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The U.S. Coast Guard collects pleasure boat accident information and compiles the
statistics in an annual report. It receives this information from reports, which according
to 33 CFR 173.55, must be filed whenever there is a boating accident in which someone
dies, someone is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid, damage to
vessels and property meets or exceeds $2,000 (or there is a complete loss of a vessel),
or someone disappears from a vessel under circumstances indicating death or injury.
The 46th annual report, (Commandant Publication P16754.18) shows an overall
downward trend in the number of boating accidents, boating fatalities, and boating
injuries per 100,000 registered boats in the period from 1994 to 2004. There are a few
instances where the figures increase from the year before…but overall, the trend seems
encouraging….especially since during those same years, the number of registered
boats increased from 11,429,585 to 12,781,476.
Figures are summarized in the table below (partially) and in the graph reproduced from
Commandant Publication P16754.18.
Year
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
In its report, the Coast Guard does not include recreational boating accidents:
1. involving less than $2,000 of damage, limited to property only
2. involving only slight injury not requiring medical treatment beyond first aid
3. which were not caused or contributed to by a vessel, its equipment, or appendages
4. where a person died or was injured from natural causes while aboard a vessel
5. where a person died or was injured while swimming to retrieve an object or a vessel
that was adrift from its mooring or dock, having departed from the shore or pier
6. involving damage, injury, or death on a docked or moored vessel that resulted from
storms, unusual tidal, sea or swell conditions; or when a vessel got underway in those
conditions in an attempt to rescue persons put in peril.
7. where a person died or was injured while swimming for pleasure from a vessel that
was not underway (where the vessel was anchored, moored, or docked). In those cases,
the vessel was being used as a platform for other activities, such as swimming or diving,
and was not involved in any event that contributed to the casualty.
In its executive summary, the Coast Guard highlights keypoints from its data and
information. Although one is happy to see a decline in the number of pleasure boating
accidents than previous years, the losses are regrettable and in some instances could
have been avoided with something so fundamental as a PFD.
In summary, the 4,904 boating accidents reported in 2004 resulted in 676 fatalities, 3,363
injuries, and $35,038,306 in property damage. Approximately 70% of all fatal boating
accident victims who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation device (PFD).
Data showed that 431 lives could have been saved in 2004 if boaters had worn their life
jackets.
From “You’re In Command - Boat Responsibly” Boating Statistics 2004 - United States
Coast Guard; Commandant Publication P16754.18
Tim Akpinar Contact Information:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Street
Address:
Mailing
Address:
Website:
© 2006 by Tim Akpinar - All Rights Reserved
The contents of this website may not be copied or transmitted without the
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statistics in an annual report. It receives this information from reports, which according
to 33 CFR 173.55, must be filed whenever there is a boating accident in which someone
dies, someone is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid, damage to
vessels and property meets or exceeds $2,000 (or there is a complete loss of a vessel),
or someone disappears from a vessel under circumstances indicating death or injury.
The 46th annual report, (Commandant Publication P16754.18) shows an overall
downward trend in the number of boating accidents, boating fatalities, and boating
injuries per 100,000 registered boats in the period from 1994 to 2004. There are a few
instances where the figures increase from the year before…but overall, the trend seems
encouraging….especially since during those same years, the number of registered
boats increased from 11,429,585 to 12,781,476.
Figures are summarized in the table below (partially) and in the graph reproduced from
Commandant Publication P16754.18.
Year
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
In its report, the Coast Guard does not include recreational boating accidents:
1. involving less than $2,000 of damage, limited to property only
2. involving only slight injury not requiring medical treatment beyond first aid
3. which were not caused or contributed to by a vessel, its equipment, or appendages
4. where a person died or was injured from natural causes while aboard a vessel
5. where a person died or was injured while swimming to retrieve an object or a vessel
that was adrift from its mooring or dock, having departed from the shore or pier
6. involving damage, injury, or death on a docked or moored vessel that resulted from
storms, unusual tidal, sea or swell conditions; or when a vessel got underway in those
conditions in an attempt to rescue persons put in peril.
7. where a person died or was injured while swimming for pleasure from a vessel that
was not underway (where the vessel was anchored, moored, or docked). In those cases,
the vessel was being used as a platform for other activities, such as swimming or diving,
and was not involved in any event that contributed to the casualty.
In its executive summary, the Coast Guard highlights keypoints from its data and
information. Although one is happy to see a decline in the number of pleasure boating
accidents than previous years, the losses are regrettable and in some instances could
have been avoided with something so fundamental as a PFD.
In summary, the 4,904 boating accidents reported in 2004 resulted in 676 fatalities, 3,363
injuries, and $35,038,306 in property damage. Approximately 70% of all fatal boating
accident victims who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation device (PFD).
Data showed that 431 lives could have been saved in 2004 if boaters had worn their life
jackets.
From “You’re In Command - Boat Responsibly” Boating Statistics 2004 - United States
Coast Guard; Commandant Publication P16754.18
Tim Akpinar Contact Information:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Street
Address:
Mailing
Address:
Website:
© 2006 by Tim Akpinar - All Rights Reserved
The contents of this website may not be copied or transmitted without the
prior written consent of Tim Akpinar
| The Coast Guard found that in 2004, the most reported type of accident involved collision with another vessel. Capsizing and falls overboard were the most reported types of fatal accidents and accounted for over half of all boating fatalities. The Coast Guard points out that boat operators need to pay attention to the capacity label on their boats and be careful not to overload small boats with passenger and gear. |
| The Coast Guard found that overall, carelessness, reckless operation, operator inattention, operator inexperience, and excessive speed are the lead contributing factors of all reported boating accidents. It also found that the most common types of boats involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (42%), personal watercraft (25%) and cabin motorboats (15%). Increases were observed in the number of number of reported fatalies involving pontoon boats (27), canoes and kayaks (98) from 2003. The Coast Guard noted a decrease in the number of fatalities involving cabin motorboats (42) from the fatalities reported in 2003. |
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(718) 224-9824
t.akpinar@verizon.net
250-02 Northern Blvd - Suite 200
Little Neck, New York 11363
P.O. Box 620766
Little Neck, New York 11362
www.mycounsel.us
t.akpinar@verizon.net
250-02 Northern Blvd - Suite 200
Little Neck, New York 11363
P.O. Box 620766
Little Neck, New York 11362
www.mycounsel.us
| Pleasure Boat Accident Statistics Boating Accident Reporting Requirements - Boating Accident Resources - Jet Ski Accidents - Boating Accident Legal |
Accidents
6,906
8,019
8,026
8,047
8,061
7,931
7,740
6,419
5,705
5,438
4,904
6,906
8,019
8,026
8,047
8,061
7,931
7,740
6,419
5,705
5,438
4,904
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