Hurricane impacts aids to navigation on Gulf Coast

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From the U.S. Coast Guard:

(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard continued to conduct aids to navigation correction and channel assessment operations on Aug. 31 following the aftermath of Hurricane Laura near Lake Charles, La., and Port Arthur, Texas. 

Multiple Coast Guard units along the Gulf Coast region have found that more than 1,500 aids to navigation (ATON) are still working properly and unaffected by Hurricane Laura. They have also corrected 83 aids that were reportedly impacted, damaged or moved off station due to the hurricane.

Approximately 2,108 aids to navigation were in the direct path of Hurricane Laura and could have been impacted.

Aids to navigation can provide a boater with the same type of information drivers get from street signs, stop signals, road barriers, detours and traffic lights. These aids range from lighthouses, to minor lights, day beacons, range lights and sound signals, to lighted or unlighted buoys.

Involved in response are:

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston
Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass
Coast Guard Station Lake Charles
Coast Guard cutter Hatchet
Coast Guard cutter Axe
Coast Guard cutter Harry Claiborne
Coast Guard cutter Maple
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Sabine
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Morgan City
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team New Orleans
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Dulac
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Venice
Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur
Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles
Coast Guard cutter Joshua Appleby
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team South Padre
Coast Guard Station Grand Isle
Coast Guard Station New Orleans
Coast Guard Station Venice
Marine Safety Unit Morgan City Boat House
Coast Guard cutter Sailfish
Coast Guard cutter Sawfish
Coast Guard cutter Pamlico
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Charleston
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Jacksonville and 
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation St. Pete

The Coast Guard 8th District manages and oversees more than 23,000 aids. 

All hazards should be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center on VHF Channel 16 or by phone at 281-464-4800.

By Professional Mariner Staff