Your safety is very important to us; MEA and her crew are in compliance with very stringent federal safety regulations for passenger vessels.
Please listen to captain and crew instructions
It is the law. Even if our “command” does not make sense to you in the moment, follow it right away- we can explain later when it is safe.
“A person…interfering with a safe operation of a vessel so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of a person is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 in the case of recreational vessel or $25,000 in the case of any other vessel”.
(33 U.S.C. 2302)
If you fall overboard
We recommend wearing life vests for the duration of your trip; this is mandatory for children under 12, and optional for adult guests.
If you stay seated while the boat is in motion, you will not fall out.
But if you do…
- Don’t panic
- Don’t try swimming after the boat (you will get tired quickly)
- If you see an orange ring buoy or a blue cushion in the water, swim towards it and grab it, for easier floating
- Tread water, and we will pick you up within minutes (promise!)
If you see someone else fall overboard
Your quick action can save their life:
- Spread the alarm in a loud voice by repeatedly calling out, “MAN OVERBOARD”, RIGHT/LEFT SIDE (or STARBOARD/PORT SIDE)
- Throw a ring buoy or square blue cushion over the side as quickly as possible- your speed is more important here than your aim!
- Maintain sight of, and continuously point at the individual in the water so the captain or crew can see. Don’t stop pointing when you give details of what happened to the captain or crew.
Duty to provide assistance at sea
If we see someone in trouble on or in the water, we will help to the best of our ability, even if it will interfere with our trip.
“A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master’s or individual’s vessel or individuals on board”.
(33 U.S.C. 2304)
SEAbilitation 