Vessel Safety Check (VSC)
What is a Vessel Safety Check?
Your Only Risk is Not Having One
How It Works
What Does a Vessel Safety Check Cover?
How Do I Request a Free Vessel Safety Check?
What is a Vessel Safety
Check?
The Vessel Safety Check is a FREE bow-to-stern
inspection of your boat by a qualified member of the U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadrons®.
It’s your best way to learn about potential problems
that might put you in violation of state or federal laws,
or — worse — create danger for you or your passengers
on the water.
Things can go wrong on the water, with dangerous
— even fatal — results. That’s why the U.S.
Coast Guard recommends that you get a Vessel Safety Check
(VSC) every year.
Your Only Risk is Not Having
One
Vessel Examiners issue no citations. There
are no penalties for not successfully completing a Vessel
Safety Check.
Vessel Examiners provide you with a copy
of the vessel safety check form, allowing you to make the
recommended safety improvements at your own discretion.
And while the VSC decal won’t necessarily
preclude boardings by law enforcement authorities, it can
give you confidence that such encounters are as positive as
possible.
Need another reason? A large number of major
insurance providers offer discounts for boats that successfully
pass a Vessel Safety Check!
How It Works
A Vessel Examiner will meet you at your
boat at a prearranged time or during a VSC event at a marina,
boat ramp, etc. The Examiner will check the presence and condition
of approximately fifteen items required by state and federal
regulations. Additionally, they will discuss items that are
recommended but not required... and answer your questions
on boating safety.
A typical Vessel Safety Check takes approximately
twenty minutes. At the conclusion of the check, you’ll
receive a copy of the Vessel Safety Check form and —
if your vessel successfully meets all the requirements —
a VSC decal will be presented on the spot.
What Does a Vessel Safety
Check Cover?
Vessel Safety Checks are customized for
various size powerboats, personal watercraft (PWCs), sailboats,
and even kayaks, canoes, or rowboats. Use this “quick
list” to see if you are ready for your free VSC. This
list includes items that are required, along with recommended
and discussion items. This list is available as a printer-friendly
pdf checklist. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed
on your computer to read PDF files. If you do not have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, click
here to download and install it free.
| Vessel
Safety Checklist |
Yes |
No |
| Display of
numbers* |
|
|
| Registration
/ documentation* |
|
|
| Life jackets
(PFDs)* |
|
|
| Visual distress
signals (VDS)* |
|
|
| Fire extinguishers* |
|
|
| Ventilation* |
|
|
| Backfire
flame control* |
|
|
| Sound-producing
devices* |
|
|
| Navigation
lights* |
|
|
| Pollution
placard* |
|
|
| MARPOL garbage
placard* |
|
|
| Marine sanitation
devices* |
|
|
| Presence
of Navigation Rules* |
|
|
| Unique state
and/or local requirements* |
|
|
| Overall vessel
condition* |
|
|
| Deck free
of hazards and clean bilge* |
|
|
| Safe electrical
and fuel systems* |
|
|
| Safe galley
and heating systems* |
|
|
| Marine VHF
radio |
|
|
| Dewatering
device & backup |
|
|
| Mounting
of fire extinguishers |
|
|
| Anchor &
line for area |
|
|
| First Aid
and PIW kits |
|
|
| Inland visual
distress signals |
|
|
| Capacity
certificate of compliance |
|
|
| Owner responsibility
for accident reporting |
|
|
| Offshore
operations |
|
|
| Nautical
charts and navigation aids |
|
|
| Survival
and first aid tips |
|
|
| Fueling and
fuel management |
|
|
| Float plan
filing and weather & sea conditions |
|
|
| Insurance
considerations |
|
|
| Boating checklist |
|
|
| Safe boating
classes |
|
|
| *required items |
How Do I Request a Free
Vessel Safety Check?
Visit Vesselsafetycheck.org
or call 1-800-368-5647.
|
