West Marine Partners With US Coast Guard
West Marine, the nation's largest specialty retailer of boating supplies, today announced a strategic partnership with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to promote boating safety throughout the United States via public education courses, vessel safety checks and outreach efforts.
The pact includes a plan to establish structured contact between West
Marine store management and local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel,
encouraging in-store safety classes, public safety booths, vessel safety
check stations as well as in-store promotion of outside vessel safety check
locations. In addition, West Marine would support the vessel safety check
program through articles and information provided to customers through its
catalogs, promotional mailers, purchasing guides and in-store literature.
The U.S. Coast Guard's free vessel safety check program offers
complimentary boat inspections by Auxiliary members to determine boaters'
compliance with Coast Guard mandated safety measures. The educational
vessel safety checks provide a penalty-free opportunity for boaters' to brush
up on required equipment and to make necessary safety changes to their
vessels.
"We're extremely proud to announce this partnership with the U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary to promote safe boating. At West Marine, we feel strongly
that safe and fun boating are of the utmost importance. We're pleased to
offer our customers convenient opportunities for boating safety education
right in our stores," says John Edmondson, chief executive officer, West
Marine.
The West Marine-U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary alliance also will include the
establishment of links between Web sites, as well as cross-educational
activities including presentations by West Marine personnel at U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary meetings.
"The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is optimistic that our boating safety alliance
with West Marine will provide numerous opportunities to reach sailors, power
boaters, water sports and fishing enthusiasts with important boating safety
resources and opportunities for vessel safety checks," said Jesse Harrup,
Chief - Department of Boating, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
ABOUT THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established by Congress in 1939
to assist the Coast Guard in promoting boating safety. It boasts more than
36,600 members from all walks of life who receive special training so that
they may be a functional part of Coast Guard Forces. Auxiliarists assist the
Coast Guard in non-law enforcement programs such as public education,
vessel safety checks, safety patrols, search and rescue, maritime security
and environmental protection and Coast Guard Academy introduction
programs for youth. Auxiliarists volunteer more than two million hours annually
to benefit other boaters and their families.
ABOUT WEST MARINE
West Marine, Inc. is the nation's largest specialty retailer of boating supplies
with 365 stores in 38 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and more than $660
million in annual sales. The Company's successful catalog and Internet
channels offer customers approximately 50,000 products far more than any
competitor and the convenience of being able to exchange catalog and
Internet purchases at its retail stores. The Company's Port Supply division is
the country's largest wholesale distributor of marine equipment serving boat
manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel operators and government
agencies. For more information on West Marine's products and store
locations, or to start shopping, visit westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING
(1-800-262-8464).
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