BOSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is reopening public comments on proposed changes to Aids to Navigation changes in the Northeast from now until Nov. 15, 2025.
As a result of the comprehensive public feedback, the course of action has changed for more than half of the original Coastal Buoy Modernization Proposal (CBMP) buoys. 121 aids were removed from the proposed discontinuation, 71 aids to navigation remain proposed for discontinuation with supporting changes to nearby buoys, and 162 buoys remain proposed for discontinuation without additional proposed changes.
The CBMP received nearly 3,000 public comments enabling the Coast Guard to assess and adjust proposed changes. Detailed, specific input is a critical part of the Coast Guard’s determination steps to manage the Northeast’s 5,600 federal buoys and beacons.
The CBMP’s main objectives remain to ensure long-term buoy system sustainability at the most navigationally critical locations for mariners while better understanding how navigation practices are changing through tools like GPS location, radar, AIS, electronic charts, and navigation apps. The CBMP update seeks to balance the use of physical aids with other navigation tools.
The Coast Guard is strongly requesting mariners to give feedback before Nov. 15, 2025. When providing feedback, include the size and type of your vessel, how you use the buoys to navigate and the distance at which you start looking for and using it. Responses are only accepted by email at D01-SMB-DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil.
A visual map of changes can be found at www.bit.ly/BuoyProposal.
The Local Notice to Mariners can be found at Maritime Safety Information Products | Navigation Center.