The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the…

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources $4,657,641 in formula grant funding on October 1, 2025, under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012) to support statewide recreational boating safety efforts through September 30, 2028.

The funding supports boating safety education, law enforcement, and public access infrastructure across Maryland. Eligible uses include facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement; personnel training in boating safety and enforcement; public boating safety education programs and school-based lectures; acquisition, construction, or repair of public access sites for recreational boaters; boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations; establishment and maintenance of emergency and search-and-rescue facilities; waterway markers and navigation aids; and state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.

The award is structured as a formula grant with performance taking place in Maryland. The Boating Safety Financial Assistance program is restricted to designated state agencies and is not open to the public. The program's objective is to encourage state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, enabling states to assume greater responsibility for boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities.

The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities. Federal funds provided for a state's boating safety program may be used for any of the following expenses. 1. Providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement, including purchase, operation, maintenance, and repair. 2. Training personnel in skills related to boating safety and to the enforcement of boating safety laws and regulations. 3. Providing public boating safety education, including educational programs and lectures, to the boating community and the public school system. 4. Acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters. 5. Conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations. 6. Establishing and maintaining emergency or search and rescue facilities, and providing emergency or search and rescue assistance. 7. Establishing and maintaining waterway markers and other appropriate aids to navigation. 8. Providing state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.