Waterways Analysis and Management System General Solicitation of Questions

This questionnaire was developed to provide important information to the U.S. Coast Guard about the Aids to Navigation System in the San Francisco Bay Waterways between the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Oakland Bay bridge, and the Richmond San-Rafael Bridge (not including South Hampton Shoal or Richmond).  The U.S. Coast Guard is soliciting input from the mariners who use the system in order to ensure that aids to navigation are serving their intended purpose.  Feel free to include additional comments in the space provided or on a separate page/email. Your comments will help the Coast Guard make waterway management system decisions that reflect the concerns of the waterways users.
 
Should you have any questions concerning this questionnaire or about this study, feel free to call BOSN Mickey Price at (415) 399- 7442 or email at Mickey.T.Price@uscg.mil. 

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San Francisco Bay WAMS

San Francisco Bay WAMS

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* 1. Where is your vessel homeported and how many years of experience do you have operating in that area?

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* 2. How many years of experience do you have operating in San Francisco Bay?

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* 3. Do you have a Coast Guard License?

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* 4. If YES, what type of Coast Guard License do you hold?

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* 5. Please provide the following information about your vessel

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* 6. When do you transit these waterways?

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* 7. What methods and tools do you use for navigation in these waterways?

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* 8. Which method is your primary means of navigation?

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* 9. What is your primary means of communication in these waterways? (list only 1 each)

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* 10. Do you use, or do you have familiarity with Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)?

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* 11. Where do you primarily conduct loading/offloading operations?

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* 12. Does the weather/ wind make it more difficult to navigate in this area? If so, how and how often?

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* 13. Do the currents/ tides make it more difficult to navigate in this area? If so, how and how often?

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* 14. Which aids are MOST important to you for safe navigation of these waterways?

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* 15. Which aids are LEAST important to you for safe navigation of these waterways?

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* 16. Do you rely on sound signals on buoys when navigating in reduced visibility?  If so, which ones are most important to you?  Which are least important to you?

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* 17. In your opinion, is the Aids to Navigation (ATON) system currently adequate in this waterways?

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* 18. In your opinion, will the Aids to Navigation (ATON) system in this waterways still be adequate 10 years from now?

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* 19. Do you feel that the Aids to Navigation in this area effectively mark any navigational hazards and best water routes? If not, Please explain.

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* 20. Do you feel that charts and publications for this area are adequate? If no, please explain.

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* 21. Do you keep a USCG Light List on board your vessel? (Paper copies of the Light List are no longer available, but can be obtained from www.navcen.uscg.gov)

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* 22. Do you view the Local Notice to Mariners?

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* 23. What other aids to navigation would you like to see added or removed from these areas, and why?

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* 24. The western span of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge has AIS "E-AtoN" markings on the support structures of the bridge. Do you find the marks helpful?

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* 25. How important are the electronic sound signals in this area?

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* 26. New Marine Radio Activated Sound Signals (MRASS) has replaced the continuously operating sound signals at Point Bonita and Alcatraz North. They can be activated by keying your VHF radio 5 times on channel 81A. How do these changes affect your navigation on San Francisco Bay?

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* 27. Would you like to see more sound signals in this area converted to MRASS?

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* 28. OTHER COMMENTS: This is your opportunity to note problems you see with this waterway and present any suggestions you may have for improving it.  Please attach sketches or any additional information necessary to make your points clear.

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* 29. If you wish to provide your contact information you can do so below, however this is not mandatory.

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