Legal Responsibility United States Coast Guard Federal laws

Legal Responsibility United States Coast Guard Federal laws Equipment requirements Safety recommendations District of Columbia, Metropolitan Police Dept. , Harbor Master and Patrol Additional equipment requirements Educational requirements Registration

DC Title & Registering Title (and registration) required if boating on DC waters more than 50 days District issues registration numbers Decals are issued for calendar years and are valid for one year Out of district moves must be reported within 15 days In district moves require registration within 15 days

DC Registration Display number and decals as follows: • Number must be painted, decaled or otherwise affixed to forward half of each side of vessel • Number must read from left to right • Number must be at least 3” high, bold, BLOCK letters Slide 3 of 56

DC Registration (cont. ) • Number’s color must contrast with its background • Letters must be separated from numbers by spaces or hyphens • No other numbers may be displayed on either side of bow • Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel within 3 inches of the number Slide 4 of 56

DC Registration (cont’d) Registration Certificate Must be on board when underway Issued by DC Harbor Master

U. S. Documented Vessels U. S. Citizens only may have a large vessel documented (at least 5 gross tons) Documentation number must be permanent and clearly visible on the interior structure Slide 6 of 56

Hull Identification Numbers HIN unique number Engraved into transom fiberglass Slide 7 of 56

Who May Operate A Vessel District of Columbia requires any person who is operating or navigating a powered boat shall have in his or her possession satisfactory evidence of having completed an approved boating safety course Slide 8 of 56

Who May Operate A Vessel (cont. ) Certificate obtained by successfully completing boating safety course or passing equivalency exam approved by the District of Columbia Persons required to have certificate must have it on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever operating a vessel on DC waters Slide 9 of 56

Who May Operate A Vessel (cont. ) • No one under 18 may legally operate a vessel, unless they possess a certificate of boating safety education • No one under 12 may legally operate a vessel towing a person(s) on water-skis, an aquaplane, a parasail or similar device

Boat Rentals • Renter must read and understand DC’s Boating rules and regulations • Renter must be over 18 unless they have completed a boating safety course and have a certificate Slide of 61

Negligent Operation Operating in restricted areas Wake jumping, hull leaves water Failure to regulate speed Operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol Slide 12 of 56

Regulatory Markers Slide of 42

Alcohol and Drugs Use causes impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, and impaired judgment BWI became federal offense Jan 13, 1988 Standard for BWI : 0. 08% bac

Obstructing Navigation It is illegal to: Anchor in a channel Tie up to a buoy or other ATON Tamper with, deface, or move any ATON Obstruct a pier, wharf, boat ramp

Security Zones

Homeland Security • Observe and avoid all security zones and other restricted areas. Avoid commercial port operation areas • Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in the channel • Keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks peculiar or out of the ordinary. Report all suspicious activities to local authorities, USCG, or port or marina security

PFD Requirements • One person (Type I, III, or V) • One throwable (Type IV) per boat >16’ • Children under 13 must wear one (underway <21’ unless moored or child is below deck in enclosed cabin) • Must wear on skis and PWC’s • Must have onboard all motorized and non-motorized vessels (kayaks, canoes, sail/paddleboards) • Good condition, readily accessible, and sized for user Slide of 61

PFD Law (cont’d) q When the operator of a vessel sixteen feet (16 ft. ) or more in length is under eighteen (18) years of age, the operator and all other persons aboard the vessel who are under eighteen (18) years of age shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device of the proper size. q All persons aboard any vessel in the area from the southernmost point of the cove commonly known as Fletcher’s Cove in the Georgetown Channel of the Potomac River upstream to the District of Columbia boundary line at Little Falls shall wear a Coast Guardapproved personal floatation device at all times.

Type I: Offshore Life Jacket Minimum Buoyancy 22 pounds Slide 20 of 56

Type II: Near-Shore Vest Minimum Buoyancy 15. 5 pounds Slide 21 of 56

Type III: Flotation Aid Minimum Buoyancy 15. 5 pounds Slide 22 of 56

Type III/V: Inflatable PFD Minimum Buoyancy 22 pounds Slide 23 of 56

Type IV: Throwable Device Must have on board Slide 24 of 56

Type V: Special-Use Device Slide 25 of 56

HIGHER BUOYANCY MEANS HIGHER LIFT Type PFDs I - Inflatable I - Buoyant Foam or Kapok II - Inflatable II - Buoyant Foam or Kapok III - Inflatable III - Buoyant Foam IV - Ring Buoys IV - Boat Cushions V - Hybrid Inflatables V - Special Use Device - Inflatable V - Special Use Device - Buoyant Foam Minimum Adult Buoyancy in Pounds (Newtons) 33. 0 (150) 22. 0 (100) 33. 0 (150) 15. 5 (70) 22. 0 (100) 15. 5 (70) 16. 5 (75) 18. 0 (82) 22. 0 (Fully inflated) (100) 7. 5 (Deflated) (34) 22. 0 to 34. 0 (100 to 155) 15. 5 to 22. 0 (70 to 100) Slide 26 of 61

Types Of Fires Trash Wood Paper Liquids Grease Electrical Equipment Slide 27 of 56

Fire Extinguishers Should be on all vessels

Fire Extinguishers Dry chemical most common for marine use Type B required onboard Inboard or I/O engines Permanently installed fuel tanks Closed living spaces Closed compartments where portable fuel tanks are stored Slide 29 of 56

Federal Rules For Fire Extinguishers <26 feet 1 B-1 26 feet to <40 feet 2 B-1 40 feet to <65 feet 3 B-1 Note: These are minimums Slide 30 of 56

Charge Indicators Slide 31 of 56

Backfire Flame Arrestor Required on gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940

Proper Ventilation Required on gasoline powered boats Powered ventilation on boats built after 31 July 1980 Natural ventilation for boats built before 1 August 1980

Proper Ventilation Powered ventilation Slide 34 of 56

Proper Ventilation Natural ventilation

Mufflers Excessive noise can prevent vessel operator from hearing signals and voices • All vessels manufactured after January 1, 1990 must be equipped with muffler system in good working order and in constant operation to suppress engine noise • You may not remove or modify a muffler or muffling system if it results in an increased noise level • Vessels involved in marine event approved by USCG or DC Harbor Master are exempt from these requirements

Lights – Under Power Sunset to sunrise Restricted visibility Range of visibility Example: • In vessels of less than 12 meters in length: – a masthead light, 2 miles; – a sidelight, 1 miles; Slide 37 of 56

Lights – Sailboat Slide 38 of 56

Lights < 23’ or 7 meters under oars Slide 39 of 56

Visual Distress Signals Three hand held red flares Day and Night Service life: 42 Months

Or. . . One Hand Held Red Flare & Two Red Meteors Service life: 42 Months

Or. . . One hand held orange smoke Two floating orange smoke And one electric SOS light Slide 42 of 56

Other VSDs Arm signal Not USCG approved Use if no other Orange flag Day signal only Slide 43 of 56

Sound Producing Devices Boats less than 65’ (20 m) must carry a sound producing device, e. g. , whistle, horn, etc. Slide 44 of 56

Sound Producing Devices Boats greater than 65’ (20 m) must carry a bell (in addition to other device) Slide 45 of 56

Diving/Snorkeling Flags Avoid placing in: Areas already occupied by boaters Narrow channels

Requirements Specific To PWC Education requirements District registration PFD required Lanyard required: essential for engine cutoff No night operation

PWC (cont’d) • Prudent operation – Speed <6 kts within 100 yd of shore, persons – Speed <6 kts within 100 yd of another vessel unless overtaking or crossing – Speed: slow, no wake in water less than 18” deep

Towing Requirements Boat Or PWC No skiing or towing between sunset and sunrise PFD required for towed person PWC must be rated for 3 persons: observer required

Waste and Trash Sewage carries harmful bacteria: use pump out stations Do not throw any trash overboard

Environmental Protection Pollution regulations Placard required vessels greater than 26 feet

Oil/Fuel Spills: Thimble of fuel or more should be reported: US Coast Guard DC Harbor Master Placard displayed for vessels >26’ Fines up to $10000 Slide 52 of 56

Marine Sanitation Devices Type I or II Chemically treated Type III Holding tank only for pump-out or discharge beyond 3 miles off-shore

Marine Sanitation Devices – Type III All MSD’s Must Be USCG Approved Slide 54 of 56

Use Pump Out Stations Slide 55 of 56

Waste Management Plan Vessels greater than 40 feet with galley and berths must have a written plan Captain is responsible for implementation Plan should be posted with directives for crew and passengers

Aquatic Nuisances To prevent the spread of non-native fish and mollusks in our waterways, boaters should follow these simple rules: • Trailer boaters should remove visible mud, plants, fish or animals from boats and trailers prior to transport to another body of water. • Scrape any mussels from boat or outdrive, and flush hull, bilges & water holding compartments with hot water (at least 120º F). • Do not release plants or fish, including bait, into a body of water unless it came out of that same body of water. Slide 57 of 56

Aquatic Nuisances • Pump fresh water through engines before leaving the area. • Empty water out of kayaks, canoes, rafts, etc. • Let boat, PWC's, trailer and equipment dry for at least 5 days. Slide 58 of 56

Accidents Stop and provide assistance; exchange information Accident reports must be filed within 48 hours, if death, missing or medical treatment beyond first aid If vessel is lost, or damage is over $200, § Report must be filed within 10 days to the DC Harbor Master

Accident Reporting Slide of 61

Enforcement § Metropolitan Police/Harbor Patrol and the USCG can stop and board your vessel § Yield right of way, stop vessel and stay in position until police have passed Slide 61 of 56

Setting Anchor Select a sheltered area Approach into the wind or current Lower the anchor until it reaches bottom Pay out line for appropriate scope while backing down (7: 1 recommended) Back down hard to set the anchor Check position periodically for drift America’s Boating Course Slide of 40

Fueling Safely Portable tanks: Fill on dock On-board tanks: 1. Close hatches and portholes 2. Keep fuel nozzle in contact with deck plate 3. Do not overfill tanks 4. Ventilate bilge after fueling 5. Open all hatches and portholes America’s Boating Course Slide of 33

Fueling Safely Turn off all electrical/electronic equipment Turn off bilge blower After fueling, turn on bilge blower for 4 minutes prior to restarting engine America’s Boating Course Slide of 33

PWC: Fueling Safely Keep fuel line closed Check system for leaks Fill tank slowly do not overfill After fueling ventilate engine compartment Check for spills America’s Boating Course Slide of 33