The app aims to provide essential information most commonly requested by boaters.

It includes:

• A safety equipment checklist;
• Free boating safety check requests;
• Navigation rules;
• Float plans;
• Calling features to report pollution or suspicious activity.

When location services are enabled, users can also receive the latest weather reports from the closest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoys.

Locations of water hazards can also be reported.

It also features an Emergency Assistance button which uses GPS to track your whereabouts through your smartphone. If pressed, it will automatically contact the nearest Coast Guard command centre.

The US Coast Guard stresses that the Boating Safety Mobile app was not designed to replace a boater’s marine VHF radio.

It still strongly recommends that all boaters have a VHF radio aboard their vessels.

The app was mainly designed to provide additional boating safety resources for mobile device users.

It is self-contained, so personal information is stored on the phone and is not sent to the Coast Guard unless the user chooses to send it.

The Boating Safety Mobile app can be downloaded via the Coast Guard’s website.

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