WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. (WECT) – A record number of travelers are expected to make their way through Wilmington International Airport this weekend, and the Transportation Security Administration is even predicting this will be the busiest Labor Day weekend ever nationwide.

That means a high number of people have traveled to enjoy beaches and waterways around the Cape Fear region as summer winds down.

Marinas around Wrightsville Beach were busy on Sunday, with many people hopping on boats and getting out on the water.

“It’s definitely been pretty busy out here. A lot of boats, a lot of traffic, a lot of people who might not know what they’re doing out there. So, it’s pretty hectic,” said Jaxson Turner, who went out fishing this weekend.

With the increased traffic comes safety concerns, though. North Carolina ranked fifth nationally in boating accidents and deaths last year, according to data from the U.S. Coast Guard. That has local agencies and groups on high alert to keep people safe on the water.

“It’s not a great weekend to pull kids on tubes. There’s gonna be a lot of boat traffic, there may be some drinking on some boats, and people could be a little reckless,” said Tom Morgan, a captain with TowBoat U.S., which provides boater assistance.

Morgan expected Sunday and Monday to be two of the busiest boating days this year. He says many accidents TowBoat responds to are easily avoidable.

“Most of the time when there’s a boating accident, whether it be collisions or anything like that, it’s just from people not paying attention,” he said.

Morgan advised people heading out on the water to drive carefully when the tide is falling, be cautious moving through no wake zones, check they have all legally required safety gear onboard and ensure everyone is wearing a life jacket.

U.S. Coast Guard data shows 83% of deaths from recreational boating accidents involved boaters not wearing life jackets.

“A lot of the time our service is the first on scene when there is an accident. And over the years we’ve seen some unfortunate accidents, and most of it could be avoided,” Morgan said.

There are many services available for people who need assistance on the water. Some numbers to call if you need help on waters near Wrightsville Beach:

• Channel 16 for emergency services on the boat
• TowBoat U.S.: 910-367-0868
• Sea Tow: 910-452-3798
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach: 910-256-4224
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla: 910-256-2615

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