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U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY EIGHT EASTERN REGION AID VERIFIER TRAINING. MODULE 5. U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY EIGHT EASTERN REGION AID VERIFIER TRAINING. CLASSIFICATION OF DISCREPANCIES AND REPORTING ACTIONS REQUIRED 02APR03. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.
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U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTERN REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING MODULE 5
U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTERN REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING CLASSIFICATION OF DISCREPANCIES AND REPORTING ACTIONS REQUIRED 02APR03
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND • The following material on the classification and associated reporting procedures applies to all aids, private or Coast Guard, and to bridge lighting systems, unless stated otherwise. • Discrepancies should always be reported unless the Auxiliarist is absolutely certain that a report has already been made (as reflected by a Broadcast or Local Notice to Mariners). • A report should be filed as per the local cutters MOU. Any reports of discrepancies sent to cutters should be detailed.
DISCREPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS AND REPORTING ACTIONS • CRITICAL Which must be reported immediately to Group Ohio Valley usually via VHF marine radio If the Group cannot be reached by radio, report via telephone as soon as practical. • URGENT Which should be reported the same day by telephone to the Group, or (for Federal aids) by radio or telephone to the AOR cutter if it is in the area. • ROUTINE • Which should be reported by mail (written report) at the conclusion of the mission.
CRITICAL DISCREPANCIES • The classification of CRITICAL includes: • ANY extinguished light • Any deviation from published description of Federal aid (including missing mile markers or dayboards) • Any aid damaged by collision or deemed to be a hazard or obstruction to navigation • Federal aid covered or shrouded in ice • Federal aid totally obscured or showing improper light characteristics • Federal aid vandalize • Buoys (where considered as hazards to navigation): off-station, submerged or sheared off at the water line, adrift, missing, capsized
URGENT DISCREPANCIES • The classification of URGENT includes: • Federal aids with reduced intensity (DIM) lights • Federal aids that are partially obscured • Federal aid dayboards; faded, delaminating, or damaged other than vandalism • Retro-reflective material faded, missing, or inadequate
ROUTINE DISCREPANCIES • The classification of ROUTINE includes: • Private aids that are obscured • Fixture or board leaning more than 15 degrees • Wooden structures deteriorating or rotting • Structural guy wires or cables: slack, weak, or broken • Bird nests or bird fouling on aid • Mile boards obliterated, unreadable • Missing or damaged radar reflectors • Paint peeling or faded • All other discrepancies including Light List discrepancies
8ER REPORTING DISCREPANCIES • LAND LINE: 1 – 800 – 253 – 7465 • Listen carefully to get connected to GOHV Watchstander, not DIRAUX • VHF/FM Ch 16. • Will switch you to 22A • Watchstander is Telecommunications Specialist manning the COMMS center • Not an expert in AToNs • Exercise USCG radio discipline • Be professional, accurate, brief • Plan what you are going to say before you key
RADIO/LANDLINE REPORTS • Maintain proper radio discipline • Think before you make contact • Make notes as necessary • Include vital information • Aid Name • LLNR • River (remember there are many in 8ER) • Mile • Nature of URGENT discrepancy (extinguished, destroyed, etc)
RADIO/LANDLINE REPORTS • REMEMBER! • The watchstanders are very, very busy • Be accurate, but brief and to the point • Watchstander may say “wait one” or ask you to call back later. • You are not being “dissed,” they may be in the middle of an emergency. • If you have a long list of discrepancies to report, consider using e-mail.
RADIO/LANDLINE REPORTS • Maintain proper radio discipline • Think before you make contact • Make notes as necessary • Include vital information • Aid Name • LLNR • River (remember there are many in 8ER) • Mile • Nature of URGENT discrepancy (extinguished, destroyed, etc)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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