This afternoon I was listening at home to marine VHF channel 16.  A Coast Guard Cutter  was doing buoy tender duty along the Chesapeake. Now if you have ever seen a buoy tender work it is a virtual ballet of extraordinary precision all done in the water. The Cutter uses an on board crane to raise and lower navigation buoys for maintenance or seasonal changes.

The captains of thease vessels make periodic announcements on VHF Channel 16 regarding their operations. These announcements ask that vessels leave NO WAKE.  The cutters mean NO WAKE. Crane operations in progress are far more dangerous in moving water. It is expected that vessels close to the cutter will hear the broadcasts and follow the instructions of the cutter captain.

Hearing the cutter make this request reinforced in my mind the boating safety training I received early this year sponsored by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.  The instructors emphasized the necessity to monitor VHF channel 16 for emergencies, navigation alerts, and weather broadcasts. Anyone that operates a boat over a certain size must have a VHF radio on board. Vessels not required to carry VHF are encouraged to do so.  The reasons are quite apparent. There are going to be safety related broadcasts that you may want to hear as you operate your own craft.

Despite the cutter making periodic broacasts a motor vessel zoomed past the cutter during a crane operation. The captain of the pleasure boat received a call from the Coast Guard.  One careless boater failing to excercise common sense endangered the crew of the cutter!

Do you own a boat? Do you have marine VHF on board? Are you maintaining a radio watch? Do you listen for issues close to your location that could affect your ability to navigate?  When you see a buoy tender or ANY vessel of the United States Coast Guard are you giving that vessel and its crew the respect it deserves?

When you are on the water listen to VHF channel 16 and pay attention. Never conductb a radio check on channel 16. Radio checks are conducted on channel 9 the alternate calling channel. Know your boating radio regulations!