COLUMBUS, OH - From participating in search and rescue missions to recovering stolen boats to teaching safe boating classes, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) watercraft officers were busy in 2001.
We are proud our on-going efforts to promote safe boating are making Ohios waterways safer places for family recreation, said Jeff Hoedt, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
State watercraft officers participated in more than 375 search and rescue missions last year, including providing emergency rescue assistance to 87 individuals.
Additionally, state watercraft officers protected from loss or damage an estimated $671,289 in property, recovered 51 stolen vessels valued at $363,300, and performed more than 23,000 watercraft inspections.
Officers increased boating awareness of safety issues by offering instruction to 4,400 people through 263 course sessions. These included 100 Ohio Boating Education Course sessions, 13 other certified skill development courses, 52 courses taught through an agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and 98 courses taught through agreements with U.S. Power Squadrons. Watercraft officers also made 160 presentations last year that reached a collective audience of more than 11,000 people.
Ohio registered 414,825 watercraft last year according to a preliminary total.
The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers Ohios boating program. It oversees boat registration and titling operations, enforces boating laws on Ohios waterways, educates the public, and provides funding to local communities for education, enforcement and boating facilities. These programs are user funded through boat registration fees and through a portion of state and federal motor fuel taxes.