Coast Guard Says to Get Good Communications for Boating

5/27/2010

The U.S. Coast Guard is participating in this week’s National Boating Safety Week by getting the word out about the importance of preparing a boat and its occupants for the water. One safety issue being promoted has been the use of good communication systems on vessels. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jonathon Lally from Kodiak explained the importance of these communications systems to us.

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EPIRB stands for emergency position indicating radio beacon. This is just one communication device that is promoted for vessels by the U.S. Coast Guard. Other forms of communication include cell phones, satellite phones, VHF radios, and personal locator beacons.

The Coast Guard warns everyone, though, that VHF coverage has dead spots, and cell phones can be unreliable. Cell phones should never be used as a primary form of communication while on a boat. However, EPIRB’s can be manually triggered or automatically triggered by water immersion. To learn more about the best communication devices for safe boating, individuals can contact any U.S. Coast Guard office, including the Coast Guard office in Kenai.