Return to Division 1's Home Page.

USCG Auxiliary Prevention Department: Navigations Systems (NS) Division

The Navigations Systems (NS) Division has four programs for: Federal Aids to Navigation (ATONs), Private Aids to Navigation (PATONs), Chart Updating (CU), and Bridge Administration Program (BAP).

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized assignment to duty to support and augment the USCG’s Aids to Navigation program. This includes verifying the location and characteristics of PATONs and Bridges – after qualifying as an Aids Verifier (AV). Auxiliarists may also help NOAA/NOS in updating nautical charts and publications. Training is available from your SO-NS in all four Auxiliary NS programs.

The NS Division program encourages the checking of every Federal ATON by any Auxiliarist at any time. Members are allowed to check Federal Aids and report any observed discrepancies to the Coast Guard per Chapter 2 of the Auxiliary Manual. Provision for taking credit for your underway time and for all your activity in AUXDATA, whether or not you find a discrepancy, is through use of a 7030. Checking ATONs can be a year-round Auxiliary program and can be extremely rewarding. New members are encouraged to join their local Auxiliary NS team. Your skill, knowledge, and desire to make a contribution to a worthy endeavor is what’s needed.

In 2011, Division 1 AVs were able to verify all 48 assigned PATONs, with 6 reported as discrepant. Division 1 AVs also inspected 18 of the 20 Bridges assigned, with 2 reported as discrepant. This reporting is crucial to USCG-D13’s Prevention Department, Waterways Management Branch ability to carry our their required duties.

Note: Our National NS Program directors instituted new AV qualification requirements as of late 2011 (See http://pdept.cgaux.org/ to download the PQS and required NS forms.)

D13-specific instructions and training aids are located at: http://www.d13cgaux.com/sites/members/Departments/Response/NavigationSystems.aspx

Training materials have been developed to assist prospective AVs in meeting the new requirements. Your contact for information as well as member training for these programs is your SO-NS – Pam Chelgren-Koterba, 360-647-9715, pam_frank@comcast.net