Boating safety concerns heat up

It's National Boating Safety Week and law enforcement officials are reminding people to take care on the water. The safety campaign comes right as the weather is getting warmer and the Memorial Day

News 12 Staff

May 26, 2016, 4:53 PM

Updated 3,079 days ago

Share:

It's National Boating Safety Week and law enforcement officials are reminding people to take care on the water.
The safety campaign comes right as the weather is getting warmer and the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Officials are reminding people to always wear a life jacket, and have one for every person on the boat. They also say never operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
They are also stressing to be extra vigilant about your surroundings, especially for anyone boating on the Hudson River near the Tappan Zee Bridge. With the construction of the new span, even the most experienced of boaters say it is like an obstacle course.
Lt. James Luciano, of the Westchester County Police Department's Marine Unit, says as work progresses, there are now hundreds of barges on the water and a new super crane . "People have to pay particular attention because there is a cabling system that works with help turning this large crane barge," he says.
Lt. Luciano also says a strict speed limit of 5 mph will be enforced by officers at the main channel of the bridge.
Recently, three men died when their tugboat slammed into one of the barges at the site. In 2013, a pre-wedding party boat that was being operated by a man who was under the influence hit one of the barges killing a bride-to-be and best man.
While the area now has better lighting and signage and several additional safety measures, officials say those vessels can move around at any time.