Canadian Coast Guard Aids to navigation program

Our program uses aids to navigation to help mariners confirm their positions, stay inside navigable channels and avoid marine hazards. We use approximately 17,000 short-range aids to navigation, such as:

• buoys
• leading marks (ranges)
• position confirmation lights 

Services

Our design and review specialists constantly analyse the mix of aids to navigation and consult with users to recommend improvements as needed. Several parties help to keep the buoys and other aids in working condition, such as:

• contractors
• government employees
• Canadian Coast Guard ships and helicopters

We regularly issue navigational warnings (NAVWARNs) to ensure mariners are kept informed of any concerns affecting aids to navigation. Program employees help the Canadian Hydrographic Service update charts and sailing directions by issuing Notices to Mariners. We also monitor water levels in the Fraser and St. Lawrence rivers and keep the channels dredged in some portions to maintain depths as advertised.

Winter ice cover prohibits the use of traditional buoys in some areas, so we replace many of those with winter spars every fall. This allows marine traffic to proceed during the winter months. We use special four-season buoys that remain in the water year-round in some parts of the St. Lawrence river.

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