U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Eighth Western Rivers Region
Private Aid Verifications and Reporting

Last updated: 19 January 1999

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

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CLASSIFICATION OF PRIVATE AIDS:

Private Aid Class Responsibility for Inspection Frequency of Inspection
Class I Coast Guard (**) Annually
Class II Owner (Self-Inspected) Once Every Three Years
Class III Owner (Self-Inspected) Once Every Five Years

 

Note **: The Coast Guard Auxiliary will be utilized when available as the primary means of conducting these verifications (visual only). These verifications may be done during the course of normal operations and are intended simply to verify that the aid is displaying the published characteristics. (CCGD8 SOP)

 

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AUXILIARY PRIVATE AID VERIFICATION MISSION

  • The Auxiliary is formally missioned to visually verify Class I private aids
      Which requires night verification without entering private property
  • The Auxiliary plays an important role by augmenting the scarce resources of our customers -- the Coast Guard Aids to Navigation teams and Cutters
      The Cutters are required to inspect any Class I private aids not verified by the Auxiliary -- not a good use of Coast Guard resources!
  • These customers rightfully expect thorough, timely and accurate (100% defect-free) verifications and reporting.

 

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CG DISTRICT 8 PRIVATE AID VERIFICATION WORKSHEETS

  • All Auxiliarists should observe all aids to navigation whenever passed and report discrepancies using Coast Guard form CG-5474.
  • Private aid verification results should be reported by Auxiliary Aid Verifiers (only) using the District 8 Private Aid Verification Worksheet

      These worksheets, one for each Class I private aid, are printed by D8(OAN) prior to the beginning of the boating season.

      The DSO-AN is responsible for packaging and distributing the Private Aid Verification Worksheets to each Aid Verifier for the AV's area of responsibility (AOR).

      If no Aid Verifier is designated for an AOR, the worksheet packages are sent to the SO-AN for the AOR.

 

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REPORTING PRIVATE AID VERIFICATIONS

  • Is the aid defined and located as described in the Light List?
      Bank, River Mile, Business Name (if applicable), Structure
  • Do private aids show the published characteristics?
      For lighted aids: Lens color, number of flashes per minute (see separate topic on "Verifying a Light's Characteristics"). Also, shape and color of dayboards, buoys
  • Is the aid visible upstream and downstream?
      Lamp is good -- Not dim or extinguished
      Lens is clean -- No bird fouling, no heavy condensation, no cracks
      Light is in focus -- Fixture not leaning more than fifteen degrees
      Not obscured by trees or brush
      Dayboards and signs -- Not peeling, not faded
      Retroreflective material is good

Bottom Line: Use the same criteria when verifying private aids the you would use when verifying Coast Guard aids.

 

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SUMMARY: VERIFYING PRIVATE AIDS

  • Private Aid Verification Requires Night Verification Mission
    • To reasonably establish that lighted aids are showing proper characteristics for the distance and the arc (upstream to downstream) expected
    • To check retroreflective material on buoys and dayboards
    • To verify readability of signs
    • Which is usually performed in conjunction with day visit to check condition of structure (tower, pilings, etc.), board lamination, etc.
  • When Verifying Private Aids, Auxiliarists Must:
      Never touch an aid to navigation
      Never enter private property (trespass)
      Never contact (verbal or written) a private aid owner.
  • Auxiliarists Should:
      Report unauthorized aids
      Recommend establishing new aids
      Direct all questions to the District Commander (oan)
  • Verification of Private Aids by the Auxiliary is a Volunteer Activity
      However, once an Auxiliarist has committed to verify an AOR, that Auxiliarist is responsible for performing the verifications or for notifying the SO-AN or DSO-AN that the verifications cannot be performed. The notification must be made in sufficient time to reassign the AOR to (and possibly train) another Aid Verifier.

 

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