News and Notices

Coast Guard reports fewest boating fatalities in more than 50 years

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics Report Tuesday.

The report records the fewest boating fatalities since the Service began collecting statistics more than 50 years ago.

Fatalities fell 1.4% to 556 from 564 in 2023, while overall incidents increased by 1.1% from 3,844 to 3.887. Nonfatal injuries increased 2.1% from 2,126 to 2,170. Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2024, accounting for 92 deaths, or 20% of total fatalities.

The fatality rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels, a 2% decrease from last year’s rate of 4.9 deaths per 100,000. In 1971, when the Safe Boating Act was first passed, the rate was 20.6 deaths per 100,000. Property damage totaled $88 million, and operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery failure and navigation rules ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

“Boating under the influence is not only illegal but it is also dangerous," said Capt. Robert Compher, inspections and compliance director. "The effects of alcohol can be magnified when boating in the sun and on a moving vessel. Staying sober protects you and those around you.”

Deaths occurred predominantly on vessels operated by individuals who had not received boating safety instruction, accounting for roughly 70% of fatalities. Open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats were the vessel types most involved in reported incidents. 

There was an increase in deaths on standup paddleboards. Drowning accounted for three-quarters of deaths, with 87% of victims not wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard reminds boaters to wear serviceable, properly sized and correctly fastened life jackets, and encourages boaters to check the weather and water conditions before getting underway.

The data in the report is based on incidents that resulted in at least one of the following: death, disappearance, injury that required medical treatment beyond first aid, damage to the vessel(s), or other property equal to or greater than $2,000 or a loss of vessel.

“We thank our federal, state and nonprofit partners who strive to make the nation’s waterways safer. We also thank recreational boaters who follow safe boating,” said Compher.

In addition to wearing a life jacket and taking a boating safety course, the Coast Guard recommends all boaters attach the engine cutoff switch, get a free vessel safety check and boat sober.

The full 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics Report is available at USCGBoating.org.

-USCG-

Seventh Annual World Marine Aids to Navigation Day

The International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) is celebrating the seventh annual World Marine Aids to Navigation Day on July 1, 2025. This event was created to promote greater awareness of the vital role of marine Aids to Navigation (ATON) and to celebrate the professionals who design, implement, and maintain ATON. This year, the United Kingdom is hosting the main event in London July 2 & 3. This year's chosen theme is The Role of Physical Aids to Navigation in a Digital Future. During this event IALA will bring together senior representatives of Government, the wider maritime industry, Research and Development establishments and academia, and international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO). More information about the event is located here:

Costs to Establish a Database on Icebreaking Operations in the Great Lakes

The Coast Guard met the requirement of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, to establish and maintain a database for collecting, archiving, and disseminating data regarding icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes by using enterprise information technology (IT) already in use by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard and Industry Representatives agreed upon a plan for the Coast Guard to collect data regarding shipping delays caused by inadequate icebreaking resources utilizing existing communications (i.e., icebreaking planning calls, icebreaking assistance requests, vessel movement reports) and will be posted weekly to the Coast Guard Navigation Center website. The Memorandum for Public Distribution can be viewed here.

Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level & Port Status Updates Available on Navigation Center's Website

ATTENTION: Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level and Port Status Updates Now Available!
Find the latest Coast Guard MARSEC Level and Port Status and Port Contact Information now available on the NAVCEN website. Click the links to stay informed.

Alert: The Coast Guard has retired Homeport

The Coast Guard retired Homeport as of April 12, 2025. Moving forward, you will need to use alternate approaches for tasks typically performed through the Homeport platform. 

To protect the nation’s Maritime Transportation System, we are transferring Homeport functionality to more secure information systems. The Homeport system is facing increasing costs and system obsolescence. As a result, it is no longer a viable tool for managing the many functions required to ensure the smooth and safe flow of vessel traffic.  

“We recognize that Homeport has been a trusted tool for mariners and the broader maritime community,” said Rear Adm. Wayne Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy. “We are committed to keeping these users informed and providing alternatives to the functions and information Homeport provided as we transition.”  

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary workarounds to ensure essential services remain accessible until we can identify the best permanent approach for each function.  

The new Homeport Solutions & News website will be our primary tool for keeping you informed as new tools come online.  

You can also visit Maritime Commons, the Coast Guard’s blog for maritime professionals, and subscribe for the Maritime Commons RSS feed to receive regular e-mail updates. 

We realize that decommissioning Homeport is a significant change, and we are committed to making the transition as easy for you as possible. On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, thank you for your important role in building a thriving U.S. economy and your commitment to safe, secure maritime commerce. 

NAVCEN's upgraded Local Notice to Mariners & Light List application

The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) has launched its updated Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and Light List application, reaffirming our commitment to enhancing access to critical maritime safety information.

This upgraded application now allows users to download and print LNMs for entire Coast Guard Districts or define their own area of interest using the GIS tools to zoom in and access localized data.  The form section enables users to organize and sort LNMs by waterway or category. For programmatic integration, GeoJSON files are available to download for data ingestion into other applications.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and are confident this enhanced version will better serve the diverse needs of the maritime community. 

Reducing Vessel Strikes of Atlantic Right Whales

Click on the hyperlinks to view the 2005 and 2007 PARS Reports for Reducing Vessel Strikes of Atlantic Right Whales.

Visit the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center Facebook page.

Click on this link.

U.S. Space Force Roadmap

The U.S. Space Force has released a roadmap of the GPS enterprise running through the end of FY-28.