NBSAC To Meet in Portland, Oregon

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) and its subcommittees will meet to discuss issues relating to recreational boating safety May 8 to 10 at the Broadway Room of the Hilton Portland Downtown, in Portland, Oregon. All meetings are open to the public who may submit written comments at the eRulemaking Portal  no later than April 30.

The NBSAC meeting will kick off May 8 with opening remarks. Following will be a discussion on the report from the Chief of the Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, on the U.S. Coast Guard’s implementation of National Boating Safety Advisory Council Resolutions and Recreational Boating Safety Program. Following there will be a discussion on the report from the Alternate Designated Federal Officer, concerning council administrative and logistical matters. Presentations will be given on effects of not wearing life jackets; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers life jacket requirements in northern Mississippi; observed life jacket wear in ‘‘risky’’ situations; and the role of Coast Guard District Recreational Boating Safety Specialists.

Subcommittee sessions will be the focus of events on May 9. The Boats and Associated Equipment Subcommittee will discuss alternatives to pyrotechnic visual distress signals; grant projects related to boats and associated equipment; and situational awareness. The Prevention Through People Subcommittee’s discussion will include paddle sports participation; human factors and classification system integration into accident reporting; and licensing requirements for on-water boating safety instruction providers. Finally, the Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Planning Subcommittee will meet to go over the progress made on implementing the 2017–2021 Strategic Plan.

The final day of the meeting, May 10, the full council will resume meeting to discuss the reports of the subcommittees and any recommendations to be made to the U.S. Coast Guard. The meeting will conclude with a public comment period followed by voting on any recommendations to be made to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The meeting agenda and all meeting documentation can be found here