One hundred ninety-two Coast Guard units and law enforcement officers demonstrated exceptional performance during the nationwide Operation Dry Water (ODW) 2021. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators will present awards at their upcoming annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
ODW is a National Boating Under the Influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign designed to prevent boating deaths and injuries. This annual weekend-long operation occurs immediately before or after the Fourth of July holiday every year. This year's operation occurred from July 2-4 and provided heightened awareness and enforcement of BUI violations. BUI is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths and injuries.
Results from the ODW included:
- Contact with nearly 115,000 recreational vessels and 328,627 boaters;
- 9,495 citations;
- Nearly 33,000 safety warnings;
- 638 BUI arrests.
This was an outstanding enforcement effort given the operational impacts of COVID-19 and the unfavorable weather conditions during the Fourth of July weekend across much of the nation.
Of those participants, there were some recognized as outstanding performers, including:
- Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach
- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo
- Station Shinnecock
- Station Manasquan Inlet
- Station Mayport
- Station Destin
- Station St. Joseph
- Station Bodega Bay
- Station Portland and Station Seattle
- Station Maui
- Station Ketchikan
There were several others that received honorable mention.
ODW is funded through a grant from the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust
Fund to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA.)
For more information, contact Joseph Carro.
Resource:
- Operation Dry Water 2021 National Awards Recognition Program ALCOAST 391/21.