The Coast Guard recently updated the user interface to the Local Notice to Mariners and Light Lists in an effort to modernize and improve the accessibility, accuracy and overall user experience for mariners and stakeholders.
This update was released the week of Dec. 2.
The upgrades are designed to improve accessibility, accuracy, and efficiency for mariners and stakeholders by providing real-time, customizable marine safety information.
Beginning in January 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Coast Survey will discontinue the production of paper charts. Due to this change, the Coast Guard transitioned from the traditional, paper-based files, which were inefficient and posed challenges for mariners needing timely, accurate information.
"The modernized Local Notice to Mariners creates access to the most up to date Marine Safety Information available, in a customizable, chart-based and interactive format," said Cmdr. Nicholas Seniuk, Waterways Management Branch Chief for the Seventh Coast Guard District. "The data can be presented graphically on the interactive map viewer, in tabular format on the Coast Guard Navigation Center website, as a document, or rendered within certain geospatial information software."
Coast Guard District Seven collaborated with the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center to redesign the LNM and Light List platforms.
Key actions included:
The updated platform provides mariners with unparalleled access to critical navigation tools: