A 49-foot Buoy Utility Stern Loading (BUSL) boat crew from Aids to Navigation Team Southwest Harbor performs maintenance on a buoy, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 near Southwest Harbor, Maine. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced plans to discontinue approximately 350 buoys in northeastern waters as part of a broader modernization initiative for aids to navigation (AtoN).
The proposal, announced on April 30, 2025, represents about 6% of the 5,640 federally-maintained aids to navigation in the First Coast Guard District. The Coast Guard said the change reflects the increasing reliance on modern navigation technologies, including global navigation satellite systems, electronic navigation charts, and electronic charting systems.
“The proposal aims to support waterway safety by ensuring the right short-range aids work well with modern navigation technology,” said Matthew Stuck, the First Coast Guard District’s chief of waterways management. “A sustainable buoy system ensures safety and efficiency, even during disruptions or technology failures, keeping commerce flowing smoothly.”
The Coast Guard emphasizes that despite technological advances, physical aids to navigation will continue to play a vital role in complementing electronic systems. The First Coast Guard District has spent the past two years evaluating AtoN system modernization options, focusing on identifying both critical and less essential buoys.
Mariners are urged to submit their feedback on the proposal before June 13, 2025.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
The icebreaking season for the U.S. Coast Guard was longer this year after a series of storms ravaged the country.
The search for six missing mariners aboard the overturned US-flagged cargo ship Mariana took a grim turn Monday after divers recovered one deceased crew member from inside the wreck, even as U.S....
The U.S. Coast Guard and an expanding multinational task force are racing against time in the remote waters of the western Pacific after the U.S.-flagged cargo vessel Mariana was discovered overturned northeast...
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
