Marine Transportation System Management Program

The Waterways Management program leverages other federal agencies, harbor safety committees pilots, port authorities and other industry and waterway stakeholders to foster a safe, secure, resilient and environmentally sound marine transportation system. This includes cooperative work with Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Marine Board of the Transportation Research Board, the Committee on the Marine Transportation System and regional Federal Advisory Committee Act bodies. Waterways management encompasses Vessel Traffic Services, which minimize safety risks in the Nation’s most congested ports by monitoring and coordinating vessel traffic; Great Lakes Pilotage, which ensures navigation safety on the Great Lakes by regulating pilotage for foreign trade vessels; and Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning, which collaborates with other federal agencies and stakeholders in forums such as the regional planning bodies created by the President’s National Ocean Policy to support the balanced use of national waters.

Aids to Navigation facilitates the safe and efficient movement of goods and people through the Marine Transportation System. The Coast Guard establishes, maintains and operates more than 47,000 buoys, lights and beacons that comprise the U. S. Visual Aids to Navigation System; ensuring safe navigation and compliance with international standards such as those promulgated by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. The Coast Guard also provides electronic navigation aids. ENavigation is an international and national effort aimed at harmonizing the digital and electronic collection, integration, exchange and presentation of marine information, including the Nationwide Differential GPS system and Automatic Identification System. Marine information provided by the Program includes navigation rules, schemes and standards; and support for mapping and charting; tide, current and pilotage information.

Coast Guard icebreakers, in cooperation with the Canadian Coast Guard, keep Great Lakes and Northeastern U.S. connecting waterways open for commercial traffic, assist vessels transiting ice filled waterways and prevent ice-related flooding. The International Ice Patrol promotes safe navigation by monitoring icebergs and broadcasting the limit of all known ice to vessels transiting the North Atlantic between North America and Europe. Coast Guard Polar icebreakers support national security and sovereignty, and national science missions in the Polar Regions; they are used to determine and demonstrate the extent of U.S. Extended Continental Shelf claims, enforce U.S. laws and international treaty obligations in the Polar Regions, and provide a science platform in the Arctic region for obtaining vital ecological and geographic data necessary to protect U.S. Arctic marine environment and resources.

The Coast Guard collaborates with Federal, state, local agencies, industry and other stakeholders to ensure that over 20,000 bridges and causeways spanning the navigable waters of the United States do not unreasonably obstruct navigation. This includes issuing permits, establishing bridge lighting and marking requirements; approving drawbridge schedules; investigating bridges that may be unreasonably obstructive; monitoring rehabilitation, repair, maintenance and construction activities; and managing design construction and funding for Truman Hobbs projects.