Commissioning of Great Lakes Seasonal Aids to Navigation Delayed

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Bigbear
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2017 8:55 am

Commissioning of Great Lakes Seasonal Aids to Navigation Delayed

Postby Bigbear » Sun Jun 02, 2019 6:08 pm

During a trip from Bay City, MI to Hessel Municipal Marina, MI on Lake Huron, it was noted the major navigational buoys have not been set by the US Coast Guard. Affected areas include: Tawas, Presque Isle, Middle Island and Hessel. Second hand information indicates that it could take two more weeks before the buoys are in place. Apparently the buoy tender is down for repairs.

jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: Commissioning of Great Lakes Seasonal Aids to Navigation Delayed

Postby jimh » Mon Jun 03, 2019 8:47 am

Thanks for the information re the buoys not being back in place yet.

In the past year or two, when a major floating navigation aid is removed for the winter in the Great Lakes an AIS Aid-to-Navigation signal takes its place. Or sometimes a winter season buoy is substituted.

The USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS for DISTRICT 9 contains this advisory:

GREAT LAKES - SEASONAL AID TO NAVIGATION COMMISSIONING

Due to a very difficult ice breaking season in the northern Great Lakes, all Great Lakes seasonal Aids to Navigation may be delayed and not commissioned by the advertised date in the Light List


There is a floating aid about a mile from my house that is removed in winter. Excerpt from LIGHT LIST, Volume VII. GREAT LAKES. Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River above the St. Regis River:

GRAND TRAVERSE BAY to LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY (Chart 14913)
Grand Traverse Bay
18120 Northport Point Lighted Bell Buoy 2 Fl R 4sec Replaced by nun from Nov. 14 to May 01.


I will have to check to see if its back on station.