ROCKLAND — On Tuesday, May 21, City of Rockland Mayor Nichole L. Kalloch issued a proclamation declaring the week of May 18-24, 2024 National Safe Boating Week in the City of Rockland, Maine.

With the proclamation, the City is joining the U.S. Coast Guard in “urging all boaters to wear a life jacket, to take a boating-safety course, schedule a vessel-safety check with the Coast Guard and to learn and practice safe boating habits.”

The vessel safety checks offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary are free.

Contact the local US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Penobscot Bay at penbayflotilla@gmail.com for further information on Vessel Safety Checks as well as information on boating safety and seamanship courses offered in the area.

The City of Rockland was designated a Coast Guard City on June 16, 2008, and continues to support the efforts of the Coast Guard in promoting boater safety.

The full text of the proclamation is as follows:

“Wheras, on average, 700 people die each year in boating-related accidents in the US; approximately 70% of these facilities caused by drowning; and

Whereas, the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error or poor decisions and bot by the boat or environmental factors; and

Whereas, a significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today if they wore their life jackets; and

Whereas, today’s life jackets are more comfortable, more attractive, and more wearable than styles of years past and deserve a fresh look by today’s boating public; and

Whereas, the City of Rockland received the honor of being designated a Coast Guard City on June 16, 2008, and continues to support the efforts of the Coast Guard in promoting boater safety.

Now, Therefore, I, Nicole L. Kalloch, Mayor of the City of Rockland, Maine, do hereby proclaim May 18-24, 2024 as National Safe Boating Week in the City of Rockland, and urge all boaters to always wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course, schedule a vessel safety check with the Coast Guard, and to learn and practice safe boating habits.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the City of Rockland, Maine, this 21st day of May, A.D. 2024,
Nicole L. Kalloch, Mayor
City of Rockland, Maine”

The vessel safety checks offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary are free. Contact the local U S Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Penobscot Bay at penbayflotilla@gmail.com for further information on Vessel Safety Checks as well as information on boating safety and seamanship courses offered in the area.