The Coast Guard in Alaska just made it easier for sportsmen to choose safer charter services from the more than 2,000 charter boats that work here. The 17th Coast Guard District's Alaska  Uninspected Passenger Vessel Voluntary Five Star Safety Program, or Star Safety Program, provides charter patrons the ability to see the level of safety equipment on board a participating vessel just by looking at sticker on the hull. 

The Star Safety Program is a voluntary program that assigns a one- to five-star rating (with five being the best) based on the level of safety equipment on board the vessel. The owner is able to use the star rating in advertising and is presented with a highly visible sticker to place on their boat. The star rating lets the charter passengers know how much safety equipment is on the boat so consumers decide what level of safety is right for them. The Star Safety Program is designed to let a person who knows little about boats to be able to make an informed decision about the level of safety that appeals to them while still allowing the owner flexibility in operations.