In 1988 the Us Coast Guard asked that the Float-Plan filing system
being used only by the WYC (World Yacht Club members) up to that time,
be expanded and made available to all recreational boaters.
When widely used the stored information will greatly assist their
search and rescue efforts to save lives and search dollars.
The WYC Chapter in Miami Florida rallied to this need and expanded
their Float-Plan service. The system utilized a toll free telephone
number that allowed boaters to file Float-Plans anytime. The system
was highly successfully and was soon also introduced to the Bahamian
government and "Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association. (BASRA)
In March of 1999, high-ranking members of the Canadian Coast Guard
became aware of the service and upon review, it was felt that Canadians
could also benefit. If used by a majority of boaters, many lives could
be saved and also considerable tax dollars salvaged on search and
rescue expenses.
A Canadian Not-For-Profit Federal Company (Float-Plan Registration)
was formed and is in operation today serving the boating public and
all search and rescue agencies.
Detailed History:
In 1983,Steve Adams was the Chairman of the WYC (World Yacht Club)
Float-Plan Committee. Steve's regular job as a weather man on WSVN
TV, Channel 7, in Miami, Florida caused him to notice just how quickly
weather can change and create dangerous conditions. Steve and other
club members, over the years had experienced problems on the water.
He related poor weather conditions with disasters at sea.
Steve was aware that WYC was acting as a voyage monitor and was holding
Float-Plans for its members who where going across the Gulf Stream
to the Bahamas. He suggested that voyage monitoring should be expanded
to include all their boating trips.
Joe Rubano, owner of "RPM DIESEL", a WYC member business
in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and a regular Float-Plan filer, was the
first to donate funds to expand the monitoring system.
A computer and software program were designed to interface with the
telephone network by Richard Sablon.
In 1988 when information on this professional voyage monitoring system
became available to all WYC membership, United Coast Guard personnel
become aware of it and introduced Steve to the search and rescue headquarters
Senior Duty Office (SDO) LCDR Dave Hill.
Steve had many meetings with Commander Hill and his staff. The Commander
was very enthusiastic about monitoring and wanted WYC to make their
professional boaters. These talks and planning sessions moved forward
until in June 1994, Captain J.G. Hamilton USCG Chief of SAR (Sea Air
Rescue) strongly endorsed the filing of Float-Plan with a voyage monitor
on shore.
"Phone-A-Float-Plan" a not-for-profit 501-C-3 corporation
had been created in 1993 to monitor voyages professionally. Commander
Hill was transferred and LCDR Dan Cutrer, a navy pilot took over as
SDO.
Steve was replaced as Chairman by Richard A. MacClary, FBI Special
Agent Retired, pilot and Naval Captain.
In February, 1999, the Canadian Coast Guard become aware of the USA
system and had several meetings with members of the Toronto Chapter
of WYC. On April 15, 1999, Charles Gadula, Acting Director General
Rescue Safety, issued a statement endorsing the use of Float-Plans
and recommended that they be left with a responsible party on shore.
In November 1999, FPR (Float-Plan Registration) a Canadian Federal
Not-For-Profit was formed.
In March, 2001 at the Canadian Sportsman Show a great deal of interest
was shown in the filing of trip plans on land by snowmobilers, hunters
and others who were concerned about safety.
The Canadian computer (under construction) was immediately modified
after a meeting with the CACG SAR who requested additional services
be added relating to double checking of overdues and the modification
of multiple search centers. At this time modifications were made to
accommodate the SAR request and also trip plans on land were included.
The concept of Safety Trip Plan became instantly popular right after
September 11/2001 due to the heightened awareness for loved ones and
their whereabouts. When Castrophic things like hurricanes,earth quakes
or a sunomi happen Safety Trip Plan makes the search for survivors
easier and faster, with the storage of health records and DNA.
Much interest in safety was found in areas not previously considered.
RV travelers love the security of this professional monitoring system,
as do female students leaving their colleges, universities and dorms
after dark. Separated women, people who work alone such as realtors
and formers, even the elderly going off to the store on icy streets
get comfort from using the service. Safety Trip Plan caught the attention
of major insurance carriers and underwriters when the storage of medical
records was added in 2002.
The Canadian system is equipped to do everything the old USA system
did via phone and does much, much more through the internet.
Travelers can now file in absolute privacy, even when traveling from
one country to another. Ask your travel agent for details.
Safety Trip Plan can also be used as a member benefit for auto towing
clubs and travel medical coverage and life insurance, plus many other
services.
This is truly a world wide Safety Trip Plan system. One that is evolving
with the times.
