GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – With recreational boaters flocking to the bay of Green Bay and the Fox River for Independence Day celebrations, officials say extra caution is needed.
They say increased recreational boat traffic paired with regular commercial shipping could be a deadly combination if safety precautions aren’t followed.
“These large vessels, eight-hundred-plus-feet-long, can’t maneuver very well, they can’t stop,” explains Dean Haen, Port of Green Bay Director. “Recreational boaters need to be cognizant of that.”
Other watercrafts will typically be smaller in size, thus making them harder to spot.
“Be cautious of tugs that are working and other activities,” he says. “We do have some construction in the East River turning basin that people should be aware of.”
But, it’s not just other vessels that boaters need to keep an eye on.
In its final year of operation, the Fox River Cleanup Project still has equipment on the water.
“So those pipelines and barges and lift stages are near the mouth of the Fox River,” explains Haen.
He says always follow buoys, markers, and signs in order to safely navigate around equipment.
To help in that process, it’s always a good idea to rely on another set of eyes.
“Just as you’re in a vehicle, you usually got a co-pilot and they’re helping you navigate,” he explains. “That should be happening on a boat as well.”
Boaters that frequent the bay of Green Bay and Fox River are being warned that activity this week will be beyond any normal level.
“As we approach the Fourth of July, the port [of Green Bay] couldn’t be any busier,” says Haen.
Other reminders include carrying an approved personal flotation device and never mixing boating with alcohol and/or drugs.
“We want people to enjoy being out on the water and the best way to do that safely is by being aware of everything going on around you and being respectful of those around you,” he says.
