If you are involved in an accident: You are required to stop and give assistance to other persons involved. You must give aid to the extent you can do so without endangering yourself or your passengers.

A formal, written report must be filed with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries when there is: damage over $2000 by or to the vessel or its equipment; injury (requiring medical help beyond first aid) or loss of life; and/or. disappearance of any person on board a vessel.

According to California Vehicle Code section 20008, the driver of any vehicle (or a representative of that driver) involved in a car accident must, within 24 hours, make a written report of the crash to the California Highway Patrol or to the police department of the city where the accident occurred, if the crash …

Why Must A Report Be Filed? The information you supply is used to develop safety regulations and manufacturing standards for the benefit of the boating public. The information is also used in boating safety education programs and other boating safety initiatives.

Most falls overboard can be avoided Slow down and throw something buoyant to the person overboard. This will also mark the spot if they submerge. Assign one person to keep an eye out on the victim as they point continuously to their location.

Bells and Whistles –Any boat under 40 feet should have an efficient sound producing device such as a horn or whistle, and boats over 40 feet are required to carry a bell and whistle.

A green can buoy means pass to the right, and a red nun buoy means pass to the left when moving upstream. A diamond shape with a “T” inside it on a buoy means “keep out.”

A green-lighted buoy marks the border/edge of the channel on the operators’ port (left side) as the boat enters from open sea. The odd number 3 signals your direction and distance in returning from open sea( as the number increases).

Red Colors, Red Lights, and Even Numbers: These mark the edge of the channel on your starboard (right) side as you enter from the open sea or head upstream. If red is on top, the preferred channel is to the left. These also are sometimes referred to as “junction buoys.”

Keep Out Buoys They are white with two horizontal orange bands and an orange cross inside an orange diamond on two opposite sides. If they carry a light, the light is a yellow flashing(Fl) four seconds, light.

An information buoy displays information such as locality, marina, campsite, etc.; Be guided by the information illustrated within the orange square. Keep-Out Buoy. A keep out buoy marks areas in which boats are prohibited.

A cautionary buoy marks an area where mariners are to be warned of dangers such as firing ranges, racing courses, seaplane bases, underwater structures, aquaculture, of areas where no safe through channel exists, and of traffic separations.

These markers feature orange squares. These markers indicate a prohibited area which is closed off. For instance, these areas could be sectioned off swim areas or areas with fragile wildlife.

Controlled Area: A white buoy or sign with an orange circle and black lettering indicates controlled or restricted areas on the water. The most common restriction is slow, no wake speed.

buoy (n.) “float fixed in a place to indicate the position of objects underwater or to mark a channel,” late 13c., boie, probably from Old French buie or Middle Dutch boeye, both of which likely are from Proto-Germanic *baukna- “beacon, signal” (see beacon).

Three Major Responsibilities of Every Boater

• Practice good seamanship. It is the responsibility of every boat or personal watercraft (PWC) operator to take all necessary action to avoid a collision, taking into account the weather, vessel traffic, and limits of other vessels.
• Keep a proper lookout.
• Maintain a safe speed.

For example, if you see the A (Alpha) flag, this means “diver down, keep clear.” If you see the W (Whiskey) flag, the boat has a medical emergency and needs help. The combination of the D (Delta) and V (Victor) flags, meanwhile, means “I’m maneuvering with difficulty and require assistance.”

When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if such are the circumstances, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.