Vehicle Safety Checks (VSC)

The Vessel Safety Check (VSC) is a FREE complimentary check of your boat or personal watercraft (PWC) conducted by members of the Auxiliary, confirming that it meets both federal and state requirements for safety. A Vessel Safety Check is a courtesy examination of your vessel to verify the presence and condition of certain Safety Equipment required by State and the Federal regulations. A VSC is a great way to learn about the existence of potential problems or violations that might create dangerous situations for you or your passengers in a user friendly environment.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends you get a yearly FREE Vessel Safety Check (VSC) for your watercraft (boats of all kinds and sizes as well as PWC's) as a way to help minimize the probability of a safety related problem unintentionally going unnoticed.  It will also help you to be better prepared to deal with unfortunate situations when they do occur.  Unexpected and often potentially dangerous mechanical failures or problems have a way of occurring at an inconvenient time even on the best-maintained vessels.  

The Vessel Examiner (VE) is a trained specialist and is a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or the United States Power Squadrons who will provide helpful recommendations for improving your, the vessel, and its passenger safety.  They can answer safety or boating related questions you may have.  They will also make certain recommendations and discuss certain safety issues that will make you a safer boater.

This is not boarding or a law enforcement issue. No citations are issued and the results of the safety check are not reported to any enforcement agency, but a decal is awarded to display if the vessel has passed the examination. We will supply you with a copy of our evaluation so that you may follow some of the suggestions given. Vessels that pass will be able to display our distinctive VSC decal. This does not exempt you from law enforcement boarding, but you can be prepared to make this a positive encounter.

An example of some of the items checked include:
• Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets)
• Registration and numbering
• Navigation lights
• Ventilation
• Fire extinguishers
• Distress signals (flares, horn, etc.)
• Battery cover and connections

All of these items are currently required by state and federal laws and, if missing or non-operating, can result in a citation if your vessel is inspected by the Coast Guard. The Vessel Safety Check gives you a risk-free way to check that you meet the legal minimums and to potentially avoid a citation later.

Vessels that pass the VSC examination will be awarded a decal that the VE will affix to the vessel.  In accepting and displaying the VSC decal, the owner/operator pledges to maintain their boat and its equipment to the safety standards required to pass the examination.  The owner/operator of the watercraft must be present during the examination, since the award is not made simply to the vessel.  For this reason as well as many others, the owner should remove the decal from the vessel if it is sold to another party.  Conversely, if a boat purchased has a VSC decal still attached, a reexamination should be arranged shortly after taking possession.  If the watercraft does not pass the initial examination, the VE will be happy to re-examine a vessel after identified issues are corrected and award a VSC decal if the vessel meets all VSC requirements.

Displaying a current VSC decal (as shown above) can help make future law enforcement boarding less stressful, of shorter duration, and a more pleasant experience for everyone involved.  

SIGN UP FOR A VEHICLE SAFETY CHECK
If you would like a Vehicle Safety Examiner from USCG Aux Flotilla 15-02 to conduct a safety inspection on your vessel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
• Vessel Safety Check.org

• Visit SafetySeal.net - A website devoted exclusively to the Vessel Safety Check program co-sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons.