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Local Boating News and Articles
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U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 33 & Northern Neck Family YMCA Team Up For Boating Safety
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With water surrounding much of the Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula, boating safety education is of particular importance to local residents. For this reason the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 33 and the Northern Neck Family YMCA are teaming up to help boaters learn about safe boating. Qualified Flotilla 33 Instructors will teach
events as they become available.
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| FLOTILLA 33 PARTICIPATES IN COAST GUARDS
AIDS TO NAVIGATION MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE PROGRAM |
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The Aids to Navigation Team (ATN) at Coast Guard Station Milford Haven has responsibility for maintaining and servicing the 750 Federal Aids to Navigation (ATONS) in the Milford Haven Area of Operation (AOR). In addition there are some 300 Private Aids to Navigation (PATONS) in the Milford Haven AOR placed by marinas, communities, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and utility companies. The Coast Guard trains regular personnel and Auxiliarists to maintain and service ATONS either in a one week Minor Aids School at the Training Center in Yorktown or in a three-day traveling program at a local station followed by six months of field experience servicing ATONS. Ted Tulis of Flotilla 33, an ATON technician graduate of the Minor Aids School, has been working with the ANT Milford Haven for over two years. Frans Kasteel, also from Flotilla 33, has attended the three-day traveling school at Milford Haven, has passed the Nav Aids Exam, and is embarked on the required six month program of field experience. Training includes assembly, trouble shooting and service on the 155 mm, 250mm, and 300mm lanterns commonly used on aids and range lights; testing and maintaining solar batteries, solar panels, flashers which determine the flashing characteristics of lights, lamp changers which advance lamps as they burn out, and daylight controls which turn lights on and off. Technicians are also trained to construct dayboards, A-frame platforms for pilings, to replace ladders, and to remove nests after breeding season. In addition, technicians receive training on the automated Aids to Navigation System (ATONIS) used to generate notices to mariners, on the Light list, and on records, current status and characteristics of all individual Federal aids in U.S. waters. Technicians are qualified and expected to board floating buoys, stationary aids on various kinds of structures, and climb towers to fix range lights. In addition to its responsibility for the Federal Aids to Navigation, the Milford Haven station has been given the responsibility to improve the status of the private aids to navigation (PATONS) in its AOR. A two year operation, it will include photographing each PATON, documenting its status and ownership, re-registering ownership, and assessing conformity to and compliance with Federally mandated standards. The Coast Guard and Auxiliary will be working with the owners of PATONS in a voluntary compliance program to upgrade private aids to meet Federal standards. |
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Ted Tulis is the Division Staff Officer for half of the Milford Haven AOR and is the point of contact at Milford Haven for the PATON program. Questions about the program should be directed to Station Milford Haven, which can be reached at (804) 725-5932. The boating public can help with the ATON program by reporting to the Coast Guard, aids that are not functioning, that are missing, or are out of place and away from their proper locations. |
| BMC Brett Geibel, Ted Tulis, Frans Kasteel | |
U.S. NAVAL VESSEL PROTECTION ZONE
- All vessels within 500 yards of a U.S. naval vessel shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and shall proceed as directed by the official patrol (a Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer; or the Commanding Officer of a U.S. naval vessel or his or her designee).
- No vessel is allowed within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel, unless authorized by the official patrol.
- Vessels requesting to pass within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel shall contact the official patrol on VHF-FM channel 16. The official patrol may permit vessels that can only operate safely in a navigable channel to pass within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel in order to ensure a safe passage in accordance with the Navigation Rules.
- Commercial vessels anchored in a designated anchorage area may be permitted to remain at anchor within 100 yards of passing naval vessels.
Regulatory Information
The Coast Guard has established temporary regulations for the safety and security of U.S. naval vessels in the navigable waters of the United States. The regulation is issued under the authority contained in 14 U.S.C. 91. Naval Vessel Protection Zones will provide for the regulation of vessel traffic in the vicinity of U.S. naval vessels in the navigable waters of the United States.
These zones are necessary to provide for the safety and security of United States naval vessels in the navigable waters of the United States.
This rule, for safety and security concerns, controls vessel movement in a regulated area surrounding U.S. naval vessels. U.S. naval vessel means any vessel owned, operated, chartered, or leased by the U.S. Navy; and any vessel under the operational control of the U.S. Navy or a unified commander.
Violations of these regulations are punishable as a class D felony (imprisonment for not more than 6 years and a fine of not more than $250,000) and in rem liability against the vessel.
Commander
Coast Guard Atlantic Area,
431 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004
(757) 398-6372.