A STUDY TO EXAMINE THE STATION-KEEPING CHARACTERISTICS OF A BUOY IN CASCO BAY, MAINE

The position of a navigation buoy can vary, within the scope of its mooring chain, under the influences of current, wind, and waves. To determine the actual excursions of a particular buoy, its position was monitored at five-minute intervals over a period of 27 days. An electronic positioning system was modified so that ranges from two known shore points to a transponder on the buoy could be determined and recorded automatically. Position data was calculated and presented in plot form along with available wind and wave information. Buoy position was dependent largely on the direction and strength of tidal currents. Wave action, which was generally aligned with flood tide current, had a contributing effect. Wind effects were most apparent when the wind was perpendicular to tidal flow. Total buoy travel was about 300 feet along a line parallel to tidal flow. The midpoint of this line was shifted considerably by intentionally changing the initial conditions of the mooring - chain lay on the bottom.

• Corporate Authors:

  Eg and G Incorporated

  Environmental Equipment Division
  Waltham, MA  United States 

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Authors:
  • Burke, R M
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 90 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buoys; Location; Monitoring; Motion; Navigational aids; Position fixing; Ship operations
• Geographic Terms: Maine
• Old TRIS Terms: Stationkeeping
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00092264
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt., USCG-D-95-74
• Contract Numbers: DOT-CG-18255, DOT-CG-18380
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Nov 5 1976 12:00AM