Nasbla will stage realistic vessel collisions to enhance training for its level II advanced boating incident investigation course

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Inc. (NASBLA) received a $112,482 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Coast Guard under the National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program (CFDA 97.135), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award funds the development of realistic training materials and instructional resources for NASBLA's Level II Advanced Boating Incident Investigation Course. Deliverables include six crashed vessels, high-quality instructional videos, updated training manuals, and comprehensive drone and GoPro documentation utilizing GPS technology, electronic control units (ECUs), and crash test manikins to simulate realistic boating collision scenarios.

The project directly enhances the quality and effectiveness of maritime law enforcement training by replacing outdated equipment with contemporary, evidence-based instructional materials. Beyond the primary training audience, the initiative incorporates media outreach designed to reach approximately 250,000 individuals. Additionally, the project will improve data accuracy for the Boating Accident and Rescue Database (BARD), supporting the Coast Guard's national recreational boating safety mission through better incident investigation training and more reliable accident data collection.

The initiative will use GPS, ecus, crash test manikins, and drone-gopro documentation to create new training aids, including six crashed vessels and high-quality videos. These materials will replace outdated equipment, improve realism, and enhance instructional value. The project will update manuals, improve data accuracy for bard, and reach 250,000 people through media outreach.