# AIDS to Navigation Maintenance **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [February 10, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824 "2025-02-10T17:42:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/1 "2025-02-10T17:42:53Z")
Should the US contract out some , or all, of the maintenance of aids to navigation to local workboats, as is done in some other countries? Would that save money? Would that provide steady recession proof work and jobs for mariners? Would that free up USCG resources for anti-immigration, anti-drug trafficking, antiterrorism work? ---
**Author:** ![yacht\_sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed655f/32.png) [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/2 "2025-02-10T17:56:57Z")
Or more likely just not maintain them at all given current events. (there are a couple that ended up 90 degrees to the correct orientation I went out and put my own reflector tape on so I could see them at night, maybe I should be billing for that!) On another note, given we all have GPS now the unlit ones are kind of an annoyance at night anyway. ---
**Author:** ![New3M](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/new3m/32/394_2.png) [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/3 "2025-02-10T20:29:23Z")
> [@tugsailor](#): > > Would that save money? Save money? Maybe. But it would be done a lot faster, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/4 "2025-02-10T20:39:24Z")
> [@yacht\_sailor](#): > > On another note, given we all have GPS now the unlit ones are kind of an annoyance at night anyway. If no maintenance is carried out wouldn’t there be a lot more of the “unlit” NavAids soon? ---
**Author:** ![yacht\_sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed655f/32.png) [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/5 "2025-02-10T20:43:36Z")
Why yes there would! ---
**Author:** ![yacht\_sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed655f/32.png) [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/6 "2025-02-10T20:44:10Z")
That is by no means a given, depending on who is doing it. ---
**Author:** ![New3M](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/new3m/32/394_2.png) [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/7 "2025-02-10T20:45:34Z")
Have you tried to get the Coast Guard to do anything lately? Our Sea Buoy was extinguished. They finally replace the bulb, and it flashed the wrong pattern for almost a year before they finally went out and fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![yacht\_sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed655f/32.png) [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/8 "2025-02-11T03:22:48Z")
They did lose my documentation paperwork twice now, so there is that. ---
**Author:** ![Boats3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/boats3/32/71458_2.png) [@Boats3](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Boats3)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/9 "2025-02-11T12:13:49Z")
To your point looking at Thimble Shoal channel this morning. NOAA charts it, USCE surveys the dredged portion. Coast Guard marks the channel, NOAA sets weather buoys. State has a few out there too. Coast guard patrols the area, local law enforcement does too, some dual enforcement depending on the offense other items specialized. Fisheries enforcement can be state with different officers sport vs commercial or federal depending on the species. Not going into licensing another multiple agency mess. Guess who’s paying for all this ---
**Author:** ![tugger50](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/tugger50/32/1090_2.png) [@tugger50](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugger50)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/10 "2025-02-11T17:11:39Z")
A lot more is involved than changing a lamp (light bulb). Aids not on shore power and buoys are solar powered now. For shore aids you have to make and replace day boards. Large heavy battery banks have to be swapped out on schedule. Chain and synthetic moorings have to be hauled aboard and inspected an replaced if needed. Anything metal in salt water has to be suspect to deterioration and replace as needed. the deck space required to haul a buoy and mooring is sometimes large. Winches, cranes and booms are required to perform these tasks. They have to be done on schedule and outages must be tended to in a reasonable amount of time. There is much more to tending ATON. Leave it to the pro’s. JMHO ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/11 "2025-02-11T18:57:15Z")
You mean leave it to the professional commercial mariners, like they do in the UK? Yes, I think that would be a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Lemurian2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/lemurian2/32/7940_2.png) [@Lemurian2](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lemurian2)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/12 "2025-02-11T21:17:21Z")
I could see the financial incentive to damage the aids to navigation if their replacement was done by hired companies. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/13 "2025-02-11T21:49:26Z")
Is that a problem in the UK and other places where private companies service the aids? ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/14 "2025-02-11T22:50:18Z")
### Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community with a statutory duty as a General Lighthouse Authority to deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners. Source: [About us | Trinity House](https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/about-us) ---
**Author:** ![ChaplainDarrell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/chaplaindarrell/32/41200_2.png) [@ChaplainDarrell](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ChaplainDarrell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/15 "2025-02-13T12:42:28Z")
The Coast Guard had a major personnel shortage for awhile. Trying to do many things and doing them well when you don’t have enough “warm bodies” isn’t easy. Patrols and other duties had to be curtailed. Do you focus on A&N at the expense of SAR? Being the “red-headed step-child” of the military isn’t easy. The “Queen of the Fleet”, the Smilax, still in service, was built in 1944, and still carrying out her duty, ---
**Author:** ![shipengr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/shipengr/32/485_2.png) [@shipengr](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/shipengr)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/16 "2025-02-13T13:12:02Z")
> [@tugsailor](#): > > Would that free up USCG resources Who’s going to administer the hundreds, (maybe thousands?) of contracts with said local workboats. If recent reporting is to be believed, every time there’s a new government contract there’s likely to be inefficiency and FWA, and you’re suggesting turning one single responsible organization into a decentralized group of hundreds of mariner contracts? You are likely correct that local mariners with a vested interest in functional navaids would do it better and more timely. But they’d have to be paid an acceptable rate to cover their time, fuel, and overhead, which seems unlikely to be less than that of a lowly CG Petty Officer. Maybe instead of contracts, just straight delegation of responsibility to local pilot associations and port authorities? Keeps costs closer to the end user. If the CG sectors just had to spotcheck instead of maintain it could save money. ---
**Author:** ![New3M](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/new3m/32/394_2.png) [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/17 "2025-02-13T13:58:19Z")
> [@shipengr](#): > > Maybe instead of contracts, just straight delegation of responsibility to local pilot associations and port authorities? Keeps costs closer to the end user. If the CG sectors just had to spotcheck instead of maintain it could save money. Who do you think tells the Sectors that shit needs to be fixed? I assure you the CG doesn’t show up to fix anything without already being told it’s broken. Again, and again, and again, and again…… ---
**Author:** ![tugger50](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/tugger50/32/1090_2.png) [@tugger50](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugger50)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/18 "2025-02-13T16:04:33Z")
Just for reference, the UK has about 11’000 aids and the US has over 50’000. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/19 "2025-02-13T17:11:07Z")
> [@tugger50](#): > > UK has about 11’000 aids That is correct: To fulfill this statutory duty, Trinity House works with local ports and harbours to inspect and audit over 11,000 local aids to navigation annually. Source: [https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/mariners-information/local-aids-to-navigation](https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/mariners-information/local-aids-to-navigation) PS\> The UK Coast Guard guard the UK coast and territorial waters, incl. the UK SAR zone of responsibility: [https://hmcoastguard.uk/](https://hmcoastguard.uk/) They do not get involved in maintaining Aids to Navigation, nor are they performing operations that would normally fall under the Royal Navy’ or Custom’s responsibility. The Coast Guard is a BRANCH under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency: > **[Maritime and Coastguard Agency](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency)** > > We work to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea. We produce legislation and guidance on maritime matters, and provide certification to seafarers. MCA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Transport . PS\> MCA is an executive agency, sponsored by the [Department for Transport](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport). They are UK’s civilian Maritime Authority per IMO definition. The US Aids to Navigation System is a bit different: > [@](#): > > §62.1 Purpose. (a) The Coast Guard administers the U.S. Aids to Navigation System. The system consists of Federal aids to navigation operated by the Coast Guard, aids to navigation operated by the other armed services, and private aids to navigation operated by other persons. (b)(1) This part describes the general characteristics of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, and the details, policies and procedures employed by the Coast Guard in establishing, maintaining, operating, changing or discontinuing Federal aids to navigation. Regulations concerning the marking of wrecks, structures, and other obstructions are found in 33 CFR part 64. Regulations concerning private aids are found in 33 CFR part 66. Regulations concerning the marking of artificial islands and structures which are erected on or over the seabed and subsoil of the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States or its possessions are found in 33 CFR part 67. Regulations concerning the marking of bridges are found in 33 CFR part 118. Regulations concerning aids to navigation at deepwater ports are found in subchapter NN of this chapter. PS\> That is just the first few lines of a long document. Source: [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2012-title33-vol1/pdf/CFR-2012-title33-vol1-chapI-subchapC.pdf](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2012-title33-vol1/pdf/CFR-2012-title33-vol1-chapI-subchapC.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![yacht\_sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed655f/32.png) [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824/20 "2025-02-14T12:50:20Z")
You would probably look for bids for regional operators, say the entire state of New Jersey. You couldn’t possibly keep up with "Jim does Cape May, his uncle does the ICW to Barnegat, Bill and Sue do the Raritan River, Charlie does Egg Harbor, etc, etc. " [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/aids-to-navigation-maintenance/71824.md?page=2)