Old Greenwich Parents Push for Stricter Boating Regulations for Teens

Old Greenwich residents Joseph and Pam Fedorko testified before the Connecticut Legislature’s Environment Committee Friday to voice their support of Emily’s bill — a proposed revision of state boating regulations that would impose stricter guidelines for teen boat operators.

The bill, supported by Greenwich state Sen. Scott Frantz (R-36), is in response to the Long Island Sound tragedy on Aug. 6, 2014 that claimed the life of the Fedorkos’ 16-year-old daughter Emily.

The proposed Senate Bill 699, Emily’s Bill, calls for an additional educational component to the Safe Boating Curriculum that includes a very meaningful and effective section on towing, meaning any sort of activity that takes place behind a fast moving vessel involving an inflatable tube, water skis, wake board or surfboard.

Under current regulations, a 13-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate is able to take a twin 350-horsepower engine boat out and tow water skiers and tubers. Officials said there are greater risks for teens at the helm because of “a general lack of on-the-water experience for this age group is large.” With Emily’s Bill, there would be a requirement of a minimum age of 16 with a towing endorsement in order to legally tow.

According to a statement released by Frantz’s office, Joseph Fedorko testified, “As a result of inexperience our precious daughter lost her life. We allow our kids to get driver’s license at sixteen with many restrictions, why wouldn’t we want to have the same age restrictions on boating safety?”

Last August, Emily, a rising Greenwich High School junior was with three classmates aboard a privately-owned 21-foot , Wahoo center console recreational powerboat with a 200-horsepower outboard engine. Police said that Emily and another girl became dislodged from the tube. Both were struck by the boat propeller when one of the girls steered the boat towards the pair to pick them up.

Emily suffered fatal injuries to her torso, police said. The other teen suffered a non-life threatening but traumatic injury by the same propeller.

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The proposed bill was vetted with the boating industry, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, boaters, the U.S. Power Squadron, professionals in the business, Marine Police and the Fedorko family.

The Fedorko Family has launched a foundation, the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation, to promote towing safety throughout the country. The family continues to visit boat shows to distribute information, tell their story and hand out stickers to be placed near throttles and ignition switches to “Turn It Off For Emily” when approaching anyone in the water.

“We want to protect others from the pain we feel each day,” Joseph Fedorko said in the statement.

To learn more about the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation, click here.

Related stories:

• Boating Victim Was Greenwich HS Junior from Old Greenwich
• Update: Greenwich HS Student Killed in Boating Accident

Contributed photo: The Fedorko family testifying before the Environment Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, in support of Emily’s Bill, a towing safety bill named after their daughter who lost her life in an accident last year on the water in Greenwich.

Photo: Emily Fedorko via Facebook.