Marine Safety Tech in 2025: What’s New in Regulations & Boating Gear

As we settle into 2025, advancements in marine safety technology continue to enhance the boating experience, ensuring that both recreational and commercial mariners stay protected on the water. With new U.S. Coast Guard regulations, improved emergency response tools, and cutting-edge gear, now is the time to update your safety equipment. Let’s take a look at what’s new in marine safety for 2025.

1. New Coast Guard Regulations & Compliance Updates

Regulatory changes impact safety requirements for boaters every year. For 2025:

• Life Jacket Innovations & Mandates: The Coast Guard is pushing for life jackets with improved buoyancy materials and more comfortable designs, making them more effective and user-friendly. In high-risk areas such as nearshore waters or when operating at night, the new regulations mandate wearing life jackets for certain types of boating activities. This shift aims to reduce fatalities by ensuring that flotation support is always accessible when needed.
  

  • In New York State, certain boating conditions are considered high-risk, necessitating the use of life jackets to enhance safety. These conditions include:

    • Cold Water Conditions: Boats less than 21 feet in length must have all occupants wear a securely fastened life jacket from November 1 to May 1, when water temperatures are typically colder.
    • Children Under 12: Children under 12 years of age must wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) while on board any vessel less than 65 feet in length unless they are in a fully enclosed cabin.
    • Personal Watercraft (PWC) Operation: Anyone operating or riding on a personal watercraft (e.g., Jet Ski, Wave Runner) must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD.
    • Towed Activities: Anyone being towed behind a vessel, such as water skiers or tubers, must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD.

• Fire Extinguisher Compliance: In New York State, boating regulations specify that disposable fire extinguishers are considered expired 12 years after their date of manufacture. It's essential to replace any expired or previously used fire extinguishers, as they do not meet the state's safety requirements. To ensure compliance and safety, regularly inspect your fire extinguishers, check their manufacture dates, and replace them as needed.
  
  • Regular Inspections: Routine checks are essential for maintaining fire extinguisher readiness. During each inspection, ensure that the fire extinguisher’s pressure gauge is in the green zone, confirming that it’s fully charged. Additionally, check for any visible signs of damage or corrosion, particularly around the nozzle and the handle. If the extinguisher is used, even partially, it must be replaced immediately. Keeping your fire extinguishers in top shape not only ensures compliance but also guarantees the safety of everyone on board.
• Electronic Flares & Distress Signals: Pyrotechnic flares, while reliable, have a limited lifespan and pose environmental hazards. In 2025, the Coast Guard is pushing for a transition to electronic visual distress signals (eVDSDs) as an alternative. These high-tech, eco-friendly flares offer long-lasting batteries and improved signal visibility, making them a crucial tool for emergency situations. The push to phase out traditional flares emphasizes both safety and environmental responsibility.

2. Advances in Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) & EPIRBs

• Next-Gen PLBs: In 2025, Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) have advanced significantly, incorporating features that enhance their effectiveness in emergencies. These advancements include:

  • Multi-Frequency Distress Signaling: Modern PLBs transmit distress signals across multiple frequencies, improving the likelihood of their signals being received by rescue teams. This multi-frequency approach ensures that distress signals can be detected by various satellite systems, increasing the chances of a timely rescue.

  • GPS Integration: PLBs now include integrated GPS technology, allowing them to transmit precise location data to rescuers. This feature enables search and rescue teams to pinpoint the beacon's location with greater accuracy, facilitating faster response times.

  • Mobile App Synchronization: Some PLBs can sync with mobile applications, providing users with real-time updates and allowing them to monitor the status of their distress signals. This integration enhances user confidence and ensures that distress signals are received promptly by the appropriate authorities.

• EPIRB Upgrades: In 2025, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) have undergone significant enhancements to improve their effectiveness in maritime distress situations. Key upgrades include:
  • Extended Battery Life: Modern EPIRBs are designed to operate continuously for up to 48 hours after activation, ensuring prolonged transmission capabilities during emergencies.
  • Faster Satellite Response Times: Advancements in technology have reduced the time it takes for EPIRBs to establish communication with satellites, facilitating quicker distress signal transmission and faster rescue operations.
  • Enhanced Water Activation Mechanisms: Newer EPIRBs feature improved water activation systems, allowing them to automatically deploy and transmit distress signals upon contact with water, which is crucial in situations where manual activation may not be possible.

3. Smart Wearable Safety Tech

• Automatic Inflatable Life Vests with Smart Sensors: Modern automatic inflatable life vests now incorporate smart sensors that monitor the wearer's body position. If the wearer becomes unconscious in the water, these vests automatically deploy, ensuring the individual remains afloat while simultaneously sending distress signals to emergency responders or nearby vessels. For instance, the TeamO Backtow 275N inflatable lifejacket features a Pro sensor automatic inflation system, providing enhanced buoyancy and safety for offshore sailing.
  
• Man Overboard (MOB) Alerts: Man Overboard incidents are a leading cause of boating fatalities. Advancements in wearable MOB devices have made it easier to respond quickly. These devices sync with onboard systems, immediately shutting down engines to prevent propeller strikes and alerting crew members to the emergency. The ACR OLAS Tag, for example, is a compact, smart man overboard system that attaches to individuals, children, pets, or objects, providing reliable recovery assistance.

4. Improved Navigation & Collision Avoidance Systems

• Radar & AIS Integration: Radar technology has always been vital for safe navigation, especially in poor visibility. In 2025, radar systems have been enhanced with the integration of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), providing real-time collision avoidance through AI-powered course correction. This system not only helps identify potential hazards but also suggests navigational changes to help steer clear of danger. For instance, AI-enabled collision avoidance systems continuously monitor the surrounding environment, detecting and tracking nearby vessels, obstacles, and potential hazards. By providing early warnings and recommendations for course corrections, these systems help prevent collisions, groundings, and other maritime incidents, reducing the risk of injuries, environmental damage, and financial losses.
• Autonomous Safety Features: Modern vessels are equipped with advanced self-driving navigation systems that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), GPS, and sensors to assist with route planning, obstacle avoidance, and docking. These systems enable boats to navigate busy waterways with reduced manual input, enhancing safety and ease of operation. 
  
  • AI-Powered Collision Avoidance: AI-driven technologies have been integrated into collision avoidance systems, allowing vessels to detect and respond to potential hazards in real time. By analyzing data from radar, sonar, and other sensors, these systems can autonomously adjust the vessel's course and speed to prevent collisions, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
    
  • Autonomous Docking Assistance: AI-assisted docking systems have been developed to facilitate smooth and precise docking maneuvers. These systems assess factors such as wind speed, docking distance, and obstacles to autonomously control the vessel's approach, ensuring safe and efficient docking without the need for manual intervention. 
    
  • Emergency Auto-Stop Mechanisms: Some vessels are equipped with auto-stopping mechanisms that activate in emergencies, such as when a man overboard is detected. These systems automatically halt the vessel's engine to prevent further movement, allowing for immediate rescue operations.

5. Eco-Friendly Safety Innovations

• Biodegradable Marine Flares: Traditional marine flares often contain harmful chemicals that can pollute waterways when deployed. To address this, manufacturers have developed biodegradable marine flares that offer the same high visibility without environmental hazards. For example, Orion Safety Products' Eco-Friendly Marine Handheld Flares are designed to be safer for storage and disposal, eliminating the need for flaking red phosphorus and using a reinforced paper bag for packaging.
• Solar-Powered Emergency Lights: Advancements in solar technology have led to the creation of rechargeable, waterproof LED strobes that provide continuous illumination without relying on disposable batteries. These solar-powered lights are ideal for nighttime safety, offering long-term reliability and reducing waste. Products like the Solar Marine Beacon Light are designed for marking breakwaters, channels, or boating hazards, ensuring visibility and safety in various marine applications.

Sources:

1. U.S. Coast Guard: www.news.uscg.mil
2. BoatUS: www.boatus.org/
3. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Regulations: uscgboating.org/
4. Yachting Monthly: www.yachtingmonthly.com/
5. Marine Tech Trends: marinetechss.com/
6. PR Newswire: www.prnewswire.com/