U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY EIGHT EASTER REGION AID VERIFIER TRAINING

1. U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTER REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING MODULE 2

2. U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTER REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING PRIVATE AIDS TO NAVIGATION VERIFICATIONS AND REPORTING 02APR03 2

3. INDEX OF TOPICS • INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND • WHAT ARE “PRIVATE” AIDS? • CLASSIFICATION OF PRIVATE AIDS • RESPONSIBILITY FOR “INSPECTION” • AUXILIARY PRIVATE AID VERIFICATION MISSION • AUXILIARY VERIFICATION OF PRIVATE AIDS • REPORTING PRIVATE AID VERIFIICATIONS • SUMMARY 3

4. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND REFERENCES • Procedures and responsibilities for adminstration and inspection of PAToNs: • CCGD8 SOP, CHAPTER 22, SECTION“6"AIDS TO NAVIGATION", PAGES 6-1THROUGH 6-7 "PRIVATE AIDS TO NAVIGATION“ • COMDTINST M16500.7, "AIDS TO NAVIGATION MANUAL - ADMINISTRATION" • Administered by Eighth Coast Guard District (oan) using above publications 4

5. WHAT ARE “PRIVATE” AIDS? • Acronym of “PAToN” • Established in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States • Privately owned (not government property) • Privately maintained ( not CG maintained) • Assigned a classification by District Commander • Shall conform to 33 CFR 62 “U. S. Aids to Navigation System • Protected by law • Come in all forms (lights most common) 5

6. CLASSIFICATION OF PAToNS • Classification assigned by District Commander • Class I: owners legally obligated to establish, maintain, and operate as prescribed by USCG • Class II: located in waters used by general navigation • Classification determines inspection responsibility and frequency • Auxiliary “inspection” – night visual verification 6

7. 7 RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSPECTION Private Aid Inspection Schedule Class I USCG (**) Annually Class II Self – Inspected Three Years Class III Self-Inspected Five Years NOTE (**): "THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY WILL BE UTILIZED WHEN AVAILABLE AS THE PRIMARY MEANS FOR CONDUCTING THESE VERIFICATIONS (VISUAL ONLY). THESE VERIFICATIONS MAY BE DONE DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATIONS AND (ARE) INTENDED SIMPLY TO VERIFY THAT THE AID IS DISPLAYING THE PUBLISHED CHARACTERISTICS." (CCGD8 SOP)

8. AUX VERIFICATION MISSION • AUX tasked with Class I visual verification • Night verification w/o entering private property • AUX is force multiplier augmenting WMRs • Any PAToNs AUX can’t do have to be done by cutters • Expectation of thorough and accurate verification ( 100% error-free) 8

9. AUX PAToN VERIFICATION • ALL Auxiliarists should observe ALL PAToNs passed while on patrol (or any other time PAToNs are observed) • During recreational boating or from land mobile facility/PA, etc. • Discrepancies reported thru “Chain” • Critical discrepancies ASAP via VHF or landline 9

10. AUX PAToN VERIFICATION • PAToN verification results should be reported FSO/SO-ANs on the D8 Excel CY 200x worksheet • For those who can’t report electronically, alternate methods are acceptable 10

11. 11 AUX PAToN VERIFICATION • The Chain of Communication is to be followed: • AV to FSO/SO-AN, • from SO to ADSO-AN, • from ADSO to DSO-AN 8ER, • then to GOHV. • D8 Excel listing distributed down the “Chain” as early as possible • AVs then schedule missions with FSO/SO-AN and FSO/SO-OP

12. AUX PAToN VERIFICATION • PRIVATE AID VERIFICATIONS BY AUX ARE VISUAL ONLY! • REQUIRES NIGHT VERIFICATION OF ALL AIDS • POSSIBLY REQUIRING DAY VISIT TO PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF DISCREPANCIES (INCLUDING OPTIONAL PHOTOGRAPH) • WITHOUT TRESPASS OR ENTRY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY • WITHOUT CONTACTING THE OWNER OF THE AID 12

13. AUX PAToN VERIFICATION • VERIFICATION OF PRIVATE AIDS BY AUX AID VERIFIERS AND THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE ATON STAFF OFFICERS ARE VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES • HOWEVER, ONCE AN AUXILIARIST HAS ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN AOR, THAT AUXILIARIST IS COMMITTED TO PERFORM THE DUTIES ASSIGNED • OR TO NOTIFY THE SO-AN OR DSO-AN THAT DUTIES CANNOT BE PERFORMED. THIS NOTIFICATION MUST BE MADE IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO ALLOW REASSIGNMENT TO (AND TRAINING OF) ANOTHER AUXILIARIST 13

14. REPORTING AToN VERIFICATIONS • USE SAME CRITERIA WHEN VERIFYING PRIVATE AIDS USED WHEN VERIFYING COAST GUARD (FEDERAL) AIDS • IS THE AID DEFINED AND LOCATED AS DESCRIBED IN THE LIGHT LIST? • BANK, • RIVER MILE • BUSINESS NAME (IF AVAILABLE) • STRUCTURE 14

15. REPORTING AToN VERIFICATIONS • DO PRIVATE AIDS SHOW THE PUBLISHED CHARACTERISTICS? • FOR LIGHTED AIDS: • LENS COLOR • NUMBER OF FLASHES PER MINUTE • SEE SEPARATE TRAINING TOPIC "VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS" • SHAPE AND COLOR OF DAYBOARDS, BUOYS 15

16. REPORTING AToN VERIFICATIONS • IS THE AID VISIBLE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM? • LAMP IS GOOD -- NOT DIM OR EXTINGUISHED • LENS IS CLEAN -- NO BIRD FOULING, NO HEAVY CONDENSATION, NO CRACKS • IN FOCUS -- FIXTURE NOT LEANING MORE THAN 15 DEGREES • NOT OBSCURED BY TREES OR BRUSH • DAYBOARDS, SIGNS: NOT MISSING, NOT PEELING, NOT FADED • RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IS GOOD • IF THE AID IS MISSING • INDICATE WHETHER THE STRUCTURE IS GONE OR NOT 16

17. SUMMARY • AID VERIFICATION REQUIRES NIGHT VERIFICATION MISSION • TO REASONABLY ESTABLISH THAT LIGHTED AIDS ARE SHOWING PROPER CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE DISTANCE AND ARC (UPSTREAM TO DOWNSTREAM) EXPECTED • AS WELL AS TO CHECK RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON BUOYS AND DAYBOARDS • USUALLY PERFORMED IN CONJUNCTION WITH DAYLIGHT MISSION TO CHECK CONDITION OF STRUCTURE (TOWER, PILINGS, ETC.), BOARD LAMINATION, ETC. • CAN BE PERFORMED FROM MOBILE FACILITY WHERE ACCESS TO THE RIVER AND RESOURCES (FUEL) IS DANGEROUS OR NONEXISTENT 17

18. SUMMARY • WHEN VERIFYING PRIVATE AIDS, AUXILIARISTS MUST: • NEVER TOUCH AN AID TO NAVIGATION • NEVER ENTER PRIVATE PROPERTY (TRESPASS) • NEVER CONTACT (VERBAL OR WRITTEN) A PRIVATE AID OWNER • AUXILIARISTS SHOULD: • REPORT UNAUTHORIZED AIDS • INDICATE WHETHER AN AID IS NEEDED • RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING NEW AIDS • DIRECT ALL QUESTIONS TO THE DISTRICT COMMANDER 18