The Coast Guard’s right to board recreational vessels
without probable cause is unquestionable, but my editor
at PassageMaker asked whether I believed that random
boardings are worth the effort. Does the policy significantly
deter crime and enhance safety or would we be just as well
off if the Coast Guard boarded vessels only if they saw
cause to do so?
As to crime, my initial response is no, curtailing or ending
random boardings would not result in more lawlessness on
the waterways. Based on my experience, rarely were criminal
activities discovered during random boardings, and often
these had nothing to do with the vessels, just active warrants
for members of the crew. However, if we include boating
while intoxicated, then yes, there is merit in maintaining the
Coast Guard’s random boarding policy.
I also believe the random boardings have merit regarding
safety. As mentioned earlier, there are many boaters with
absolutely zero seafaring knowledge that purchase a vessel,
jump behind the helm and go. We see them all too often,
and they are often putting others at risk. Random boardings
identify safety deficiencies and can detect a search-and-rescue-case-waiting-to-happen, as we used to say when we’d
come upon a hapless boater.
There is one piece of advice I’d like to address to everyone,
and it regards the words that should also come from the boarding
officer’s mouth to your ears before they disembark your vessel:
“On the bottom of the boarding report is my name and
the phone number of my unit, where you can speak with my
superiors. Or on the back of the form, there’s an 800-number
you can call to make a comment, and someone will return
your call.”
For all the boardings I’ve conducted, or been a part
of, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had
feedback. If being boarded has been egregious—if it makes
you want to tell your friends and post it on the Internet—then
please make your opinions known in a forum where they can
make a difference. Feedback to the agency that conducted
the boarding can go a very long way towards fostering better
practices all around.
Pete Dautel is a decorated Coast
Guard officer, who retired in
2006 with the rank of chief
boatswain’s mate. He joined
the Coast Guard in 1982 and
served aboard cutters and patrol
boats, including several years as
part of a specialized tactical law
enforcement team working in the
Northern Arabian Gulf, Bosnia,
and counter-narcotics missions
in Central and South American
waters and other special mission operations. He now consults with
NOAA, works as a mariner surveyor and delivery captain. He and
his daughter Alyson can be found exploring the waters around Cape
Cod and the islands.
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