R 141417Z MAR 12

ALCOAST 123/12
COMDTNOTE 16500
SUBJ: AIDS TO NAVIGATION MANUAL - SEAMANSHIP
1. THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THE PROMULGATION OF THE AIDS TO NAVIGATION
MANUAL - SEAMANSHIP, COMDTINST M16500.21A, DATED 02MAR2012.
2. THE NEW MANUAL IS AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY TO ALL UNITS ON
CGPORTAL AT
HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/DELIVERY/SATELLITE/CG612/USCGDIRECTIVES
(MUST BE RETYPED IN LOWER CASE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE S IN
SATELLITE WHICH MUST REMAIN UPPER CASE), INTRANET AT
HTTP://CGWEB.COMDT.USCG.MIL/CGDIRECTIVES/WELCOME.HTM, AND INTERNET AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/DIRECTIVES/.
3. HARDCOPIES WILL BE MAILED PER THE STANDARD DISTRIBUTION LIST.
UNITS SHOULD EXPECT RECEIPT WITHIN 2-4 MONTHS UPON RELEASE OF THIS
ALCOAST.
4. THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR REVISION OF THE PREVIOUS ATON MANUAL -
SEAMANSHIP PROMULGATED IN MAY 1997. BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE CHANGES,
UNITS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE MANUAL. THIS
EDITION CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGES:
   A. UPDATES THE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MANUAL TO REFLECT CURRENT
   ATON CUTTERS AND BOATS (THROUGHOUT).
   B. DEFINES THE BUOY EVOLUTION STANDARD FOR RESPECTIVE CUTTER
   CLASSES (CHAPTERS 9, 10, 11, 12, AND 13).
   C. THE RIGGING LOG, OR REGISTRY OF LIFTING APPLIANCES, HAS BEEN
   STANDARDIZED AND IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE NATON BUOY DECK TRAINING
   TEAM WEBSITE:
   HTTP://CGWEB.TCYORKTOWN.USCG.MIL/NATON/BDTT/RESOURCES.ASP
   (CHAPTER 4).
   D. PROVIDES NEW GUIDANCE ON THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF
   BUOY/CONSTRUCTION DECK PERSONNEL (CHAPTER 2).
5. FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, CONTACT BMCM B. WINTERBOTTOM,
COMDT(CG-751), AT (202)372-2336 OR MR. D. MERRILL, COMDT(CG-5311), AT
(202)372-1548.
6. CAPT S. A. BUSCHMAN, ACTING ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR CAPABILITY,
SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.