Aids To Navigation

From the September 2002 newsletter

Ever wonder who makes sure the beacon at the top of the Lighthouse is working? From Matanzas Inlet to just south of Melbourne on the intercoastal waterway, and from Lake George to Lake Monroe on the St. Johns River, the Ponce Inlet Aids to Navigation unit maintains over 600 aids to navigation. One of these is the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse.

Although Search and Rescue (SAR) is the primary activity of the United States Coast Guard, an equally important task is maintaining the Aids to Navigation (ATON) system used by both commercial and recreational boaters. Recently, ATN Ponce was kind enough to allow two members of the Lighthouse staff to accompany them on one of their routine maintenance trips and visit their headquarters located just across the inlet from the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.

Early on a blistering August morning, two specially equipped vessels ATN Ponce uses to perform their job picked up members of the lighthouse staff at a launch ramp adjacent to the Lighthouse. Both of these vessels are designed to be trailerable, allowing this small crew to service such a large area. A removable platform located on the front of one of the TANBs (trailerable aid to navigation boats) allows easy access to the channel marker we were about to service.

As Seaman Justin Bost ascended the marker to begin servicing it, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeff Stein viewed a laptop computer that listed all the navigational aids in the district, their specifications, and their precise locations. After reviewing the data about this particular aid, Jeff prepared to enter information on the maintenance they were about to perform. Later, when we returned to the station, he would download it to the central Coast Guard computer.

As Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Ruggieri kept an eye on his crew he said, "I've had the good fortune to do a lot of different things in the Coast Guard in a lot of different locations and I like this duty best. The sense of community and cooperation in ATON is very rewarding. If I need something I just have to ask and anyone that can help will. That kind of teamwork doesn't exist everywhere."

It took approximately twenty minutes to inspect and repair the channel marker. Among the tasks completed were a voltage check on the output of the solar panel, a battery check, and replacement of burnt out lamps (there are six of them that are automatically rotated out of service when they burn out). Because boats and barges occasionally run into channel markers, a final inspection of the overall structural condition of the marker was also made. According to Ruggieri, another routine maintenance task clone on a marker of this type is to replace the number placard. "Due to the extreme conditions out here they wear out every few years," said Ruggieri.

After stowing away the tools we returned to the ATN Ponce station located next to the Ponce Search and Rescue station. As the team loaded one of the boats onto its trailer we got a chance to get a close up look at the 47 foot self righting search and rescue vessel stationed at Ponce Inlet. These vessels are built to take the most extreme conditions and look every bit the part. It's comforting to know that should you get into trouble offshore, there is help on the way no matter what the conditions.

Entering the ATNstation, one is impressed with the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility. Here all outine maintenance on the TANBs as well as other work is performed. Additionally, the building is used as office space and storage area for replacement parts needed during routine ATN maintenance activities on the many different types of aids to navigation that this team services.

After the boats were cleaned up and all other duties were tended to, the lighthouse staff finally convinced the team to pose for a photograph. Consider the size of this crew and the area this team has to cover. Remember they are also responsible for maintaining the beacons in the Ponce Inlet and Cape Canaveral Lighthouses. We think you will come away with the same impression we did—job well done ATN Ponce, keep up the good work.