WASHINGTON, USA – The safety of all mariners remains a top priority for the Coast Guard. As technology advances, the service is committed to leveraging these innovations to enhance navigation data management and dissemination.
One of the key initiatives is the modernization of Local Notices to Mariners (LNM) and Light Lists, which serve as essential resources for maritime information.
The Local Notice to Mariners is the primary channel for communicating updates concerning aids to navigation, hazards, and other relevant safety information critical to the maritime community.
Light Lists provide comprehensive details about lights, buoys, beacons, and various aids located along U.S. coastal regions, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River System.
The Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) aims to bolster maritime safety and efficiency through regular updates, geospatial visualization, and improved digital access.
The current legacy system, which operates in a standalone PDF format, is revised weekly and can be downloaded and printed to accompany paper nautical charts.
In a significant upgrade for mariners, NAVCEN plans to launch a new digital, interactive user interface for Local Notices to Mariners and Light Lists on October 21, 2024.
“The modernized LNM will feature updates on a daily basis, Monday through Friday, at minimum,” stated a Coast Guard representative. “This upgraded system is set to enhance efficiency and improve safety during route planning, providing mariners with timely information.”
This new interactive format will enable mariners to access real-time information via an interactive map and chart, with options to utilize a fillable form to select specific waterways and generate tailored LNMs or Light Lists.
After October 31, 2024, legacy LNMs and Light Lists will no longer receive updates but will remain available for download indefinitely. All new information will be accessible exclusively through the new digital interface.
