One of the primary responsibilities of the Auxiliary Aids to Navigation Program is the reporting of discrepancies observed on both Federal Short Range Aids to Navigation (ATONs) and Private Aids to Navigation (PATONs).

When preparing for their patrol missions, Division 23 Auxiliary AVs access the list to see if any PATONs in their patrol area require verification and plan accordingly. Once the AV verifies the PATON, a report is sent to the local Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) where a specially trained Auxiliarist enters the information into the National Aids to Navigation database. Personnel at the District Waterways Management Branch will review the information and determine if correspondence with the PATON’s owner is necessary.

A secondary responsibility of the program is to verify the condition of PATONs at specified intervals for the Coast Guard.

Periodically, the Fifth Coast Guard District’s Waterway Management Branch provides the Auxiliary Aids to Navigation Verifiers (AVs) with a list of all the Coast Guard documented PATONs within the Fifth District. The Division 23 Staff Officer for Navigation Systems (SO-NS) reviews the list and identifies those PATONs that are located within the Division’s areas of responsibility.

Navigation Systems Links

Public Boating Navigation Resources

5th District Local Notice to Mariners

NOAA Online Chart Viewer

Coast Guard Auxiliary Navigation Systems Links

National Auxiliary Navigation Systems Site