MARINE SAFETY PROGRAMS
THE MARINE SAFETY TRIDENT PROGRAM offers an exciting opportunity for you to move beyond the traditional Auxiliary roles such as boat crew member or coxswain, vessel examiner or marine dealer visitor. Qualified Auxiliarists can work directly with Active Duty and Reserve Coast Guard Marine Safety Specialists as “force multipliers” in a number of programs such as commercial vessel safety inspections, life raft inspections, port safety, environmental response assistance, Sea Partners, and America’s Waterway Watch. To perform as an Auxiliary Marine Specialist, you must first complete the requirements for the Marine Safety Trident Training Ribbon (MSTTR) then move on to demonstrate your advanced knowledge and ability by completing one of the Marine Safety Performance Qualification Standards (PQSs) under the supervision of a training officer who can be an Auxiliarist or “Gold Side” Marine Safety Specialist. Auxiliarists who progress through the program may be awarded the Marine Safety Trident Device which symbolizes their service and dedication to the high standards of the Coast Guard.
AMERICA'S WATERWAY WATCH: The U.S. Coast Guard, and its Reserve and Auxiliary forces, is responsible for ensuring the security of infrastructure along our nation’s waterfronts and vessels on our waterways. With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 290,000 square miles of water and 70 million recreational boats, the Coast Guard and local first responders cannot do the job alone.
America's Waterway Watch is a public outreach program that encourages those who live, work and recreate on our nation’s waterfronts and waterways to be on the lookout for and report suspicious activities that could indicate a threat to our nation’s homeland security. Suspicious Activity can appear in many ways. Some examples of what to be on the lookout for include a boat near a ferry terminal, commercial dock or secure facility not normally frequented by the public, a person asking questions about a secure facility that doesn’t add up, a breach in a security fence, or an unattended boat or vehicle in an unusual location. Additional information on America’s Waterway Watch activities can be found on the Homeport, a U. S. Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard portal to the Maritime Community.
When you witness suspicious activity, immediately call the National Response Center (NRC) at 877-24Watch or make a report online using the NRC Reporting Tool. If there is an immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or the Coast Guard on Marine Channel 16.
SEA PARTNERS CAMPAIGN: The Sea Partners Campaign is the Coast Guard’s proactive environmental education and outreach program focusing on educating communities of maritime pollution issues and improving compliance with marine environmental protection laws and regulations. The Auxiliary’s role in the campaign is to support the Coast Guard Sectors by distributing environmental educational materials encompassing marine pollution, nuisance species, protected species and habitat conservation at boat show booths and other public events, including boating safety classes, vessel safety checks and marine dealer visits, and providing public presentations at schools, yacht clubs and business groups.
The Sea Partners Campaign has established working relationships with other agencies and organizations to expand outreach opportunities. These include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ocean Conservancy, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Oregon State Marine Board, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Washington Department of Ecology.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES are available to assist you in publicizing Prevention Department activities and events, and to improve your Marine Safety skills.
A wide variety of Marine Safety pamphlets, posters and other educational materials are available from the USCG Auxiliary National Supply Center (ANSC).
The USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs website contains resources that can be used to publicize Marine Safety activities and events.
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Online Course Catalog Search web page can be used to identify courses to expand your preparedness qualifications.
MARINE SAFETY NEWS AND INFORMATION
NOAA has released new rules for the protection of the declining population of Puget Sound orcas from vessel activities. With few exceptions, the new rules will prohibit vessels of any kind from approaching within 200 yards of an orca, intercepting or parking in the path of whales. Read the full report at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Whales-Dolphins-Porpoise/Killer-Whales/Recovery-Implement/upload/Vessel-Rule-FRN-text.pdf
Marine Safety Recall
MUSTANG SURVIVAL ISSUES VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE ON MD2010 & MD2012 model 22LB Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices In keeping with Mustang Survival’s commitment to the highest levels of product quality and safety, we are voluntarily recalling all model number MD2010 and MD2012 inflatable Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s) sold in the United States during 2011.
This recall is being issued for the inspection and repair of an inflator installation inconsistency that may prevent some units from fully inflating. Mustang Survival has developed a solution that corrects any affected product and prevents re-occurrence of this issue. The inspection and repair can only be performed at a Mustang Survival factory.
This recall notification is for only the MD2010 and MD2012 22LB buoyancy inflatable PFDs. No other Mustang Survival products are affected as they utilize different inflator mechanisms.
All MD2010 and MD2012 PFD’s without the stamped MIT logo as shown in Image 3 (above) should be returned to Mustang Survival for inspection. All other Mustang PFD’s are okay for use.
Distributors and consumers are urged to contact Mustang Survival’s Customer Service department at 1-800-526-0532 between 7:30am and 4:30pm PST, Monday through Friday for specific shipping instructions. If you have questions, please first refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below.r website at www.mustangsurvival.com/22lb-product-notice
Orion issues recall notice for hand-launched aerial signals
Orion Safety Products has issued a recall for two models of its hand-launched aerial signals, citing problems with the devices failing to launch and/or ignite. If you have an XLT signal with an orange launch tube that has an expiration date between November 2011 and December 2011, or an orange 12-gauge shell that has an expiration date between November 2011 and March 2012, you are eligible to receive a free, four-pack replacement at no cost. To obtain a replacement pack, submit the following information by email to customerservice@orionsignals.com, subject “SIGNAL REPLACEMENT,” or by mail to Orion Safety Products, Attn. Signal Replacement Program, P.O. Box 1047, Easton, MD, 21601:
Name, Address, Daytime phone number, Signal quantity, Lot numberExpiration date
Customers are also asked to submit a photo of their signals, clearly showing the expiration date and lot number. Do not ship any signals back to Orion. Replacement packs cannot be shipped to a P.O. Box.
SAFETY ALERT – Inflatable lifejackets
Thursday, September 08, 2011
SAFETY ALERT – Inflatable lifejackets equipped with Hammar Hydrostatic Inflator manufactured before 2006.
This Safety Alert was recently distributed to shipping authorities and advertised in the trade press, boating magazines and digital media worldwide. The Hammar Hydrostatic Inflator is attached to the lifejacket with a sealing ring. In 2006, CM Hammar upgraded the sealing ring with new state of the art raw materials, to eliminate potential defects and increase long term durability. A small number of sealing rings manufactured before 2006 have suffered premature material degradation, most likely after being exposed to extreme environmental conditions. When exposed to high temperature and high humidity for a long period of time, the sealing ring might become stiffer, change colour and in severe cases cracking of the plastic may occur. The change does not occur overnight and can be detected at the recommended service or inspections.
CM Hammar are concerned that a damaged sealing ring might put the user at risk. We recommend owners of lifejackets manufactured before 2006 that have not been serviced recently to contact the nearest authorized service station for an annual service. The date of manufacture can be identified on the inside of the lifejacket cover. Owners who still want to do the check of the sealing ring themselves are advised to visit www.cmhammar.com/inflator for further information. Lifejackets manufactured after 2006 are not affected by this Safety Alert.