of Marine Inspection.^" Formerly under the De- 

 partment of Treasury, it was placed under the 

 Department of Transportation when that Depart- 

 ment was estabUshed in 1967.^ ' A military service 

 and a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces at all 

 times, the Coast Guard operates under the Navy in 

 time of war or when the President directs. 



The Coast Guard in the coastal zone provides 

 search and rescue services, administers merchant 

 marine safety laws, maintains a state of readiness 

 for mihtary operations in time of war or national 

 emergency, provides a comprehensive system of 

 aids to navigation for the Armed Forces and 

 marine commerce, undertakes an effective port 

 security program, and enforces or assists in enforc- 

 ing Federal laws on the high seas or waters subject 

 to U.S. jurisdiction. It also conducts ocean- 

 ographic research^ ^ and provides ice-breaking 

 services. 



A. Search and Rescue 



The search and rescue function is the largest 

 Coast Guard program in terms of personnel, funds, 

 requirements, and facilities operated. Its objective 

 is to provide effective assistance to persons and 

 property in immediate or potential distress in and 

 over the high seas and waters subject to U.S. 

 jurisdiction. 



To carry out its objective the Coast Guard 

 employs cutters of several sizes varying from the 

 82 foot patrol boats to the high endurance cutters, 

 small boats of all types, long and medium range 

 fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, a widely scattered 

 network of shore stations, and an extensive rapid 

 communications system. These facilities are inte- 

 grated into the National Search and Rescue Plan 

 and are used to fulfill the bulk of U.S. search and 

 rescue obligations required by international 

 treaties. 



In 1967, the Coast Guard rendered assistance 

 within the coastal and harbor zone^^ to 31,551 

 vessels, 543 aircraft, and 3,422 individuals and was 



Functions of the Coast Guard date back to Act of 

 August 4, 1790. Present functions were authorized by Act 

 of August 4, 1949, 63 Stat. 495, 14 U.S.C. 



^^P.L. 89-670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 1. 



"^P.L. 87-396, Oct. 5, 1961, 75 Stat. 827, 14 U.S.C. 



94. 



Boating Statistics, U.S.C.G. PubUcation 357. 



involved in 2,473 other incidents; 2,296 Uves were 

 saved. Property assisted had a total evaluation of 

 $1,361,422,900. In addition to responses by reg- 

 ular forces, the Coast Guard Auxiliary answered 

 6,877 calls for assistance within this zone. 



B. Aids to Navigation 



Navigable U.S. waters are marked to meet 

 maritime commerce needs. They include interior 

 and coastal waters, and approaches to rivers and 

 harbors. Channels, obstructions, and shoals are 

 marked for the deepest draft U.S. registered vessels 

 expected to use a waterway. 



Objectives are met by establishing and operat- 

 ing long- and short-range systems in the United 

 States and its possessions to meet the needs of 

 maritime commerce, and world-wide to meet 

 Armed Forces needs. Private aids supplement the 

 Federal system where maritime needs are insuffi- 

 cient to warrant Federal aids or when obstructions 

 are placed in navigable waters by private concerns. 

 Authorization and inspection of private aids is 

 required by Federal regulations. 



The short-range system is a passive, visual, 

 electronic, and audio network of some 44,000 

 buoy, lightships, light stations and radio beacon 

 stations located in the United States and posses- 

 sions. The aids to navigation system as defined by 

 Federal regulations specifies a lateral system of 

 buoyage with prescribed characteristics having 

 specified meanings. The short-range system is 

 designed with the assumption that mariners under- 

 stand the lateral system and have access to 

 up-to-date charts of areas of operation. 



The present long-range system LORAN (Long 

 Range Aids to Navigation) is an electronic system 

 incorporating 45 LORAN-A, 22 LORAN-C trans- 

 mitting stations, and 9 LORAN-C monitor sta- 

 tions. 



Regulation and administration of bridges over 

 navigable waters is a new program for the Coast 

 Guard. It includes regulation and administration of 

 bridge operation and design and provides for 

 expenditure of Federal funds to alter obstructive 

 bridges. These functions formerly were performed 

 by the Corps of Engineers. 



C. Law Enforcement 



The Coast Guard enforces all U.S. laws in U.S. 

 navigable waters, including navigation, customs, 



m-94 



