Visual Aids to Navigation: Dispelling Aid Availability Myths

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Abstract:

Aid availability for visual aids to the U.S. navigation system is calculated monthly by the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Transportation Systems Management Directorates Visual Aids to Navigation Division. These calculations can be presented by criticality category and broken down into various responsibility and servicing levels, including district, sector, servicing unit, waterway, and individual aid to navigation. Frequent updates and convenient data presentation lead many waterway managers to assume that aid availability provides a comprehensive assessment of the health and effectiveness of aids to navigation ATON in their waterways as well as the efficiency of their ATON service delivery units. This mistaken assumption has perpetuated the following aid availability myths 1 Aid availability is proportional to recurring ATON funding levels, 2 Aid availability provides an accurate assessment of an ATON service delivery units efficiency, 3 Unscheduled maintenance of ATON service delivery platforms cutters and boats or emergency diversion to other mission areas directly impacts aid availability, and 4 Aid availability is primarily impacted by ATON component reliability. This article discusses each of these myths.

Author(s):
Trainor, Robert
Author Organization(s):
COAST GUARD WASHINGTON DC OFFICE OF NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
Descriptive Note:
Journal article
Supplementary Note:
Published in the Proceedings of the Marine Safety and Security Council: The Coast Guard Journal of Safety and Security at Sea, p6-9, v68 n1, Spring 2011.
Pagination:
0005

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
USCG
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_4.3_Maintain; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution
Communities of Interest:
Biomedical
Descriptor(s):
*AVAILABILITY, *BEACONS, *BUOYS, *COAST GUARD OPERATIONS, *MARINE TRANSPORTATION, *NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, *VISUAL AIDS, BOAT AND SHIP SAFETY, COAST GUARD, COASTAL REGIONS, EFFICIENCY, FAILURE, MAINTENANCE, METRICS, RELIABILITY, REPRINTS, WATERWAYS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Safety Engineering, Military Forces and Organizations, Underwater and Marine Navigation and Guidance
Keyword(s):
*AIDS TO NAVIGATION, SERVICE DELIVERY UNITS, SERVICE DELIVERY PLATFORMS
Report Date:
2010 Jan 01
Creation Date:
2011 Dec 28