the next time you’re on the water. It doesn’t have to be a big fancy or complicated voyage plan, just some type of organization that would serve to benefit all facets of your excursion.

Whatever your preference in boating – small, large, quick, or powerful – it is your point of view that matters most. I suggest you take into account all features, especially how you will ultimately control the vessel, and where to find the specific knowledge to do so.

Every manufacturer has websites filled with tutorials, and other types of training media on everything they produce. Frequent review of the information can be helpful in preparing for your journey and proficiency. Another great advantage, local to the area, are training pros that can personally demonstrate everything you need to go with assurance. Nothing replaces actual hands on experience in long term learning. If you need more details on where to find these experts please contact me.  

I’ll be attending the 2016 Atlanta Boat Show at the USCG license training school booth. Stop by if you get the chance. I look forward to the opportunity of meeting you in person, to get your “Point of View.”

December 2015 column

Make sure to take a second look ...

How many times have you taken that second look and seen something different from the first glance? Collision avoidance is sometimes like that too. Never take just a quick scan, but look multiple times to ensure what you are seeing is the correct information and developing situation. Advanced marine electronics such as GPS, Chart Plotters, radar, and other technologies do that for us on boats, very quickly and precisely.  The question is ... do you totally, without a shadow of doubt, trust the information to be accurate so you can with confidence make your final decision on action?  

Over reliance on technology grows with time and is becoming more ingrained in the boating lifestyle, with past conventional methods sometimes all but forgotten. There is little doubt that if you are a boater long enough that you will encounter some kind of distress, maybe something as minor as a loss of power, or other mechanical failure as examples.

Here’s a personal experience while serving onboard a giant, 800 ft plus oil tanker laden with black crude, proceeding up the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico to a refinery in Baton Rouge: Dense fog rapidly setting in, visibility dropping to less than a quarter mile or below. River is crowded with merchant ships and smaller oil platform service vessels lined up the sides, safely anchored waiting for the fog to subside. Our orders, regardless of the weather conditions, are to continue to the oil dock if it can be safely navigated, the final decision resting with the Captain.

Winding past New Orleans, we make the tight turn at Algiers Point near the center of the city. It’s probably the most difficult change of course on the entire trip with all the river traffic. And it is extremely difficult to perform in limited visibility, contrasting with the lumen of the bright city lights.  The best way to safely navigate in times like these is to proceed very slow, but most importantly, with positive control. Slowing your vessel to less than bare steerageway gives up rudder influence unless you can steer with your engines, and in this case that was only one big one with little effect.

The velocity of the out flowing current to the south was a great benefit assisting control of the vessel as the increased water pressure surged over the rudder surface.The very same reason the Navigation Rules assigns this type of situation is the obligation to maneuver if directed or necessary to avoid collision.

The second basic method to safely navigate in fog is to get up front and down low as possible.  On this size vessel the bulwark, a massive structure located at the very end of the large tanker to break up the heavy seas as they strike the bow, is the place to be.  Pitch blackness of night, the swirl of white wispy fog races by, driven by the wind and movement up the river.

Sound takes on a very different path in conditions like this. It will bounce, reflecting off objects, creating reverb on occasion, making it nearly impossible to discern how far away an object is and its direction of movement. Your sense of hearing enhances and absolutely everything, natural and man-made becomes more vivid. Faint bells marking anchored ships and aids to navigation, the deep sound of a gong identifying the stern of a vessel greater than 100 meters nearby, the noise and static of a radio from a vessel close aboard. For countless hours you focus and concentrate.

Bad things can happen to anyone who travels on the water.  Learn from other’s experience to help increase your confidence and assessment of safety risks.  Knowledge is the answer, and by the way, don’t forget ... Take a Second Look.

November 2015 column

Traveling the Straits of Florida to the 'hidden' country

The beautiful island of Cuba is on the distant horizon, invisible from view, but is a mere 90 miles from the closest land in the USA, the “Southern Most Point” of Key West. As you visually scan over the sea from that location it appears it would not be much effort to cross over. Looks can be deceiving in this case as the route you must take will pass through one of the most unique and challenging bodies of water you will ever encounter.  

A “River in the Sea” as it is sometimes referred to, the Gulf Stream, is a powerful current that rapidly flows Northeast through the Straits of Florida. At times it can be a beautifully calm and serene place. Other times it is just this side of a full blown, “peril at sea” disaster. Especially when tropical storms and hurricanes, are transiting or forming near its warm core.  

There are even occasions when a clear blue sky appears extremely odd and contrast against a raging short swell, high, steep waves generated by winds coming from the northeast opposing the flow of the current. Depending on your departure point this can make a huge difference while underway and a more comfortable, safer ride as you plow through the waves when the seas are rough.

Suddenly 90 miles becomes a much longer excursion than originally conceived and planned. Not that the weather can be the only factor, add the sometimes heavy traffic of all types of vessels as they transit through the Straits bound for their destination. You will almost certainly be faced with the need to interact with other vessels moving in all directions, speeds, and sizes. This is when knowledge of the navigation rules really pays off! This new port of call destination is going to be an interesting time for the Florida Straits when boaters from the USA begin the journey south from nearby places on the Gulf and Southeast Coast.  

Make sure you are ready. Have the proper communication, charting capability, life jackets, and most of all, the complete ability to react in times of emergency and danger. The island is close in distance, yet the path there is full of adventure and challenge as you cross the Straits of Florida.

Those of you that have USCG licenses and are considering going to Cuba with a small vessel should consider upgrading to Master, the next level from Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) and also include the STCW License called Basic Safety if you plan to carry passengers for hire. There will soon be a rush of license applications for those mariners that want to professionally serve as Master or just improve their total safety knowledge in this realm for their private craft.

Please contact me if you want to discover the many different ways you can prepare for the Straits of Florida.  What waits on the other side is well worth the effort ... an island hidden in full view for the past 50 years.

The basis for this month’s entry of Lessons Learned is achieving the ability to voyage plan and practice for the challenges that are ahead when underway through a wide variety of educational and certification sources. No matter where you journey, this knowledge will vastly improve your experience and security.

October 2015 column

So what's the difference between 'Beware vs. Be Aware?'

The headline’s phrase contains similar sounding words if you say them fast enough with one extra letter and the space in between.   They are somewhat related in definition but that is far from reality when it comes to boating safety.  Each and every operator of a watercraft, crew member, and even passengers need to recognize the difference these two mind-sets present and how to successfully engage them before problems arise.

Beware – To be careful, take heed, and watch out are all part of the total equation of safety but “Be Aware” takes the lead in every sense of the word and meaning.  That’s what boating safety is all about: to discern problems and take corrective steps to prevent “bad things” from happening in the first place.

As discussed many times before, proper education develops a keen understanding of what the outcome will be if certain actions are taken, both positive and negative. It all stems from risk assessment and in order to do that properly you should be aware of all the possible scenarios. Another reason why Error Trapping and Lessons Learned is so important to your great, incident free day on the water.
 
To say history repeats itself is a vast understatement when it comes to safely navigating a watercraft.  Many times boat operators get caught up in the moment and do not realize or keep the full picture of what is happening around the vessel. Situational Awareness is a valuable skill set that comes only with experience and cannot be taught in any classroom. Everything comes down to one moment in time when the decision to take a specific action makes the final difference.

There is even a Decision Making training syllabus you can now take called Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) which provides many scenarios for the mariner to make complex navigation decisions on information they are presented, both electronically and visually. Students are immersed in a simulation environment with difficult situations in vivid HD, each measured for their response and outcome. Better to perform that type of assessment in a controlled environment without damage to crew, vessel, and environment but more importantly it provides an emotional example for someone to forever learn and prosper from that very surreal event. That’s awareness and wisdom in its purest form ... passing on the actual experience is of great significance to everyone that comprehends.

If you knew in advance the results of your actions when operating a vessel, would you not make them more carefully and with greater precision? That’s also what awareness is and it is best advanced by training in any format that makes sense and increases your total understanding. Part of that recipe for success on the water is continual learning and then forward that knowledge through your interaction with others.

You are the key to boating safety success, not the classes, instructors, the marketing brochures and websites. The off season for the lake is rapidly approaching. Might be a great time to learn more and hone your boating skills. Next season is right around the corner.

Would you rather “Beware or Be Aware?” I can help. Contact me to find out more.

September 2015 column

Can you answer the question: How far away?

Judging distance. It’s something all of us do when we are in motion regardless of the mode – walking, driving, boating. It sounds like an easy thing to perform accurately but the reality is much different, especially in the boating world. Determining the “safe” distance from a nearby vessel depends on a number of factors such as electronic navigation devices and your ability to discern distance via depth perception. There are plenty of resources for learning this information: operation guides, online media, instructional classes, and hands on experience to name a few.

The best course of action is to understand and correctly interpret navigation’s Rules of the Road. You can avoid accidents by applying the basic principles found in these well written set of instructions. Of all the courses in the boating education curriculum this is one of the most important for safety.

Answering the question can take a different turn if visibility is reduced and during periods of darkness. Things look different. It can be in grayscale with bright flashing lights, some of them steady, in various colors marking objects on the water and structures ashore. It’s called “night vision,” and it’s when you begin to see more clearly. It is best observed in remote areas such as out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, when without a cloud in the sky, the Milky Way illuminating the night with millions of stars. Planets and a possible new moon doesn’t clutter the heavens with background light. The visibility on the surface of the water is so acute you can spot things floating at far distances without the aid of binoculars. As an example: one of the reasons coming into Miami can be difficult at night is all the background lights, the incredibly bright and vivid color pallet of neon. To a ship pilot entering port it is confusion and can greatly detract from the visibility of the lighted aids to navigation and other markers.

Without challenge, operating in fog can be the most hazardous and difficult to deal with. Some maritime academies are now teaching sound navigation – distance off utilizing mathematics, measuring sound as it travels in time. The navigation rules have very descriptive chapters and directives on sound signals, illustrating examples of the echo growing stronger or decreasing, otherwise known as Doppler. Couple advanced electronic technologies of GPS charting, radar, sonar, infrared, and other sensors, you can accurately assess if you are standing into danger or piloting safely during times like these.

We have covered a few different types of situations you could come across that would cause to ask the question: How far away? There are many, many more in various combinations. Give consideration to these scenarios, practice using your navigation and piloting resources, take a class, and learn to answer the question no matter what the condition. It will serve everyone’s boating safety needs in such a positive way!

August 2015 column

What not to do at buoy #19

Chesapeake Bay is a very remarkable place in the maritime realm. It contains a vast combination of military ships, all shapes and sizes, commercial vessels carrying endless tons of cargo, private boaters by the hundreds, including the ever popular small paddle craft vessels and boards. Calling the bay a busy place would be a huge understatement.

A lot of preparation goes into leaving Norfolk, VA – a concise voyage plan, adequate supplies, fuel, officers and crew, all accounted for and ready for mission. Summer months off the mid Atlantic Coast are beautiful, except when storms travel up from the tropics creating some of the largest waves found in any ocean. Cape Hatteras, where the Gulf Stream turns right and races out to the deeper, colder sea, is the place and our destination.

This harbor is considered by many professional mariners a very complicated port environment to safely navigate, and is frequently utilized as the departure point on Full Navigation Bridge Simulators for mariner and pilot assessments. The following is a brief portion of a training scenario that is actually presented and how this experience can have a positive impact to your boating life.

Berth, port side of the ship, a USCG 378’ High Endurance Cutter, simulation time is 0300 in the morning, proceeding to sea on a routine patrol then proceed northward to New York. Safely off the dock, engines back full to clear the end of the pier, then pivot fair in the channel outbound. Bright morning stars illuminating the clear sky, the moon in half phase adds to visibility. Our position now mid channel, proceeding to sea, a very large silhouette marked by a set of bright white colored range lights, including a red side light was visible on the starboard side off in the distance. It marks an extremely large container ship, almost five times the size of my vessel, inbound to the turn at the infamous Thimble Shoals; well marked on the piloting charts and by visual aids to navigation, especially lights. My speed increasing, the radar calculation of the path of the inbound ship placed us both arriving the same time at the dangerous turn next to the shoal marked by Buoy #19.

Navigation Rules of the Road direct each vessel to proceed on the right side of the channel.  Exactly how far to the right is the real question that now needs an immediate answer. Passing someone in a turn at high speed is never a good idea especially in a narrow channel. For example: as large vessels close proximity, water pressure from the bow pushes away while the inverse is quickly happening as the propellers suck the water violently passed the stern, and pulling each other into a collision. It’s referred to as Bow Wave and Stern Suction and can have a direct influence how you control your vessel regardless of size. It does not behave like a normal wake and can cause immediate hazard if not recognized and handled properly.

Normally students make the turn safely but some do not, especially those that did not factor the water hydraulic effects when two vessels pass too closely at Buoy #19. The collision playback and evaluation for Error Trapping provide lessons learned through simulation replay. The best advice: don’t place yourself in a situation where you come close enough to another vessel, influencing the handling and maneuvering capabilities of your vessel at any time. Safe boating is a wide combination of skills and understanding of all the hazards. Water has a unique characteristic to each boat. Mastering the skill of boat handling is all about awareness of how all these forces act on your vessel. Develop them to your advantage.

July 2015 column

An explanation of 'Sail Effect' on power boats

Here’s the stage: Final approach to the dock at bare steerageway, lines ready, forward spring first, quickly followed by other leads securing the large Coast Guard Cutter to the mooring. This can be a challenge depending on the powerful forces of wind and current. The same mindset applies to the task of safely stopping your vessel with an anchor, paying out the necessary scope of anchor line or chain to secure the boat in place. The most important part of ship handling is to control the movement through the water using all available resources, both natural and engineered.

Maneuvering at slow speeds presents all sorts of conditions that can redirect the watercraft.
Different dynamics depending on the size and design contributes to the strength of the forces acting on the control of the vessel, one of which is known as “Sail Effect.”  You can learn more about wind influence on power boats at http://www.boatdocking.com/other/Wind.html.

Most military ships, both Navy and Coast Guard, stationed in the Atlantic and Caribbean Region, visit Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for intense training called REFTRA which means: Refresher Training. It is absolutely the most effective and practical education there is available anywhere in the maritime world. Through extremely tough, expertly designed and delivered exercises, the training hones the skill sets that make ship and crew ready for any contingency.  

Each night, returning from sea off the Southern Coast of Cuba, means the end of a long day filled with countless drills and preparation for things like navigation, Search and Rescue, and other duties. US Navy Port Control assigns a different berth depending on mission and schedule. It is a very busy place when it comes to ship traffic so dock space can be limited.

In command of the ship’s navigation as the deck watch officer, my duty was to safely pilot the ship into port and dock. Port Control decided outside berth between two large US Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers would be the spot. In addition to the difficult position, the prevailing wind was frequently strong especially in the evening hours blowing off the dock. A mere 200 yards from  that very same side of the pier was shoal, complete with jagged rocks jutting sharply out of the water. No room for error, everything was riding on this task performed correctly.

The initial course to the starboard side berth placed me above the entrance at the beginning of the pier which would provide for the wind striking on the port side of the ship blowing me down, safely through the gap. It’s a maneuver not for the faint of heart. Once in the shadow of the first large navy destroyer the wind ceased to have an effect on maneuvering and I could control more effectively with engines. Preparing for the upcoming wind blowing me off the dock as I breached the open and narrow space in between the navy ships, my objective was to decrease the surface volume of the superstructure of my vessel, lessening the adverse effects of the wind. Retracting the helicopter hanger gave me the needed reduction of exposed structure. Final approach ... safely docked alongside, all lines made fast.

Understanding the pros and cons of side forces can make you a better boat handler. Each vessel has a unique character when operating in the wind. Knowing and understanding how “Sail Effect” can be harnessed and controlled is key to your boat handling success.

June 2015 column

An explanation of error trapping

I’ve been wrapping up an education project regarding required training for Officer In Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) for a USCG license school using a Full Navigation Bridge Simulator (www.nautissim.com). The objective is to simulate navigation scenarios and emergency events in order to evaluate and assess the students. The simulation is extremely vivid, some mariners even getting a tinge of motion sickness while in rough seas. In addition to advanced electronics (radar, communications, and GPS charting) there is a more conventional approach that can be used on this system such as celestial azimuth of the sun, visual piloting, paper charts and other references.

Navigation is a science of multiple methods and utilities that should all conclude to the same answer. It is accomplished by what is defined in the assessment curriculum as: Knowledge, Understanding, and Proficiency.  To reach this stage of learning there needs to be an actual experience factor. That’s where these assessments come from and they can be conducted in a few different ways actually onboard the vessel during operations or by simulation.  The latter choice and process enables something extremely valuable to occur.

Error Trapping is a system making possible the review of an incident or event that will produce “lessons learned” thus helping to prevent it from happening again.   Simulation delivers the ingredients to achieve this level of Knowledge, Understanding, and Proficiency in a profound way. You can replay the incident or event until it is understood completely. In addition to the increased proficiency it has great affect on the confidence level and decision making of the individual.  How many times have you learned from a mistake, never to repeat it because you know its consequences?

In the next issue we will begin a series about certain shipboard events that were experienced in my career on a wide variety of vessels that can also be regarded as lessons learned and applied to everyday boating life. Not all of them were severe or caused harm to anyone, but they happened, making them “teachable moments.” That’s why obtaining safety training should be an integral part of your boating experience and I encourage and recommend everyone, whether in charge of the vessel or not, attend one of these informative seminars.

Error Trapping is a very big element of maritime life through a syllabus and training method in Bridge Resource Management (BRM). It is also a requirement found in international maritime standards. Its insight is useful to all boaters, not just commercial and military. You don’t have to attend a marine ship simulator to discover how to benefit. To learn the new skill, practice and visualize the steps, including errors, of how to accomplish tasks over and over and you will see the difference.  

The best part about boating education is not what you learn sitting in class, it is what you remember and apply to your boating experience through Lessons Learned.

May 2015 column

To obtain a USCG license on Lanier or not?

Link: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title33-vol3/pdf/CFR-2011-title33-vol3-part329.pdf

There’s a contentious subject regarding fishing guides and other boating operator businesses required to have a US Coast Guard License. Specifically OUPV, which stands for Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel up to 6 Passengers, also known as a “6 pack” license.

Some believe that since the lake is not a navigable waterway by commercial ships then the federal license is not necessary. Others contend that if you take passengers for hire then you need the license.  One might ask: “Doesn’t having a basic boating class and even a state license suffice?” That complicated answer can only come from you. This month’s column is dedicated to the need for USCG License. And I respectfully invite comment to my email address. It is important when you voice your opinion!

The goal is to make things better on the water and by that I mean safer. Here is the simple question that is subject to all this debate among professional boaters: Is the USCG License required to take passengers for hire on Lake Lanier?

Before you contemplate that question fully there is always the description of a required body of water where the license is mandated and that is called a Navigable Waterway. The expansive explanation provided by the federal government is sometime hard to decipher. In order to access the explanation you’ll need to click here >>>.

Secondly, is the lake substantial enough to warrant any need to have a license under the USCG standards found at www.uscg.mil/nmc under the section, Charter Boat Captains?

My answer, and personal opinion, would be yes, it’s considerable enough, so much so it needs to be navigated with caution. Big enough to generate rough waves and rip conditions with strong currents by both vessel wake and adverse weather. Cold enough during certain times of the year that extra caution should be given to hypothermia water temps. Depth changes as the water is released or lack of rainfall. These are but a sample of the hazards and difficult situations you can experience when on the water. Undertaking a concentrated training syllabus such as the US Coast Guard license will create more awareness of these conditions and even more importantly, how to avoid them.

As an instructor, the question most often asked by students: What will a license do for me? The answer is straightforward: It’s learning a group of skill sets that will ultimately benefit your boating experience and the safety of others.

The license course is divided into four parts; Chart Navigation, Rules of the Road, Deck General, and Navigation General. This is basic foundation information that will give you a more thorough understanding of boating.

The first part of preparation is always information, that’s where the license training comes into the equation. Then comes the practical aspect of learning, the hands on component that completes the process as you develop the ability and confidence.  

Yes, I believe anyone taking someone on the water for hire should have a USCG license, regardless of navigable water or number of passengers. So what difference does that really make? Customers expect to have a good and safe experience during the trip and for the person in charge of operating a watercraft, the training cycle should never stop.

Please contact me if you want to know more about professional USCG licensing and its long term benefits.

April 2015 column

An explanation of the three 'P's: Proper Preparation Prevents

Boat training is a constant, never-ending process. A few courses, a test or two, even a license does not entirely meet the objective of accident prevention and making boating safer. It is the application of maritime education that produces the greatest results and is proven to work best. And that takes place with practical experience, the most influential source to increase knowledge, proficiency, and especially confidence.  

Preparation – at its core – is intelligent planning for any situation that may arise and practicing the steps until they become familiar. For example: knowing your position or location with reasonable accuracy at any given time can be a huge challenge, especially on Lake Lanier where the shoreline is a constant backdrop of a very long tree-line. A sudden drop in visibility or nightfall adding to the uncertainty, other vessels in proximity and you have the making of a  bad time on the water. It is important to educate yourself with your navigation systems and even learn visual piloting.

Picture yourself in such a predicament, not knowing what will happen next. Developing a plan for such an event can dramatically improve your odds, help you get safely through the incident, and sometimes prevent it altogether.

Most mariners now rely on GPS to guide them and they should understand the charts are not updated to the latest information unless you have download capability. For coastal and navigable waterways around the country, the publication Weekly Notice to Mariners provides all the chart correction data. The new advanced navigation ECDIS systems that commercial and military ships are required by law to use, is effortless as the systems communicate with satellites for updates. Not everything on navigation charts change drastically or frequently, but you do not want to be in the unfortunate position of finding out the hard way!  

A few publications, in print, or online can help you become a safer boater in regards to improving your navigation. U.S. Chart No. 1 is a volume of cartography symbols that are used on American charts.  Some of these graphics are also represented on the GPS charts you have on your boat, now in a wide variety of multi-function displays from different manufacturers.  There is even cloud based technology, voyage planning, and information systems for private boaters that provide details about many support resources, dining, fuel, GPS and Sonar charts to name a few.

A booklet that promotes safety, sportsmanship, and education, titled “Lake Sidney Lanier Navigation Charts,” mapping obtained by the US Army Corps of Engineers and published by UYC Maritime Foundation, Inc. is a must have reference. It is an effective component of planning for a possibility of your GPS system becoming inoperative, loss of radio communications, including a list of important phone numbers and description of the navigation markers on the lake. You can also visit www.uycmaritimefoundation.org  where you can see the link to the chart and information.  

The best course of action is always to plan for a variety of contingencies, no matter how remote they may seem. You can obtain that  information from a variety of professional outlets and websites. Contact me if you would like to learn more. Boating safety is based on adequate preparation and knowledge of what to do in a correct and timely manner.  

I call it the three ‘P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents.

March 2015 column

Security awareness is vital for mariners

Everything in the maritime world, including numerous other elements of our society, revolve around adequate security. The process is taken for granted and sometimes easier said than done if recent news of events is any example.  

Effective and clearly delivered training in the skill of recognizing a threat equals improved awareness and most of all, increased safety. It is the foundation for the course of instruction mandated by the new National and International 2016 Standards of Training and Watch-Keeping (STCW) laws that govern all certified mariners and licensed officers.

Its roots are derived from US Navy and US Coast Guard security requirements for ships and cutters, professionally designed for a more thorough understanding concerning situations that demand quick, concise action if needed. Program organization is the principle focus and the delivery of that information needs to be a basic – simple to apply – set of instructions and procedures to follow.

This is not a concern for lake boaters but if you decide to travel offshore, near coastal, even inland waters, there would be a tremendous benefit from an increase in security awareness. This general type of training can also be helpful in terms of your own personal safety when taking a cruise to a foreign port of call. The more you know the actual process of how to assess risk then the safer you will be. It all begins with an increase of awareness and knowing what to look for compared to an unprepared and often ineffective reaction to an incident.  

Prior to mid-patrol break and foreign port visits on USCG and Navy ships we would be briefed on local conditions, real time information, something that would be of great value in all regards, especially personal safety both ashore and onboard the ship while moored. Everything should be considered including sights to see, places to dine, emergency servic