News and Notices

National Recreational Boating Safety Survey MSIB 02-26

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is launching the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS), which will provide detailed estimates in every state of how many people go boating, what types of boats they use, and how often they go boating. The survey is funded under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered by the USCG. All recreational boaters – owners and renters of motorboats, sailboats and paddlecraft – are invited to complete a brief, one-minute sign-up page asking about their boating habits and to share their contact information with the Coast Guard so a wide range of boaters can be invited to participate in the larger NRBSS later in the year. To access the survey see the MSIB here. For more information about the NRBSS, visit https://uscgboating.org/statistics/national-recreational-boating safety-survey.php For further assistance or questions, contact onthewater@norc.org or smb-comdt-cg-bsx-data@uscg.mil

First Notice: Major Ship Arrival Notification System (SANS) Update MSIB 01-26

The U.S. Coast Guard is undertaking a significant IT modernization project for the Ship Arrival Notification System (SANS) used by the Maritime community for Notice of Arrivals & Departure (NOAD) submissions. This will impact the “eNOAD Portal” and all other NOAD submission methods. This project will make the Notice of Arrival submission process more efficient for mariners, while upgrading system security and resilience. It will also provide the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal partners with enhanced visibility on maritime risks and threats in order to protect our Nation's ports and connected infrastructure. See the entire MSIB here.

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) User Survey

As we look to modernize the NWR service NOAA is asking for feedback on usage to help us plan for the future. This survey  https://forms.gle/qXaX5zL6npYShH5Q7 will be open through May 28th, 2026. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) office. NWR broadcasts official NWS warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0690-0030 with Expiration Date: 7/31/2026.

Operation Dry Water – July 3–5, 2026

This Fourth of July weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard and boating law enforcement agencies across the country will take part in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign focused on preventing boating under the influence (BUI).

Alcohol remains one of the leading causes of fatal recreational boating accidents. The goal of Operation Dry Water is simple: keep boaters safe by raising awareness about the dangers of drinking while operating a boat.

From July 3–5, boaters can expect to see increased patrols and boating safety checks on waterways across the United States, including all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. Officers from federal, state, and local agencies will be looking for impaired operators as well as other unsafe boating practices.

The Coast Guard is partnering with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and boating safety agencies nationwide to support this annual effort.

During last year’s Operation Dry Water weekend:

• More than 7,300 marine law enforcement officers participated nationwide
• Officers contacted over 232,000 boaters on nearly 88,000 recreational vessels
• 501 boating under the influence arrests were made
• Thousands of additional citations and warnings were issued for other boating safety violations

Boaters are reminded to boat responsibly, wear life jackets, stay alert, and always designate a sober operator.

NAVCEN Launches Redesigned Homepage to Improve Access to Maritime Safety Information

The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) has launched a newly redesigned homepage at https://navcen.uscg.gov/, providing faster and more intuitive access to critical maritime safety information and operational services.

The updated design improves navigation and information discovery, enabling mariners, industry partners, and stakeholders to reach authoritative content with fewer clicks and greater clarity. The homepage places greater emphasis on operationally relevant tools and services that support timely decision-making and maritime domain awareness.

New features highlighted on the homepage include:

Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs):

NAVCEN now provides centralized access to Marine Safety Information Bulletins, making it easier for mariners to find national-level MSIBs addressing policy- and regulatory-driven safety matters issued by the appropriate Coast Guard Headquarters offices.

U.S. Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) Program:

The redesigned homepage improves visibility of the U.S. SARSAT Program, which supports global search and rescue operations through satellite-based distress alert detection and coordination.

These updates reflect NAVCEN’s continued commitment to modernizing maritime safety information delivery and providing reliable, user-focused services to the maritime community. Users are encouraged to explore the new homepage and submit feedback via the Contact Us page.

UPDATE TO HF Distress and USCG Contact Frequencies

Effective 7 February 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard ceased watchkeeping on all High Frequency (HF) shortwave voice (radiotelephone) distress calling frequencies within the contiguous United States and Hawaii, except for Kodiak AK and Guam on 4125 kHz only. Watchkeeping continues instead on HF digital selective calling (DSC) frequencies available from any DSC-equipped HF marine radio. Voice watchkeeping on 6215 kHz and 8291 kHz at Kodiak and Guam has also been discontinued, a change from that announced by USCG Marine Safety Information Bulletin MSIB Number 10-21. See the complete update here.

Costs to Establish a Database on Icebreaking Operations in the Great Lakes

The Coast Guard met the requirement of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, to establish and maintain a database for collecting, archiving, and disseminating data regarding icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes by using enterprise information technology (IT) already in use by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard and Industry Representatives agreed upon a plan for the Coast Guard to collect data regarding shipping delays caused by inadequate icebreaking resources utilizing existing communications (i.e., icebreaking planning calls, icebreaking assistance requests, vessel movement reports) and will be posted weekly to the Coast Guard Navigation Center website. The Memorandum for Public Distribution can be viewed here.

Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level & Port Status Updates Available on Navigation Center's Website

ATTENTION: Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level and Port Status Updates Now Available!
Find the latest Coast Guard MARSEC Level and Port Status and Port Contact Information now available on the NAVCEN website. Click the links to stay informed.

Alert: The Coast Guard has retired Homeport

The Coast Guard retired Homeport as of April 12, 2025. Moving forward, you will need to use alternate approaches for tasks typically performed through the Homeport platform. 

To protect the nation’s Maritime Transportation System, we are transferring Homeport functionality to more secure information systems. The Homeport system is facing increasing costs and system obsolescence. As a result, it is no longer a viable tool for managing the many functions required to ensure the smooth and safe flow of vessel traffic.  

“We recognize that Homeport has been a trusted tool for mariners and the broader maritime community,” said Rear Adm. Wayne Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy. “We are committed to keeping these users informed and providing alternatives to the functions and information Homeport provided as we transition.”  

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary workarounds to ensure essential services remain accessible until we can identify the best permanent approach for each function.  

The new Homeport Solutions & News website will be our primary tool for keeping you informed as new tools come online.  

You can also visit Maritime Commons, the Coast Guard’s blog for maritime professionals, and subscribe for the Maritime Commons RSS feed to receive regular e-mail updates. 

We realize that decommissioning Homeport is a significant change, and we are committed to making the transition as easy for you as possible. On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, thank you for your important role in building a thriving U.S. economy and your commitment to safe, secure maritime commerce. 

NAVCEN's upgraded Local Notice to Mariners & Light List application

The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) has launched its updated Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and Light List application, reaffirming our commitment to enhancing access to critical maritime safety information.

This upgraded application now allows users to download and print LNMs for entire Coast Guard Districts or define their own area of interest using the GIS tools to zoom in and access localized data.  The form section enables users to organize and sort LNMs by waterway or category. For programmatic integration, GeoJSON files are available to download for data ingestion into other applications.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and are confident this enhanced version will better serve the diverse needs of the maritime community.