VENICE, La. - Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Dorina Goetz, a yeoman stationed at Sector Puget Sound, Wash., processes paperwork in the demobilization unit at the Deepwater Horizon Response Plaquemines Branch Aug. 30, 2010. Goetz served as the demobilization unit leader for the Plaquemines Branch and completed a 50-day deployment for the response. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Charly Hengen.

SEATTLE — Coast Guardsmen and Coast Guard Auxiliary members from the Pacific Northwest march through downtown here during the city's 61st annual Torchlight Parade, July 31, 2010.  Joined by "PFD Panda," Coast Guardsmen and Coast Guard Auxiliary members carried a large American flag throughout the parade route. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

SEATTLE — Rear Adm. Gary Blore, commander, 13th Coast Guard District, along with wife Vera, Coast Guardsmen and Coast Guard Auxiliary members from the Pacific Northwest march through downtown here during the city's 61st annual Torchlight Parade, July 31, 2010. Coast Guardsmen and Coast Guard Auxiliary members carried a large American flag throughout the parade route. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas VanKampen.

SEATTLE — Coast Guardsmen and Coast Guard Auxiliary members from the Pacific Northwest march through downtown here during the city's 61st annual Torchlight Parade, July 31, 2010.  Joined by "PFD Panda," Coast Guardsmen and Coast Guard Auxiliary members carried a large American flag throughout the parade route. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

LA PUSH, Wash. – Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, 13th Coast Guard District Commander, delivers remarks during the memorial service for the three fallen Coast Guardsmen of aircrew CG-6017 at Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., July 19, 2010. Lt. Cmdr. (select) Sean Krueger, Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Hoke and Petty Officer 2nd Class Brett Banks perished July 7, 2010 when the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter they were in crashed off the coast of La Push. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Colin White.

LA PUSH, Wash. – An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., conducts a fly-by during the memorial service for the three fallen Coast Guardsmen of aircrew CG-6017 at Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., July 19, 2010. Lt. Cmdr. (select) Sean Krueger, Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Hoke and Petty Officer 2nd Class Brett Banks perished July 7, 2010 when the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter they were in crashed off the coast of La Push. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Colin White.

LA PUSH, Wash. – Mrs. Narcissus Foster, of the Quileute Nation and Assistant Minister of the Shaker Church delivers the benediction during the memorial service for the three fallen Coast Guardsmen of aircrew CG-6017 at Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., July 19, 2010. Lt. Cmdr. (select) Sean Krueger, Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Hoke and Petty Officer 2nd Class Brett Banks perished July 7, 2010 when the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter they were in crashed off the coast of La Push. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Colin White.

ASTORIA, Ore. - Congressman David Wu (D-1st District, Ore.) presents Chief Boatswain's Mate Greg Babst from Coast Guard Station Gray's Harbor, Wash., with a copy of a Congressional Recognition for Group Astoria's work in the region. Each of the units that make up Coast Guard Group Astoria received a copy of the award in honor of their search and rescue, boating safety and law enforcement work including their service during heavy storms that flooded the area during 2007. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert.

PORTLAND, Ore.— The Coast Guard and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service held a naturalization ceremony aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alert during the Rose Festival in Portland, Ore., Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Twenty local immigrants from 15 countries including Vietnam, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, became U.S. citizens.

After the ceremony, Alert crewmembers gave the new citizens a tour of the ship.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Three local immigrants become U.S. citizens aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alert in Portland, Ore., Sunday, June 6, 2010. 

The Coast Guard and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service held a naturalization ceremony aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alert during the Rose Festival.

Twenty local immigrants from 15 countries including Vietnam, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, became U.S. citizens.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore (left), Thirteenth Coast Guard District Commander, and Capt. Fred G. Myer (right), Commanding Officer Coast Guard Sector Portland, Ore., present the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to the owner, master, and crew of the Patricia Lee in Portland, Friday, June 4, 2010.

Richard Powell, Jeff Davis, Steve Spinach, Curt Olsen, Randy Baten, and Cody Davis were recognized for their heroic efforts assisting the Coast Guard in the rescue of the crew from the fishing vessel Katmai that sank near Amchitka Island, Alaska, Oct. 22, 2008.

Responding to an urgent marine information broadcast relaying the fishing vessel Katmai was taking on water with 11 crewmembers onboard, the crew of the Patricia Lee battled through a winter storm in low visibility, 100-knot winds and 25-foot swells to assist.

The Meritorious Public Service award is one of the highest public recognition awards presented by the Coast Guard and is given to recognize unusual courage in advancing the Coast Guard's missions.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn.

ASTORIA, Ore. — Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, a 418-foot National Security Cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif., enters the Columbia River, Sunday, May 16, 2010.

The Bertholf arrived in Portland, Ore., Sunday where it is scheduled to go into drydock for maintenance.

The Bertholf is the Coast Guard’s first National Security Cutter and is equipped with state-of-the-market technologies and capabilities that meet the full spectrum of 21st century maritime homeland security, maritime safety, law enforcement and maritime national defense mission requirements.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn.

ASTORIA, Ore. — Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, a 418-foot National Security Cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif., passes under the Astoria-Megler Bridge on the Columbia River, Sunday, May 16, 2010.

The Bertholf arrived in Portland, Ore., Sunday where it is scheduled to go into drydock for maintenance.

The Bertholf is the Coast Guard’s first National Security Cutter and is equipped with state-of-the-market technologies and capabilities that meet the full spectrum of 21st century maritime homeland security, maritime safety, law enforcement and maritime national defense mission requirements.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn.

ASTORIA, Ore. — Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, a 418-foot National Security Cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif., passes Astoria, Ore., on the Columbia River, Sunday, May 16, 2010.

The Bertholf arrived in Portland, Ore., Sunday where it is scheduled to go into drydock for maintenance.

The Bertholf is the Coast Guard’s first National Security Cutter and is equipped with state-of-the-market technologies and capabilities that meet the full spectrum of 21st century maritime homeland security, maritime safety, law enforcement and maritime national defense mission requirements.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn.

SEATTLE – Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Keivar MacDonald looks on at the passing rowers in Seatttle, Saturday, May 1, 2010. Boat crews from Coast Guard Station Seattle conducted safety patrols for the opening day boating parade. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Nathan W. Bradshaw.

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Auxiliary boat crew ensures proper vessel traffic in Seattle, Saturday, May 1, 2010. Coast Guard Auxiliary members helped by conducting safety patrols for the opening day boating parade. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Nathan W. Bradshaw.     

SEATTLE — Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary crewmembers conduct safety patrols during the kick off to the 2010 boating season in Union Bay, Saturday, May 1, 2010.  The Coast Guard would like to remind boaters to have a 'SWEET' time on the water. 

S - Safety

* Don't drink and boat
* Wear a life jacket
* Ensure your equipment is labeled with the proper contact information. Click here for more information.

W-Weather

* Check weather forecasts
* Dress for the water, not the weather

E - Equipment

* Carry a VHF-FM marine radio
* Make sure your boat is in good repair
* Get a free vessel safety exam from the Coast Guard Auxillary

E - Environment

* Keep a sharp lookout and monitor the weather and sea conditions
* Keep your distance from military, passenger and commercial shipping

T- Training

* Check all safety gear and ensure that everybody is trained in its use
* Take a boating class; educated boaters are safe boaters

Boaters can get some assistance in ensuring they are properly prepared by taking advantage of some of the services offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron; volunteer organizations dedicated to promoting safe boating. Both organizations offer a variety of safe boating courses, as well as free vessel safety checks, which can help ensure a boat is properly equipped. To find out more information about what courses are being offered and to get more information, visit www.uscgaux.org or www.usps.org.

"We've always stressed the importance of having the proper equipment aboard, but the safety of the boat and its passengers is the responsibility of the vessel's operator." said Dan Shipman, Coast Guard Boating Safety Specialist. "The vessel's operator must set the example and make some important choices regarding the safety of passengers, choosing to have everyone wear a life jacket, choosing not to drink and boat, and choosing to make sure their boat is properly equipped and maintained is all a part of being a safe and responsible boater."

For more information about the importance of boating safety contact the 13th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at 206-220-7237.