USCG Seeks Comment on Removal of Buoys in the Northeast

With all the recent talk about defunding of NOAA and the potential threats to maritime safety, we felt if was important to make readers aware of the following information shared by Tall Ships America. We’re told the USCG is proposing to remove hundreds of buoys in the country’s Northeast. It’s an issue also faced on the West Coast, and although this current proposal doesn’t affect us here and now, many of us have sailed, and will sail, in those waters.

The Tall Ships America news release was sent to us by Capt. Paul Dines of Freda B and SF Bay Adventures and reads:

“The Coast Guard is proposing to discontinue many of the existing buoys and other aids to navigation in the Northeast. Affected members are encouraged to provide comments and feedback to the Coast Guard no later than 13 June 2025. A draft template is attached and available for your use. Comments should be sent to the Coast Guard via email at [email protected].

“Please consider copying Tall Ships America on your comments at [email protected].

“The Tall Ships America Ship Operations and Safety Committee intend also to provide comments to the Coast Guard and will consider all member feedback that is shared. The committee has also created a letter template available here.

“Background to the proposal: As stated in LNM 01162025,

“‘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 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 mid-20th 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.

“‘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 vessel, recreational or commercial, and distance from aid that you start looking for it, and if and how you use the signal.

“‘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: [email protected].'”

We looked up the corresponding USCG webpage which states:

“To share your perspective, email [email protected] with your observations, concerns, or support regarding specific markers. Please refer to Project No. 01-25-015 in your comments.” They are taking public comments until June 13th.

To make your comments as impactful as possible, please include the type and size of your vessel (recreational or commercial), how the aid supports your navigation, and the distance at which you typically begin to rely on it.

You can see an interactive map and more information here.