Transport and Trade 



taking into account current and future needs of aviation and maritime 

 commerce and advanced technology of navigation satellites and electronic 

 ground-based systems. The plan will identify areas of Federal responsibility 

 for navigation services, the systems to be operated by the Federal agencies, 

 and the needed research and development efforts to meet future navigation 

 requirements. Charting needs will also be considered. 



The following activities were undertaken in 1968 by the Coast Guard 

 in developing the national plan: 



— identification of current and future requirements for navigation 

 aids, available and projected technologies, alternative system con- 

 figurations, and economic analysis methodology — all related to navi- 

 gation near our coast and on a global basis; 

 — consultations with industry, port authorities, pilot associations, and 

 other non-Federal groups to gain their views on navigation problems 

 and priorities ; 

 — preparation of an inventory of end-user investments in navigation 

 equipment and initiation of cost/benefit evaluations of alternative 

 navigation systems; and 

 — review of policy issues related to (a) private electronic aids to navi- 

 gation, (b) uniformity in navigation standards, and (c) possible 

 new approaches to funding including local financing and user 

 charges. 

 Complementing the development of this national plan are continuing ef- 

 forts to improve navigation along our coasts and in distant waters. The 

 following research and development activities in 1968 contributed to our 

 national capabilities: 



— testing and evaluation of the LORAN D system which provides pre- 

 cise positioning needed for detailed coastal surveys; 

 — testing of the medium range, highly accurate TRANSLOC system 



which is easily transportable and can operate unattended; 

 — development of floating navigation aids including improvement of 



plastic buoys and high strength mooring chains ; 

 — development of power systems and mooring and servicing tech- 

 niques for unmanned platforms to replace lightships; and 

 — exploratory development of a short-range, high precision all-weather 

 navigation system for harbor approaches. 

 Concurrently with these efforts, maintenance and improvement of nautical 

 charts is carried out by ESSA. Surveys of charted waters, followed by 

 compilation of information on depths, cultural and topographic features, 

 and the position and characteristics of navigational aids, assure safe naviga- 

 tion in coastal waters. 



Also, the Navy has completed plans for installation of the advanced 

 OMEGA system on a worldwide basis (Figure VIII-1) which will contrib- 



117 



