HONOLULU — The Coast Guard, in coordination with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and state Department Of Transportation Harbors Division, will be participating in the third annual nationwide, multi-agency Boating Under the Influence education, detection and enforcement
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard, in coordination with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and state Department Of Transportation Harbors Division, will be participating in the third annual nationwide, multi-agency Boating Under the Influence education, detection and enforcement campaign this summer, states a Coast Guard press release.
The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary are expanding this outreach program to increase awareness and education amongst all recreational and commercial waterway users throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
They will be conducting a summer-long BUI outreach campaign with Hawai‘i’s numerous harbor masters and marina facility managers.
Operation Dry Water, June 24-26, is a national weekend of BUI education and enforcement aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities. Held each year during the weekend before the Fourth of July, Operation Dry Water is coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the states, the Coast Guard and other partner organizations.
The goal for ODW is to significantly reduce the number of alcohol related accidents, injuries, and deaths among recreational boaters.
ODW directly supports a variety of objectives identified in the National Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan that focuses on reducing deaths and injuries nationally.
Boating under the influence is dangerous and illegal. Alcohol continues to be a leading cause in recreational boating related accidents, injuries and deaths. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 17 percent of all recreational boating deaths nationwide in 2009, according to the release.
The NASBLA is a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety.
NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories.
It offers a variety of resources including, training, model acts, education standards and publications.
Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, NASBLA affects the lives of over 83 million American boaters.
Contact Lt. Cmdr. Marcella Granquist, Coast Guard Marine Safety Outreach Coordinator, at 808-842-2600 or go to www.operationdrywater.org for more information about ODW.
For additional information contact the 14th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at 808-535-3230.
