The U.S. Coast Guard First District Commander seeks public input on proposed changes to proposed modifications to Aids to Navigation meant to modernize the constellation of coastal buoys throughout New England. Public comment on these proposed changes is open until June 13, 2025 (see detailed instructions below). A map of the candidate buoys for discontinuation is available in the Data Explorer under Marine Transportation > Navigation. The proposed buoy discontinuation summary and detailed maps can also be viewed through a smartphone or tablet through the Coast Guard’s Local Notice to Mariners interactive tool on the NAVCEN web page (obtain QR code link and instructions). Track the status of the proposal on the Portal’s Coast Guard Proposed Actions page.
Background
The Coast Guard is modernizing and rightsizing the buoy constellation, whose designs mostly predate Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC), and Electronic Charting Systems (ECS), for long-term reliability and serviceability. This effort, which includes buoy discontinuation, will result in the most sustainable navigation risk reduction to support and complement modern mariners, today’s much larger ships, ECS system availability and requirements, and powerful smartphone navigation subscription apps affordably accessible to virtually all waterway users.
The Proposed buoy constellation changes are intended to:
- Support the navigational needs of the 21st century prudent mariner, vice those of the mid20th century (pre-GPS, AIS, e-charts, mobile device apps, improved radar, etc.),
- Deliver effective, economical service – manage vessel transit risk to acceptable levels at acceptable cost,
- Best maintain the most critical risk reducing buoys for the long-term, and
- Provide resilience against AtoN discrepancies, GNSS disruptions/ECS failures.
How to submit comments
Interested mariners are strongly encouraged to comment on this in writing, either personally or through their organization. All comments will be carefully considered and are requested prior to 13 June 2025 to complete the process. To most effectively consider your feedback and improve the data collection, when responding to this proposal, please include size and type of your vessel, recreational or commercial, how you use the signal to navigate, and distance at which you start looking for and utilizing it. Please do not call the Coast Guard via telephone or other means, only written responses to this proposal will be accepted. Refer to Project No. 01-25-015. E-mail can be sent to: D01-SMB-DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil.
