U.S. Coast Guard proposes changes to aids to navigation in the Northeast

by U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast 6 May 07:22 PDT

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public input on proposed aids to navigation (AtoN) changes in the northeast, April 30, 2025.

The Coast Guard is proposing to discontinue some buoys as one of several efforts to advance a modern approach to physical aids to navigation. The current buoy constellation predates global navigation satellite systems, electronic navigation charts and electronic charting systems (ECS), which are widely used by today's mariners.

This long term effort is designed to determine the most sustainable navigational risk reduction tools to support and complement mariners, ECS and smartphone navigation apps that are more widely available and affordable. Regardless of technological advances, a robust physical aids to navigation network will always complement electronic systems.

The proposed buoy changes are intended to:

• Support the navigational needs of the 21st century
• Deliver efficient and economical service to manage vessel transit at an acceptable level of risk
• Better maintain the most critical risk reducing buoys
• Reduce the risk of aids to navigation discrepancies and electronic system failures for those aids most critical to safe navigation

"The proposal aims to support waterway safety by ensuring the right short-range aids work well with modern navigation technology. Public comment about specific buoy use is essential. A sustainable buoy system ensures safety and efficiency, even during disruptions or technology failures, keeping commerce flowing smoothly. In the First Coast Guard District, the 350 buoys proposed for discontinuation represent about 6% of the 5,640 federally-maintained aids to navigation," said Matthew Stuck, the First Coast Guard District's chief of waterways management.

"We're actively adjusting short-range aids to work better and more sustainably given today's navigation tools and methods," said Stuck. "As part of this effort, the First Coast Guard District has assessed AtoN system modernization options over the last two years. Identifying buoys with the highest navigational significance and those providing less navigational value established the baseline to engage the public for feedback on this proposal."

The Coast Guard is strongly requesting mariners to give feedback before June 13, 2025. When providing feedback, include the size and type of your vessel, how you use the buoys to navigate and the distance at which you start looking for and using it. Responses are only accepted by email at D01-SMB-DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil.

The proposed buoy constellation summary can be found here.