NEWPORT — The first boat — a 53-foot Hatteras — passed by the dock just after 10 a.m. Saturday for the Blessing of the Fleet, followed by a cruiser called the Serendipity.

        Then came a flotilla of about three dozen Canada geese.

        “That's a first,” said Jack Hern, as the geese floated by, followed by another cruiser.

        About a dozen boats — and the geese — participated on Saturday in the annual blessing, which asks God for a safe boating season.

        The event was organized by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Cincinnati Power Squadron and the Propeller Club.

        The blessing was done by the Rev. Herman Kenning, a retired priest from Hartwell and avid boater.

        It is a tradition with Mediterranean origins.

        “It primarily started with the fishing industry,” said Mr. Hern, proprietor of Hern Marine in Fairfield and a member of the auxiliary and the Power Squadron.

        “The blessing was for the safety of the fishermen and the hope of returning with a big catch.”

        Organizers are trying to revive the tradition here, said Mr. Hern. Although it's not near the ocean, the Cincinnati area does have the Ohio River. “We really are a maritime city,” he said.

        “Bless these boats, bless their equipment,” Father Kenning prayed. “Protect them from the dangers of wind and rain and all the perils of the waters.”

        Paul Leffler, division captain of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, said that since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the blessing has also honored those who serve in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

        Every fourth week, Father Kenning can be found sailing on Lake Erie. A member of the Power Squadron for years, he has taught classes on boating skills and safety.

        “Blessing of the fleet began when going to sea was more dangerous and voyages were much longer,” Father Kenning said.

        “But getting out on the water is a wonderful opportunity for people to relax and get away from their troubles and trials. When you get on the water, you're in a different world. You're close to the sky, the wind and the sun. It keeps you close to God.”

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