Vessel Assist Ventura Takes “Tower of the Year” Honors at BoatUS Towing Services Conference
A boating assistance company based at Ventura Harbor that is part of the country’s largest recreational boat towing network helping boaters get safely home was honored for its professionalism at the BoatUS Towing Services Annual Conference earlier in January in Clearwater Beach, Florida.
“Tower of the Year” honors went to Vessel Assist Ventura, which is owned and operated by Captain Paul Amaral. Vessel Assist Ventura, based at the Ventura Harbor Marina & Yacht Yard and with a second location in Oxnard, was recognized at the Jan. 18 conference for its near perfect 24-hour towing dispatch operation, superior customer service and satisfaction, ongoing towing case management, and its work in the local boating community.
Much like an auto club for boaters, Vessel Assist gives recreational boaters and anglers a reliable way to call for assistance when their boats break down on the water, run out of gas or run aground.
Amaral’s locally owned business is part of a nationwide professional network of over 300 locations and a fleet of over 600 TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist towboats. Ventura Port District officials and many in the Ventura County boating community consider Vessel Assist Ventura to be a tremendous asset to the Ventura Harbor, where Vessel Assist Ventura has been based since 2003. Ventura Harbor is home to four marinas and hundreds of recreational boaters who are out in the ocean every day and can feel safe knowing Vessel Assist is there to help them if they ever need it.
“Capt. Amaral earned consistently high marks for his positive working relationships with local government, the boating community and our headquarters staff, all of which directly benefit our members,” said BoatUS Vice President and Director of Towing Services Adam Wheeler.
Ventura Harbor’s Harbormaster, Scott Miller, said, “Having this service at Ventura Harbor is essential to helping our boaters stay safe on the water and enjoy the Harbor. This is just one of the many services we offer to recreational boaters, along with our fuel docks, boatyards and marinas.”
Both of Amaral’s Vessel Assist locations can be hailed on VHF channel 16 or reached by calling the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, and via smartphone with the free BoatUS Towing App. BoatUS is the only towing service that offers services with both SPOT and DeLorme inReach satellite communication devices. More information can be found at BoatUS.com/towing or call 800-888-4869.
The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters, providing over half a million members with a wide array of consumer services, including on water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist. Combined, these two towing fleets offer boaters, anglers and sailors the world’s largest network of towing ports with over 300 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels — three times larger than the closest competitor.
Photo caption info: (L to R) BoatUS Vice President and Director of Towing Services Adam Wheeler, Captain Paul Amaral and wife Kim of Vessel Assist Ventura.