Notice: Changes to the USCG Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and Light ListsThe U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center announces upcoming changes to the Local Noticeto Mariners (LNM) and the Light List, as part of our efforts to modernize and improve theaccessibility, accuracy, and overall user experience for mariners and other stakeholders.
What Is Changing?
1. Transition From Paper Charts: In January 2025, NOAA will discontinue the productionof all paper charts. In alignment with this change, the Coast Guard will transition fromusing NOAA Paper Chart Numbers and Editions/Dates for disseminating Marine SafetyInformation (MSI) to using Official Waterway Names.
2. How You Will Access LNMs and Light Lists: The LNM and Light List data will now beavailable in a geospatial format, which will allow you to visualize information interactivelyon a map/chart. You can use your mouse wheel or the +/- buttons in the upper left portionof the screen to zoom in or out and navigate to your desired area on the map/chart. Oncethe area is displayed, you can generate a PDF of the LNM or Light List for that specific area,which you can then save and/or print. Alternatively, you can use a fillable form on ourwebsite to select your waterway by name from the Light List and generate the LNM or LightList.
3. LNM and Light List Data Refresh Rate: LNM data will be refreshed every fifteenminutes. Light List data will be refreshed every 24 hours. This will give you a much more up-to-date operating picture, designed to enhance your efficiency and improve safety in yourarea of transit or planned routes.
4. Elimination of Weekly Files: Weekly LNMs, Weekly Light List Correction Files, DailyDiscrepancy Files, and the Summary of Light List Changes will no longer be published tofocus on providing the most up-to-date and accessible format. In the near future, we willalso publish an Application Programming Interface (API) for interested parties to access thedata externally.
Why Are These Changes Being Made?The modernization of MSI delivery is designed to improve the U.S. Coast Guard’s aid-to-navigationdata management and dissemination capabilities. By providing frequentupdates, geospatial visualization, and digital access, we hope to achieve our goals of:• Enhancing Maritime Safety: By delivering the most current and precise information,mariners can make better-informed decisions, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuringsafer navigation.• Improving Accessibility: The shift to geospatial visualization makes it easier for all users,from commercial mariners to recreational boaters, to stay informed.• Increasing Efficiency: The integration of LNM and Light List data into a geospatial formatto simplify the gathering of safety information and facilitate easy route planning.When Will These Changes Take Effect?The transition to the modernized LNM and Light List platform (the Navigation Centerwebsite) will be completed by Monday, October 21st.How to Access the New Features?Starting October 21st, 2024, you will be able to access the updated Local Notice toMariners (LNM) and Light List through the NAVCEN website, with a User Guide available toassist you. While legacy versions of these products will no longer be produced or postedafter October 31st, previously available versions will remain accessible for downloadindefinitely. Additionally, users can now generate updated LNMs in real time, with datarefreshed every 15 minutes.
For any questions or assistance, please visit our Contact Us page, select ‘LNMs or LightLists’ from the Subject dropdown, and submit your inquiry.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to enhance the safety and efficiency ofmaritime navigation.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (www.navcen.uscg.gov)
