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Press Release | May 22, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard to discuss boating safety, offer boat rides for National Safe Boating Week, Memorial Day weekend

PADET Jacksonville - Office: 904-714-7606 / After Hours: 786-393-4138

Editor's Note: Media interested in attending are requested to RSVP with Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Jacksonville at 786-393-4138 or D7PADETNorth@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Thursday. 

WHO: Coast Guard Station Mayport, Coast Guard Auxiliary 

WHAT: Providing interviews, offering boat rides and conducting rescue demonstrations for media members 

WHEN: 9 – 11 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024 

WHERE: Coast Guard Station Mayport, 4200 Ocean St., Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to provide boating safety tips and offer boat rides, Friday, during National Safe Boating Week and ahead of Memorial Day weekend at Coast Guard Station Mayport. 

Station Mayport search and rescue personnel and Coast Guard Auxiliary members will be available for interviews to inform the public of safe boating practices as weather conditions improve and Memorial Day weekend approaches. 

Boat rides will also be offered for media members during which boat crews will discuss and demonstrate search and rescue techniques. 

The 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics report, the most current one available, cites that Florida led the nation in total number of accidents with 712. For perspective, this was 325 more boating accidents than California, the next leading state with 387. Additionally. Florida led the nation in total number of fatal accidents, with 65. 

National Safe Boating Week is a week-long annual campaign for the Coast Guard and agency partners to emphasize the importance of safe boating practices and the use of boating safety equipment. This year, National Safe Boating Week spans May 18-24. 

The 2023 Recreational Boating Statistics report should be available to the public soon at  http://www.uscgboating.org. The report will be accessible under the “Statistics” menu selection and the “Accident Statistics” submenu selection. 

For more information on safe boating, please visit the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division, the National Safe Boating Council and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Education site. 

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-USCG-