🔍 Key Concepts

• Electronic aids to navigation (ATON) policies in times of war or national defense • Authority of the government/Coast Guard to alter, discontinue, or suspend aids to navigation • Whether advance public notice is always required for changes to ATON

💭 Think About

• In a defense or wartime situation, would the government need flexibility to change or turn off electronic aids quickly, or could they wait days or weeks? • Think about whether mariners can always expect advance notice for changes to navigation systems, or whether there are exceptions in emergencies or for security reasons. • Which choice best matches the idea of an immediate, possibly unannounced change due to higher-priority defense needs?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify whether defense needs can override normal notice requirements for ATON changes. • Consider how urgent defense actions might be and whether that aligns with long advance-notice periods. • Ask whether regulations or exam materials mention that certain ATON changes may occur with no prior public warning in special circumstances.