Filing a Float Plan

When you plan to boat, especially on larger waters, it is a good idea to leave information with friends or relatives about the expected destination, boat description, course, time of departure and time of expected return. This is designed to assist rescue authorities in locating you and your boat in the event of an accident.

A float plan can be as simple as telling a responsible person where you are going, who you are going with, and when you plan to return. Or it can be as detailed as the downloadable float plan.

Here is an example of a Float Plan that you can save and print for your use:

Download the Float Plan document (139k).

Communication Procedures

It is the operator's responsibility to inform passengers about the location of PFDs, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, discharge and management of waste procedures, anchoring procedures, emergency radio operation (if applicable), storm/rough weather procedures, line handling, emergency boat operation and reboarding procedure should someone fall off the PWC or other type of boat. In addition to the above information, the operator should inform all the passengers of the location of the emergency flares and other signaling devices, how and when to use them. These items should be readily accessible and plainly marked. Instructing the passengers of the above procedures may save the lives of all onboard should the operator become disabled, unconscious, or falls overboard.

In the event of an emergency the boat operator must be able to respond quickly and communicate his or her situation to relevant authorities. Understanding how to use marine communication procedures is an essential element of responding to emergencies.

For PWC users and other boaters who frequent large bodies of water a VHF radio would come in handy in case of an emergency. VHF marine radios have channels reserved for distress signals that are continuously monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard. Use VHF Channel 16 to issue a MAYDAY if you are faced with a life-threatening emergency. Remember, improper use of Channel 16 brings penalties. If you hear a MAYDAY call, remain silent, listen and write down the information being given by the boat in distress. Be aware that the distance of sending and receiving messages is limited by the height of the antenna and the power of the radio. If the U.S. Coast Guard or other rescue authority does not respond, try to reach the Coast Guard while traveling toward the boat. After contacting the Coast Guard on Channel 16 they may ask you to switch to another channel to talk so Channel 16 is kept clear for Emergencies. If you can not reach the Coast Guard, try to assist the other boat to the best of your ability while not placing yourself or your passengers in danger.

Channel 9 is used for communications between boats - both commercial and recreational. Channel 22 is used for communications between the Coast Guard and boaters. When using a cell phone in an emergency situation, the phone may not be directed to the closest provider. To help authorities respond to an emergency quickly, be prepared to give the operator detailed information as to your exact location and nature of your emergency. However, cell phones have serious limitations and should not be used as a substitute for a VHF radio.

The Coast Guard would like to advise you of the following:

In an effort to improve Search and Rescue Response the Coast Guard has requested all wireless providers in states other then Alaska to remove the specialized keying sequence, *CG, used to reach the Coast Guard for maritime emergency assistance.

The *CG feature was introduced by some cellular communications companies in the early 1990's, but never developed into a nationwide service. As wireless providers moved to digital systems, some didn't migrate *CG to the new system and others even lost track of whether or not they were continuing the feature. This patchwork of service is confusing for the mariners who choose to use it, and may, in fact, prevent them from making a timely call for assistance should they find themselves in an area where *CG is not available.

The Coast Guard has found through research and experience that with the multitude of wireless systems and the misalignment of cellular coverage areas with our regions for Search and Rescue response, the use of this specialized service has resulted in misdirection of emergency calls. This has often added significant delays in the Coast Guard response to those calls for assistance.

The Coast Guard has requested that the cellular companies reroute all *CG calls to the 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) nearest to where the call originated. As an added precaution, mariners should stop using the special keying sequence *CG and begin using 911 on their cell phones to notify authorities of a distress at the onset of a maritime emergency if a cell phone is their only means of communication.