Analysis of USCG Replacement Stern-Loading Buoy Boat Requirements for the Aids to Navigation Mission

摘要

The report documents the results of the Volpe Center's analysis of the number of replacement stern-loading buoy boats (BUSLRs) required for the U.S. Coast Guard's Aids to Navigation (ATON) mission. At present, 19 Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Teams (ANTs) and one Station (Burlington, VT) are using 13 46-foot stern-loading buoy boats (BUSLs), and 12 45-foot bow-loading buoy boats (BUs). All 25 of these boats are now or will soon be in need of replacement. In 1983 there were 33 BU/BUSLs: eight of those have since been retired due to poor condition. As a result, some ANTs are maintaining buoys using 55-foot Aids to Navigation Boats (ANBs), which were designed for fixed aid maintenance and have marginal buoy working capabilities.