The Chicago Harbor Safety Committee is pleased to share the work product of the 2023 Recreational Outreach Task Force. The Recreational Task Force members were chosen based on their expertise, influence and dedication to improving marine safety. The primary recommendation of the task force was to promote training opportunities to the novice recreational boater. The task force work product can be found attached as opportunities for learning in the Chicago area. This list will be updated as training opportunities are developed.

The USACE has taken great steps in improving que area education and overall lock safety as a result of this partnership. The most effective byproduct is the “Chicago Harbor Lock Safety Guide” released in the Spring of 2022. This guide provides the optics and relevancy needed to assist the novice and experienced boat operator with the basics on locking through. The brochure clarifies the “Pecking order” of lock priority, the meaning of light signals, the need to keep the entry and exist clear. It also illustrates the important safety procedures designed to protect lock users and save lives.

Chicago Harbor Safety Committe/USACE Outflow Mapping Project

The Chicago Harbor Safety Committee (CHSC) has spent two years collecting recommendations about how to make boating safe and enjoyable for everyone on Chicago's lakefront and on the Chicago River. While at its core the video focuses on broader boating education it shares a local knowledge from all sectors of the boating industry on how to safely navigate Chicago's waterways. Please watch the video and take the following quiz to earn your CHSC Safe Boater certificate.