The U.S. Coast Guard has officially launched the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS). This is the first comprehensive survey of its kind since 2018 and is a critical tool for understanding boating habits across all 50 states to help reduce accidents and identify high-risk behaviors.

How You Can Help: From now until February 2027, the Coast Guard is seeking volunteers to complete a brief sign-up page about their boating habits. This information allows a wider range of boaters to be invited to participate in the larger study later this year.

Coast Guard Warns the Public About Illegal Charter Operations

The Coast Guard is warning the boating public about the life-threatening risks and legal consequences of illegal charter operations throughout the Northeast District. 

Read the full press release.

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary -

Casco Bay Flotilla

Serving Casco Bay as a force multiplier for the Coast Guard.

The USCG Cutter Eagle, the Coast Guard's training ship, was recently in Portland.

Over 4,700 people toured her while in town.

Join a cleanup or work day with the Maine Island Trail Association. More information is at www.mita.org

Friends of Casco Bay has regular Coastal Cleanups throughout the Summer. Learn more and signup.

News...

The Casco Bay Flotilla was on scene with the Active Duty, Sunday August 16, to help patrol this year's Portland Lobster Boat Races. One of the highlights is the Tug Boat Race.

The Casco Bay Flotilla was on scene, Sunday August 9, to help patrol this year's Casco Bay "World Series" Swim Run.

We assisted in retrieving 16 swimmers who needed to be pulled from the water and diverted numerous boats from the course.

U.S. Coast Guard announces one-year countdown to opening the nation’s first National Coast Guard Museum

We were on station talking Kayak safety at Thornton Academy for the Saco Night Out.

The Casco Bay Flotilla was on scene, Sunday July 26, to help patrol this year's Harpswell Lobster Boat Races.

The Casco Bay Flotilla was on scene, Saturday July 18, to help patrol this year's Peaks to Portland Swim For Kids

(photo courtesy of YMCA of Southern Maine)

Atticus Whitten (left) is a High School student looking to enlist with Coast Guard. Micah Steudle (right) is going into his Senior year at the Coast Guard Academy. On the far right is Billy Thornton, Auxiliary Flotilla Commander for Casco Bay. He is completing a pre-underway briefing for an AOR (area of responsibility) familiarization patrol. Atticus and Michah had time at the helm driving the boat, doing radio ops/position reports, and heaving line/towline set ups.

Active Duty LT Barnett on board with the Auxiliary to provide an area orientation to aquaculture sites (kelp, mussels, oysters) in Casco Bay. While out, we were able to provide the crew on a 47-ft motor life boat from Station South Portland with opportunity to do multiple 2-boat towing evolutions for their new trainees on board. LT Barnett enthusiastically volunteered to go forward with the Auxiliarist crew member to deal with heaving line/towline setup.

Our thanks to the Maine Ports and Harbors Facebook group for the shout out post when we cleared the large floating log a few weeks ago.

The Auxilliary had a busy 2 days assisting the South Portland Guard Guard station with training as the Coast Guard practiced boarding drills from “drugs” to “weapons” violations onto the auxiliary boats.