More than a dozen marine law enforcement and rescue officers held a boating safety awareness press conference and demonstration Saturday on the Ohio River.

Troy Thompson with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources checks a ski boat. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Jay Enginger, a warrant officer with the Coast Guard, said more than 72 million participate in recreational boating each year in the United States, taking to wa terways in 16 million boats.

        Between 700 and 800 die each year in boating accidents, he said.

        Alan Hayes, a Coast Guard official, warned about the dangers of interfering with commercial traffic.

        “What we want people to understand is that they should not play around commercial vessels,” Mr. Hayes said..

        “They think that because they can maneuver their boats, a towboat can do it just as easily,” he said. “But boats like that are restricted in their ability to maneuver. Stay away from the commercial boats.”

        Troy Thompson, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, emphasized the importance of life jackets. He said the main cause of boating deaths is someone falling into the water and not having a life jacket.

        “The least that can happen (if there are not enough aboard) is you can get a $95 ticket,” Mr. Thompson said. “The worst that can happen is you could lose your life.”

        The officers and rescue workers represented at least nine marine public safety agencies in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana that patrol the Ohio River from Indiana to Portsmouth, Ohio.

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