Coast Guard Auxiliary Brings Safety to Boaters on the Missouri River

The Coast Guard Auxiliary brought safety to the Missouri River Sunday towing a disabled boat to safety, and then helping a local boater learn about boating safety.

On a routine safety patrol on the Missouri River near downtown Omaha, a Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol boat discovered a boater and his family, drifting down river in a boat without power. The disabled boat would not start and was drifting towards a wing dike, positioned rocks in the river used to control the current of the river.

Coast Guard Auxiliary members Frank Reiss, Doug Jansen and Phil Patterson came to their rescue. The Coast Guard Auxiliary crew, in their authorized patrol boat, threw a line to the disabled boat and towed the stranded family's boat to safety.

"Had my crew not been there on patrol to help them," said Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer Frank Reiss of Omaha, "The disabled boat could have run into the wing dike, further damaging the boat, and injuring the people on board."

The Coast Guard Auxiliary crew secured the disabled vessel at a local marina with the assistance of a local boater. The local boater expressed interest in a receiving a Vessel Safety Check on his boat, from the Coast Guard Auxilarists.

Vessel Safety Checks are conducted by qualified members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This is a way for boaters to have their boating equipment inspected, insuring compliance with Federal and State regulations. These examinations also provide learning about problems that might be in violation of the laws, and provide the boating public with additional safety tips that could possibly mitigate or eliminate preventable danger on the water.

Frank Reiss conducted a Vessel Safety Check for the local boater and was able to explain various safety features on his boat.

A Coast Guard Auxiliary rescue boat tows a boat that was in distress to a safe location on the Missouri River on June 21st.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)

Coast Guard Auxilarist Frank Reiss conducts a Vessel Safety Check for a boat owner at the Sandpiper Marina in Omaha. The Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts these voluntary checks so that boaters know what safety equipment they need to go on the water safely.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)