Notice: Effective April 1st, 2004, to improve service and reduce costs, the USCG is moving to issuance of the Local Notices to Mariners (LNM) exclusively via the Internet. LOCAL NOTICES TO MARINERS You may also view the 2004 USCG Light Lists
(Navigation) Rules of the Road Here you will find information about Navigation Rules, also known as the Rules of the Road or the Nav Rules
Florida Online Boating Safety Class and Boater Exam
http://myfwc.com/boating/The Florida Boaters Guide (Adobe Acrobat PDF version available as well)
Safe, responsible boating on Florida’s waterways is every boat operator’s responsibility. We hope that by completing our How To Boat Smart Florida educational course you will become aware of your responsibilities on the water, and be better able to handle any problems that may arise.
As more and more boats continue to cruise Florida’s waterways for recreation, safe boating becomes increasingly important to prevent accidents, injury, and death. It not only makes sense to follow safe boating rules and practices—it adds to the fun of all water recreational activity. It is your responsibility as a boater to know and observe Florida’s boating laws to protect you and your family. The How To Boat Smart Florida course has been prepared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide boaters with advice and information on safe and proper boat handling. By studying the material, you will improve your boating skills, become familiar with standard rules of the road and equipment requirements, and develop a positive attitude toward safety on the water.
Do your part to make boating in Florida a safe, enjoyable pastime!
Become an educated, responsible boater by completing the How
To Boat Smart Florida course and practice what you learn.
HURRICANE SEASON (From Local Notices to Mariners)
The hurricane season extends from June through November. Hurricanes can cause excessive damage to vessels and loss of life. To minimize
these dangers, the following precautions should be taken by all mariners before getting underway during the hurricane season:
(a) Instruction of crew and passengers in location of emergency equipment and emergency procedures;
(b) Pre-sailing check of vessel, machinery, and equipment for seaworthiness;
(c) Installation of strong ground tackle;
(d) Review of storm center evasion procedures;
(e) Knowledge of nearest hurricane shelter or port; and
(f) Constant radio watches on channel 16 VHF-FM and frequent monitoring of weather broadcasts.
HURRICANE INFORMATION
The civilian hurricane warning service for the North Atlantic is provided by the National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida. The center collates ship,
aircraft, radar, and satellite data to produce and issue tropical cyclone warnings and forecasts for the North Atlantic Ocean, including the
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. A Tropical Cyclone Advisory message is issued every six hours, with intermediate bulletins provided as
needed.
For tropical storms and hurricanes threatening to cross the coast of the U.S., coastal warnings are issued to the public so that precautionary
actions, including evacuation, can be initiated to minimize damage and loss of life. Two levels of warnings are employed:
(a) HURRICANE WATCH - a preliminary alert that a hurricane MAY threaten a specified portion of the coast. It is issued 36 hours before
landfall may occur; and
(b) HURRICANE WARNING - which indicate that hurricane conditions are EXPECTED along a specified portion of the coast. It is issued 24
hours before landfall. To provide additional information for maritime interests, a Marine Advisory is also issued which provides storm position
forecasts for up to 72 hours in advance of a storm, and probabilities of hurricane strikes for coastal locations and offshore coordinates.
Mariners are reminded that aids to navigation, particularly lighted and unlighted buoys, may be moved from charted position, damaged, destroyed,
extinguished or otherwise deemed discrepant as a result of hurricane and storms. Mariners should not rely solely upon the position or operation
of an aid to navigation, but also employ such other methods of determining position as may be available.
Mariners are further reminded that during the hurricane season drawbridges along the coast may deviate from normal operating procedures.
Drawbridges are authorized to remain closed upon approach of gale force winds of 34 knots or greater. Others may be authorized to extend
closed periods prior to gale force winds to facilitate evacuation of land traffic or close operations up to 8 hours before expected arrival of gale force
winds. Due to the uncertainty of hurricane movements and bridge closures, mariners are urged to seek passage through drawbridges well in
advance of the arrival of gale force winds.
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