Governor Stein Proclaims National Safe Boating Week

National Safe Boating Week

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, recreational boating is a significant part of life in North Carolina, with thousands of residents and visitors enjoying our beautiful coastal and inland waterways annually; and 

Whereas, a significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn lifejackets, as statistics show 87 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a personal flotation device; and 

Whereas, the vast majority of these accidents are preventable through education, responsible operation, and the simple act of wearing a lifejacket; and 

Whereas, basic boating safety procedures – carrying lifesaving emergency distress and communications equipment, wearing lifejackets, attending safe boating courses, participating in free boat safety checks, and staying sober when navigating – can help ensure that boaters on America’s coastal, inland, and offshore waters stay safe; and 

Whereas, National Safe Boating Week is observed to bring attention to important lifesaving tips for recreational boaters, such as wearing a lifejacket, checking weather conditions, and always avoiding boating under the influence; and 

Whereas, the Safe Boating Campaign encourages all boaters to be responsible and prioritize safety on the water through education and preparedness;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 16 – 22, 2026, as “National Safe Boating Week” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all residents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-seventh day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.