Blogs

Appointments announced for NBSAC

By Hannah Helsby posted 8 days ago
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Appointments announced for  National Boating Safety Advisory Council    NASBLA would like to congratulate the following Boating Law Administrators (BLAs) on being selected to serve on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council.    This following list of BLAs appointed/reappointed, fill the terms that expired in 2016 and 2017. Dave Dahms  - Idaho - Term expiring 12/31/2019 Tim Dunleavy  - New Hampshire - Term expiring 12/31/2019 Mark Brown  - Oklahoma - Term expiring 12/31/2020 Cody Jones  - Texas - Term expiring 12/31/2020 Gary Klein  - Florida - Term expiring 12/31/2020 In addition to this list of BLAs, NASBLA's CEO & ...
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As Boating Season Begins, Help Raise Awareness of the "Killer in Our Rivers"

By Ron Sarver posted 24 days ago
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Submitted by the Indiana Silver Jackets and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials Since 1960, roughly 400 fatalities have occurred at low-head dams, structures ranging from about one to fifteen feet in height. Among the victims: boaters, kayakers, swimmers, and emergency responders who became trapped in a powerful hydraulic roller created at the base of many of these dams. Boaters are often unaware of the potentially extreme forces and vortices at low-head dams, as the surrounding waters may look calm and inviting. Below the surface, however, turbulent conditions can create highly aerated, circulating currents that decrease the buoyancy of personal ...
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CT DEEP, State Environmental Conservation Police awarded National Accreditation

By Hannah Helsby posted 29 days ago
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Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, State Environmental Conservation Police awarded National Accreditation March 21, 2018 -- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), State Environmental Conservation Police is being recognized as an accredited agency by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program. The BOAT Program’s mission is to ensure the readiness of law enforcement and emergency response boat crews throughout the country. Agencies who choose to adopt this national standard of training, typing and credentialing ...
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Water-Jet Propelled Supplement Earns Distinction as American National Standard

By Hannah Helsby posted 29 days ago
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  Water-Jet Propelled Supplement Earns Distinction as American National Standard   LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 21, 2018) – The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has announced recognition of a new Water-Jet Propelled Supplement as an American National Standard. The supplement, entitled ANSI/NASBLA 103.1-2018: Supplement – Basic Boating Knowledge- Water Jet Propelled , is developed for use in conjunction with the previously published American National Standard for Power Boat Knowledge.   This new supplement provides optional, supplementary content for ANSI/NASBLA 103-2016: Basic Boating Knowledge – Power to address basic recreational ...
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NauticEd Sail Course recognized as Verified Course

By Hannah Helsby posted 03-07-2018
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  NauticEd Sail Course receives recognition for it's Third-Party Verified Course   NauticEd ’s Nationally Recognized On The Water Sailing Endorsement Course is being recognized for meeting the American National Standard for On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard – SAIL. The course was submitted by NauticEd and put through a third-party conformity assessment to verify that it met the National Standard. Under funding provided by a USCG grant, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators has implemented a process of voluntary third-party conformity assessment for on-water boating skill programs to verify a course meets American ...
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TN Wildlife Officer determined to see case through to the end

By Hannah Helsby posted 03-07-2018
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Tennessee Wildlife Officer determined to see case through to the end Crossville, TN -- After three years and over 200 hours of time involving investigations, interviews, evidence collection, processing, court time, filing and meeting with the district attorney, Monroe County wildlife officer Kip Kite was satisfied to see the conclusion of an atypical case involving three charged in a 2015 boating incident that took one life. Holly Cassandra Wall of Tellico Plains, as part of a plea bargain, pled guilty to reckless homicide in Monroe County criminal court on January 22. Wall was sentenced to 180 days in the Bradley County Jail and two years of supervised ...
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NASBLA offers tuition based Boat Accident Investigation Course

By Hannah Helsby posted 03-07-2018
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NASBLA offers tuition based Boat Accident Investigation Course NASBLA's Boat Operation and Training (BOAT) Program will be offering a tuition based Comprehensive Boat Accident Investigation course in San Diego, California, June 4th – 8th, 2018. The course is being hosted by the San Diego Fire & Rescue, Life Guard Service. The BOAT Program was established as a National Standard of training, qualification, credentialing and typing of maritime law enforcement and public safety officers throughout the country. As part of the BOAT Program, this course gives law enforcement officers the opportunity to develop and perfect their skills in order to ...
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Boaters urged to get educated before boating season

By Hannah Helsby posted 02-28-2018
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Spring Aboard - Boaters urged to get educated before boating season   LEXINGTON, Kentucky (February 23, 2018) – The temperature may still be cool outside in much of the country, but boating safety advocates urge boaters to enroll in a boating education course now. The Spring Aboard – Take A Boating Education Course campaign encourages boaters to get educated prior to the kick-off of the boating season. Many education providers offer discounts or other incentives for students when they enroll in a boating education course during Spring Aboard Week , March 18-24, 2018.   “We know that an educated boater is safer on the water,” says Tom ...
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NASBLA recognizes Weatherington for service as President

By Hannah Helsby posted 02-07-2018
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Written to the Director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) by NASBLA on behalf of our membership. Dear Director Fitts, On behalf of the membership of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), I am writing to thank you and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) for the exemplary leadership of Captain Stephanie Weatherington, who recently completed the year as the association’s President. As Arkansas’s Boating Law Administrator and NASBLA President, Captain Weatherington has distinguished herself and the AGFC as national leaders in recreational boating safety and boating law enforcement.   Among the numerous ...
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2017 Instructor of the Year Award

By Hannah Helsby posted 01-09-2018
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NASBLA BOAT Program Recognizes Instructor of the Year 2017 Instructor of the Year Award   The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators recognizes the 2017 BOAT Program Instructor of the Year for his exceptional performance of duties and responsibilities within the NASBLA Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program. The 2017 Instructor of the Year Award was presented to Brian Spillman at the 2017 BOAT Program Instructor Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.   Having been an instructor in the BOAT Program since 2012, Brian Spillman has made a significant impact on our Nation’s maritime capabilities and readiness through the delivery ...
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Program Manager named for On-Water Boating Skills Verified Course Program

By Hannah Helsby posted 12-05-2017
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Program Manager named for On-Water Boating Skills Verified Course Program 12/5/17 (Lexington, Ky.) – Mark Chanski has been named the Program Manager for the On-Water Boating Skills Verified Course Program . The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), through grant funding administered by the U.S. Coast Guard , implements a process of voluntary third-party conformity assessment for on-water boating skill programs to verify a course meets American National Standards for Power, Sail, and Human-Propelled. Successful completion of the conformity assessment indicates that the content of a course conforms to the American National ...
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FEMA releases new NIMS Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions

By Hannah Helsby posted 11-08-2017
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FEMA releases new NIMS Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions   FE MA announced yesterday improvements to the Resource Management component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to strengthen the interoperability and effectiveness of mutual aid.  "This is a tremendous step forward," said John Fetterman, NASBLA Deputy Executive Director. "States and other first responders will be better able to deliver the right personnel and the right equipment to aid their neighbors during emergencies and disasters." The U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Boat Forces has been working for several years with FEMA to develop the qualifications ...
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Operation Dry Water 2017 Results Announced

By Hannah Helsby posted 11-08-2017
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Operation Dry Water Results Announced 2017 Heightened BUI Enforcement Weekend National boating under the influence (BUI) heightened awareness & enforcement campaign www.operationdrywater.org (Nov. 7, 2017 – Lexington, KY) During the annual three-day heightened awareness and enforcement Operation Dry Water weekend, hundreds of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies made 518 boating under the influence arrests nationwide. The Operation Dry Water campaign targets boating under the influence, through heightened awareness and enforcement. Annually, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in ...
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NASBLA Seeks Volunteers for Advisory Committee

By Ron Sarver posted 11-07-2017
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NASBLA is looking for volunteers to serve on an advisory committee for the Introducing the Public Health Approach – an Evidence-Based Model grant. Volunteers will work with staff to: Task 1: Develop and implement a live webinar series. Task 2: Develop a web portal. Task 3: Develop a virtual community of practice. Task 4: Develop a data and knowledge repository.   Requirements: The work will involve teleconferences, responding to emails from the advisory committee and reviewing documents/products. The timeframe will be from November 2017 - September 2018. Knowledge/experience with the public health approach will be helpful but not ...
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Sea Tow Foundation Expands Life Jacket Loaner Program

By Hannah Helsby posted 11-01-2017
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Sea Tow Foundation to Expand Life Jacket Loaner Program Foundation invites nonprofits and government agencies to apply for Life Jacket Loaner Stations in their communities SOUTHOLD, N.Y. - The Sea Tow Foundation announced it is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations, local law enforcement, and government agencies throughout the country who wish to host a Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Station in their community. To help promote proper life jacket use, the foundation stocks more than 400 Life Jacket Loaner Stations nationwide, where boaters may borrow life jackets for the day, free of charge. The Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner ...
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Garner Award presented for Sophia's Law

By Hannah Helsby posted 10-11-2017
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Garner Award presented to Minnesota Legislators for Sophia's Law The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presents Minnesota legislators, Senator Melisa Franzen & Representative Jerry Hertaus the 2017 NASBLA Garner Leadership Award for Sophia’s Law . Established in tribute of William B. Garner, who successfully marshalled the nation's first boat operator licensing law through state legislature, the Garner Award is presented to those men and women whose outstanding effort and achievement have elevated state or federal policy interventions to heights not previously attained.   After the tragic loss of a seven-year-old ...
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BOAT Program attends NEMA Meeting

By Hannah Helsby posted 10-04-2017
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NASBLA BOAT Program attends National Emergency Management Association Meeting   John Fetterman, NASBLA Deputy Executive Director and Dave Considine, BOAT Program Director attended the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) annual forum and addressed members of the NEMA’s Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Committee. The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is the framework for activating mutual aid assistance between states and the federal government, at times when the response of appropriate resources is critical. The NASBLA BOAT Program presentation outlined the association’s capabilities of delivering a single ...
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NASBLA's third National Education Standard approved

By Hannah Helsby posted 10-04-2017
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NASBLA Receives Approval for New Human Propelled National American Standard NASBLA has received approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) of its third American National Standard.  ANSI/NASBLA 101-2017 Basic Boating Knowledge - Human-Propelled   is recognized as a American National Standard as of September 28, 2017.  All three American National Standard s are available for free download on the National Education Standards webpage . ANSI recognition finalizes work on this standard which began in September 2013.  The standard underwent eight (8) public reviews during which the National Boating ...
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Nation's Toughest Carbon Monoxide Law - Sophia's Law

By Hannah Helsby posted 09-27-2017
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Nation's Toughest Carbon Monoxide Law - Sophia's Law Minnesota is the first state to protect boaters from the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by requiring CO detectors and warning stickers on motorboats. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and extremely toxic gas, which can be fatal without warning. The new carbon monoxide law, Sophia'a Law, is named for a 7-year-old girl who tragically lost her life to carbon monoxide poisoning while boating.  Stan Linnell, Boating Law Administrator and  Lisa Dugan, Recreation Safety Outreach Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources made a presentation on Sophia's Law at the 2017 NASBLA ...
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New Program Manager for Officer Water Survival course

By Hannah Helsby posted 09-27-2017
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Eric Reed will serve as new Program Manager for BOAT Program's Officer Water Survival course NASBLA and the BOAT Program would like to thank Rodger Norcross for his outstanding contributions to NASBLA, the BOAT Program, and specifically the Officer Water Survival (OWS) course. Rodger has been serving as the Program Manager for the Officer Water Survival course for many years, but has decided to retire from this position as of last week. Rodger's role as Program Manager, Lead Instructor and Subject Matter Expert will be sorely missed at NASBLA. His leadership has been instrumental in the building and success of the OWS Program, and has directly improved ...
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