Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Coast Guard proposes removing hundreds of buoys from Northern Atlantic Coast

by BoatUS 20 May 08:25 PDT

On April 15, the First Coast Guard District released an initiative proposing the removal of hundreds of navigational buoys, or Aids to Navigation (AtoNs). Buoys currently under review are located along the Northern Atlantic Coast between the New York City metro area and the Maine-Canada border. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is concerned that some of the buoys selected to be removed could negatively affect navigation safety and urges recreational boaters to speak up on the issue.

The Coast Guard states that the purpose of these proposed removals is "modernizing and rightsizing the buoy constellation," given that most current AtoNs predate GPS and electronic charting technologies. The Coast Guard proposes that many of these buoys are no longer necessary and that fewer buoys to maintain will help reduce costs and divert maintenance efforts to the most critical buoys.

Some of the buoys proposed for removal are part of long, straight entrance channels - such as the commercial channels into New York Harbor - where removals would only increase the size of the gaps between existing buoys. Other proposed removals, however, include buoys in notoriously rocky and challenging bays and harbors, such as Pensobscot Bay in Maine and Woods Hole in Massachusetts.

Buoys subject to the proposed changes can be found by going to the Local Notice to Mariners interactive tool on the NAVCEN website, clicking the "layers" icon in the upper right corner of the map, and selecting the "Proposed Notice of Change" layer. Zoom in and click an individual buoy to see an information box with more details of the proposed change.

The Coast Guard is seeking public comment through June 13,, 2025. "Because local AtoNs are primarily the concern of local boaters, it's important they have their voice heard," said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. "The Coast Guard is actively soliciting this local knowledge and requests that all comments include the size and type of vessel, how a particular buoy is used, and when you start looking for it in order to best process feedback."

Comments may be submitted via email: D01-SMB-DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil.

Related Articles

All the hurricane preparation info boaters need
Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 Recreational boaters whose vessels have been impacted by a hurricane and came out relatively unscathed know it all starts with a plan. Posted on 29 May
Learn powerboating skills in Old Saybrook
From the basics to 2 new hands-on courses added for experienced boaters Recreational boaters are beginning to return to the waters of Long Island Sound. Are they prepared? Posted on 8 May
Boaters prepare for boating season with BoatUS
At Erie Islands Sailing & Powerboating School With the summer boating season just around the corner, boaters on Lake Erie's West/Central Basin can boost their confidence on the water with a little help from Erie Islands Sailing & Powerboating School, which offers at-the-helm training Posted on 22 Apr
Spring launch checklist
Time-tested tips for getting your boat ready for the season Whether it's your first year or 50th, the recreational boat owner's advocacy, services and safety group, BoatUS, has help on how to start the boating season off right with its Spring Commissioning Checklist. Posted on 26 Mar
Be wary of letters offering documentation renewal
Official-looking vessel documentation renewal notices can lead to confusion and higher costs Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters with vessels that have a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation to be wary of any letter arriving by U.S. mail offering renewal. Posted on 28 Jan
Got your boating safety certificate yet?
A 2025 mandatory boating safety education requirement BoatUS Foundation's online Boating Safety Course helps Empire State residents meet 2025 mandatory boating safety education requirement. Posted on 2 Jan
How to prepare a boat for Helene
Free online guides, videos, worksheet available from BoatUS With potential Tropical Cyclone Nine expected to reach hurricane strength as Helene before hitting parts of Florida's Gulf Coast later this week, recreational boat owners have all the hurricane preparation information they need at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. Posted on 25 Sep 2024
How to prepare a boat for Francine
Free online guides, videos, worksheet available for hurricanes from BoatUS With Tropical Storm Francine expected to reach hurricane strength before hitting parts of coastal Louisiana and the western Gulf Coast this week, recreational boat owners have all the hurricane preparation information they need at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. Posted on 10 Sep 2024
Florida 90-day temporary boating certification
BoatUS Foundation offers new course for renters Vacationers headed to Florida and planning to rent a boat now have an easy and low-cost way to earn their temporary boating safety certificate. Posted on 31 Jul 2024
Try boating or hone your boat handling skills
With on-water powerboat training Summer boating season has arrived. Have you ever wanted to try out boating, or are you a boat owner looking to improve your confidence behind the helm? Posted on 3 Jul 2024
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER