Please select your home edition
Edition
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay

On Earth Day, does your boat 'say' what it's supposed to?

by BoatUS 17 Apr 10:34 PDT
Putting the BoatUS Foundation trash placard decal in a prominent spot – in this case on the inside of a head door – helps remind everyone aboard how to handle waste © Scott Croft

Every new boat comes adorned with a plethora of warning labels for just about everything from obvious hazards to what a tow pylon should be used for.

With Earth Day coming up April 22, did you know there are labels that can help remind you and your guests to keep our waters clean and ensure you are on the right side of the law?

Boats new or old and 26 feet or greater must have written trash overboard and oil discharge placards "prominently posted" to remind you and your crew what can be thrown overboard and what can't. A third waste management placard about how garbage is to be collected and stored aboard is required for boats 40-feet or greater. All three are available here for just $5 each (or $13 for the set of 3) from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Shipping is included, and purchases support the boating nonprofit's mission to support clean waters.

"These placard decals can be the reminder you and your crew need when out on the water or working on your boat," said BoatUS Foundation director of boating safety Ted Sensenbrenner. "Having them aboard in locations where they will be seen says a lot about how you treat the environment."

The Foundation placards are U.S. Coast Guard-compliant and meet MARPOL requirements in regard to size and materials. They may also meet state anti-littering laws for local waters. Not having the placards displayed on required vessels could result in civil penalties.

Related Articles

How to prepare a boat for Helene
Free online guides, videos, worksheet available from BoatUS With potential Tropical Cyclone Nine expected to reach hurricane strength as Helene before hitting parts of Florida's Gulf Coast later this week, recreational boat owners have all the hurricane preparation information they need at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. Posted on 25 Sep
How to prepare a boat for Francine
Free online guides, videos, worksheet available for hurricanes from BoatUS With Tropical Storm Francine expected to reach hurricane strength before hitting parts of coastal Louisiana and the western Gulf Coast this week, recreational boat owners have all the hurricane preparation information they need at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. Posted on 10 Sep
Florida 90-day temporary boating certification
BoatUS Foundation offers new course for renters Vacationers headed to Florida and planning to rent a boat now have an easy and low-cost way to earn their temporary boating safety certificate. Posted on 31 Jul
Try boating or hone your boat handling skills
With on-water powerboat training Summer boating season has arrived. Have you ever wanted to try out boating, or are you a boat owner looking to improve your confidence behind the helm? Posted on 3 Jul
Four boating tips for July Fourth
Likely the longest anchoring day of the year According to the nationwide TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet, the busiest time of the year for America's recreational boat owners is, hands down, the Fourth of July holiday period, which typically includes some days before and after the official holiday. Posted on 24 Jun
Are boaters doing better when it comes to safety?
Just-released U.S. Coast Guard stats show decrease in fatalities, accidents, but problems persist The recently released U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Recreational Boating Statistics shows some good news on the boating safety front, with fatalities falling by 11.3% to 564 from 636 in 2022. Posted on 15 Jun
BoatUS Foundation opens Grant Program
For $7.5M effort to remove ADVs from nation's waterways From June 10-August 12, organizations are invited to apply for grant funding to clean up their local waterways Posted on 10 Jun
‘Extremely active' 2024 hurricane season expected
BoatUS helps boaters prepare Colorado State University's (CSU) Tropical Weather and Climate researchers, long known for their annual hurricane forecasts, are calling for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season to be "extremely active". Posted on 30 May
Boating season begins on Lake Texoma
Prepare with affordable 3-hour powerboat training courses It's boating season on Lake Texoma, and as boaters return for a summer of fun on the water, are they ready? It's important for every boat operator to be confident behind the helm. Posted on 25 May
BoatUS Spring Commissioning Checklist
Be sure to follow all manufacturer recommendations for your specific boat, engine and accessories The recreational boat owner's advocacy, services and safety group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has help for all types of boat owners with its highly popular Spring Commissioning Checklist. Posted on 3 May
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERTrinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay