NTSB CHAIRMAN HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS ON RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY, OUTLINES NEXT STEPS FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: NTSB CHAIRMAN HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS ON RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY, OUTLINES NEXT STEPS FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT

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                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2007

SB-07-59

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NTSB CHAIRMAN HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS ON RECREATIONAL BOATING

SAFETY, OUTLINES NEXT STEPS FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT

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Washington, DC ? Recent actions taken by the marine industry

and state legislatures to advance boating safety are moving

the industry in the right direction, but additional measures

are required to further reduce recreational boating

fatalities, injuries and accidents, maintains National

Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark V. Rosenker.

In his address at the Marine Retailers Association of

America (MRAA) annual conference in Las Vegas today,

Chairman Rosenker focused on the use of personal flotation

devices, which is on the NTSB?s Most Wanted list of safety

recommendations, and the safety of sole state passenger

vessels.

Following a brief summary of safety recommendations issued

by the NTSB in March 2006 after a Board-sponsored 2004 forum

on personal floatation devices, Rosenker called upon

attendees to continue to ?work to change the boating culture

to better accept the wearing of life jackets.?

Rosenker commended the MRAA for issuing a public policy

statement in September 2007 in support of boating safety

education in every state. Rosenker said, ?In 2008, we are

looking for safety legislative initiatives in California,

Maine, Massachusetts, Utah, North Carolina and Minnesota?

and then called upon MRAA members ?to add their important

support for recreational boating safety initiatives in these

states.?

Finally, Rosenker summarized the results of the October 2006

forum on the topic of sole state passenger vessels that

covered issues such as vessel certification and safety

inspection, passenger and crew safety, and marine accident

reporting. Chairman Rosenker said the Board will ?continue

to follow this issue closely? and will encourage all states

to improve and strengthen their oversight guidelines for

this class of vessels.

The full text of Chairman Rosenker?s speech is available at

http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/rosenker/mvr071127.html

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NTSB Media Contact: Bridget Serchak

202-314-6100

Bridget.serchak@xxxxxxxx

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