🔍 Key Concepts

• Difference between charting/mapping and maintaining physical aids (buoys, lights, daybeacons) • Federal vs local aids to navigation responsibilities • Roles of US Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

💭 Think About

• Which agency actually goes out and services buoys, replaces lanterns, and maintains lighted and unlighted aids on the water? • Which agency is primarily responsible for surveying channels and dredging, and which one produces nautical charts? • Think about who issues Local Notices to Mariners reporting changes to federal aids to navigation.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which agency operates buoy tenders and ATON (Aids to Navigation) teams • Separate the job of making charts from physically maintaining buoys and lights • Confirm which agency publishes Local Notice to Mariners for changes in federal aids to navigation