Page 10: of Marine News Magazine (October 2019)

9 11

BY THE NUMBERS

U.S. Coast Guard’s 2018 Recreational Boating Statistics

The U.S. Coast Guard recently released its 60th annual said – a long time ago – that the biggest issue with recre- (2018) Recreational Boating Statistics Report, revealing ational boaters was that “the general public understands that that there were 633 boating fatalities nationwide in 2018, driving an automobile is a privilege, but at the same time, a 3.8 percent decrease from 2017. And, from 2017 to they consider being able to drive a boat as a basic right.” Un- 2018, overall recreational boating injuries also decreased fortunately, this hasn’t changed much, over time.

4.5 percent (2,629 to 2,511), and the total number of ac- We all have work to do. For military mariners, for ex- cidents decreased 3.4 percent (4,291 to 4,145). This year’s ample, the collision involving the USS Fitzgerald and a numbers follow an equally encouraging 2017 report which commercial boxship in clear weather in June 2017, south showed that boating fatalities in 2017 (658) also showed a of Tokyo Bay, immediately comes to mind. Just one of 6.1% decrease from 2016. Boating injuries also decreased many recent U.S. Navy mishaps, this incident exposed the 9.4% and accidents dropped 3.9%. The numbers are en- inadequacy of the Navy’s preparation of younger surface couraging, but not necessarily a linear indication that the warfare of