Over the past few decades, mariners have witnessed the rapid development, reliability, and availability of e-navigation components, such as the global positioning system (GPS) and electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS). These systems, and other technology, have fundamentally changed mariners’ reliance on traditional navigation services. In addition, the ability to manage data and information provided to the mariner through the automatic identification system (AIS) and cellular service has enhanced the interconnectivity between shore side information providers and shipboard users. These technological advances and data flow will help the mariner receive data, transmit data, and generally improve bridge resource management, situational awareness, and navigational safety.
These fundamental changes present the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey with an opportunity to take the next steps in modernizing federal navigation services. Technology development compels these federal agencies to optimize the current aids to navigation, other maritime information systems, and nautical charting.
We want to hear from you, as we develop a federal development portfolio that will provide coordinated and timely delivery of navigational information and services. We invite you to attend one of our listening sessions, to tell us your emerging requirements for navigational information and service delivery systems in an eNAV environment.
- Juneau, Alaska: 1 May, 1600-1700 hrs, Prospector Hotel
- New Orleans, Louisiana: 7 May, 0900-1130 hrs, Port of New Orleans Auditorium
- Honolulu, Hawaii: 19 May, Harbor View Center, 1129 N. Nimitz Hwy.
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 22 May, 1700-1900 hrs, Embassy Suites, 110 SE 17th St.
- Hampton Roads, Virginia: 22 May, 1700 hrs, Renaissance Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center, 425 Water St., Portsmouth
- Boston, Massachusetts: 3 June, 1000-1200 hrs, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Cambridge
- Seattle, Washington: 3 June, 1800-2000 hrs, Downtown Seattle Public Library
- New York, New York: 10 June, 1000-1200 hrs, Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House, 1 Bowling Green, Manhattan
- Oakland, California: 10 June, 1800-2000 hrs, Oakland Marriott, 1001 Broadway
- Port Huron, Michigan: 12 June, time 1700 hrs, Double Tree Hotel, 800 Harker St.
- Long Beach, California, 17 June, 1800-2000 hrs, Hyatt Regency Long Beach (Shoreline Ballroom), 200 South Pine Ave
- St. Louis, Missouri: 18 June, 0900-1100 hrs, USACE National Great Rivers Museum (adjacent to the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, in Alton, Illinois)
The Coast Guard is also developing an online survey tool for public comments. It will be available on or about 15 June.
Use the response box below to let us know if you want more information about any or all of the sessions.
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Why doesn’t the session list include Long Beach on June 17?
I would like to receive the online survey set to deploy on or about 15 June 2014. While I appreciate the cost benefits associated with reduced maintenance of “virtual” Aids to Navigation, in my humble opinion as a recreational boater, there is no substitute for a “physical” Aid to Navigation. I’ve come into the San Diego/Point Loma port many times in restricted visibility using Radar in combination with AIS and my chart plotter and the comfort of actually “seeing” a buoy I’m steering to is reassuring. I know we recently lost SD-1 and although I can tell where it is supposed to be, I still want to “see” it.
In addition, there is more information to be gained from a physical buoy than just navigational position; example, current flow and tidal direction are readily observable from looking at the buoy, as is sea state from bellows and/or bell equipped buoys, and there is no substitute for the lighting system when approaching at night. All of that will be lost if we replace physical buoys with virtual buoys. Nonetheless, I appreciate the cost aspect, so perhaps there is an appropriate compromise. I look forward to receiving the online survey.