Coast Guard discourages Canadian boaters from visiting U.S. waters during coronavirus
Though it’s nothing like Major League Baseball Opening Day, the first Saturday in May — known as the Opening Day of Boating in Washington state — still brings its share of pageantry.
Most years, festivities are held on waterways around the state, including a parade, members reception, public ceremony, barbecue and party on Bellingham Bay hosted by the Bellingham Yacht Club.
But as we know, 2020 is not an average year. Yet another victim of the coronavirus pandemic is the Bellingham Yacht Club’s Opening Day of Boating, according to a letter from Commodore Scott McEniry on the club’s website.
Though there will be no celebration to mark the beginning of the summer boating season, recreational boating still will continue. But if you do venture out on the waters around the San Juans, be warned that the Canadian Coast Guard is keeping an eye out to make sure you don’t attempt to tie up in a Canadian port.
According to a CTV News story Tuesday, April 28, Canadian Coast Guard Regional Superintendent Susan Pickrel said plans are in the works to prevent visits from American boaters.
“Right now, we’d like to think our friends to the south of us will be staying at home and won’t be coming up to Canada, especially when we have a closed border,” Pickrell told CTV.
The U.S. Coast Guard is doing the same to prevent Canadian boaters from venturing south into American marinas, 13th District Pacific Northwest spokesperson Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier told The Bellingham Herald.
“The border is closed, and we’re going to be discouraging Canadian mariners from coming into our waters and docking throughout the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere,” Strohmaier said. “We’ll be working with the CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection), no differently than we do on interstate travel usually, and they will assist us.”
Strohmaier said the the Coast Guard will first attempt to contact Canadian boaters through marine radio channels and “ask for them not to tie up in an American marina and to return to Canadian waters.”
If foreign boats don’t comply and it comes to enforcement, that’s when CBP will likely be involved, Strohmaier said.
Canada and the United States announced plans to close the border between the countries to all non-essential and non-commercial travel on March 16.
On March 26, Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order went into effect, asking Washington residents to avoid any non-essential travel and stay home.
“From what I have seen and others have seen, people have been staying home and not going out on boats as much, especially on the lakes down here in Seattle — Lake Union and Lake Washington,” Strohmaier told The Herald. “There are less people out there, but with warmer weather coming, we’re expecting it to go up.”
Safety tips
In that vein, the U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday issued a press release with tips to help promoting boating safety this summer.
“With boaters and paddlers looking to get back on the water and escape cabin fever, take time to ensure you are prepared,” 13th Coast Guard District Recreational Boating Safety Specialist Dan Shipman said in the release. “Remember, always maintain a safe speed for the prevailing conditions, keep an eye on others and keep a safe distance to avoid risk of collision. Always be prepared for an emergency, but have the skills to prevent an accident before it happens.”
Other tips offered in the release included:
▪ Always wear a life jacket.
▪ Never boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
▪ File a float plan with a friend or family member who will notice if you’re overdue.
▪ Monitor weather conditions and broadcast updates.
▪ Take a marine-band radio.
▪ Bring a signaling device.
▪ Know your vessel and make sure it is in good mechanical condition.
▪ Dress for the water temperature.
