NS Template

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Bridge Administration N-Train 2009

• Kevin Redden
• BC-MNB

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• Auxiliary Bridge Administration
• What is the Auxiliary Bridge Program?
• How to build a bridge program in your district.
• On-Line Bridge Discrepancy Reporting System
• Coast Guard bridge regulations

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• The Auxiliary Bridge Program
• By law, the USCG is responsible to see that
  bridge owners light their bridges and comply with
  federal bridge regulations.
• CG district bridge offices have limited staff and
  cannot look at each bridge themselves.
• If the C.G. doesnt know about a bridge
  discrepancy, they cant get it fixed.
• The C.G. needs the Auxiliarys eyes in the field
  to report bridge problems so they can get the
  owners to rectify them.

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• Memorandum of Understanding MOU
• The MOU between the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary
  is located in Appendix A of the Auxiliary
  Manual.
• Bridge MOU calls for the Auxiliary to act as the
  eyes and ears for field offices to watch for

• Violations of drawbridge operating regulations
• Damage to bridge fenders
• Waterway obstruction by bridge construction
  activities

• Bridge obstructions to waterways
• Navigation light outages
• Report types of waterway usage of bridges

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• The C.G. is only interesting in bridge features
  that affect navigation, not those that affect the
  road or rail traffic that use the bridge.
• We report on lighting, fenders, operations, or
  obstructions in the channel.
• We dont report problems with the roadway, road
  signs, rail road tracks, or the bridge structure,
  nor any other bridge issues that dont affect
  navigation.

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• Biggest bridge discrepancies reported
• Extinguished lights
• Damaged fender systems
• Improper lights signs
• Obstructions in the channel (debris, hanging
  cables, damaged fenders)
• Improper operation by the owner/bridge tender
• Not responding to radio calls
• Delaying opening of the draw
• Not adhering to 33CFR117b special rules

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How NOT to Lower A Bridge
M/V Windoc, Welland Canal, 11 Aug. 2001
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The Bridge Program has two main parts

• Bridge Discrepancy Reports
• Problem reports from any member
• Annual Bridge Surveys
• A comprehensive review and report of a bridge
  done by certified Aids Verifiers (District
  specific)

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How to build (or enhance) a Bridge Program in
your District
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(No Transcript)
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• Establish contact with the chief of your district
  bridge office.
• In many districts, the ANTs have little to do
  with bridges.
• Determine his needs, let him know what the
  Auxiliary can do for them.
• Show him the on-line Bridge Discrepancy Reporting
  System and see if he can use it in your district.
• Look at implementing a local Bridge Discrepancy
  Report to supplement the 7054.

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A district specific bridge discrepancy report
form
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• Communicate to the membership
• Build a district NS web site, and add a bridge
  web page to the site.
• Post bridge training material on the bridge web
  site.
• Add bridge training to your local AV training
  syllabus. All Aids Verifiers should be trained on
  the Bridge Program.
• Consider an annual bridge reporting district
  award to reward participation and spark member
  interest in the program.

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Close the Black Hole! Let the members see what
happened to their report. Nothing builds more
interest than seeing feedback that their work
made a difference to the Coast Guard.
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• Run a professional program
• Stress accuracy and credibility on all reports.
  Our reports will cause a C.G. letter to the
  bridge owner ordering corrective action, so our
  reports must be accurate.
• Make sure to implement a QA layer to review
  reports (DSO or ADSO level) before they go to the
  bridge office.
• One inaccurate report will destroy credibility,
  so make sure all reports are good. If in doubt,
  send it back for more information.

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• Run a professional program
• The role of photographs in discrepancy reports
• A picture says a thousand words and removes
  subjectivity from reports. While words may not
  fully describe a problem, a good picture leaves
  no question.
• Photographs should be required for all problems
  other than extinguished lights.
• Any light discrepancy must be observed after
  legal sunset.

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Modern digital cameras take superb shots even
at night
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On-Line Bridge Discrepancy Reporting System

• Online database of all district bridges over
  navigable water.
• Internet accessible, with security via eDirectory
  login.
• On-line discrepancy entry
• On-line annual bridge survey entry
• Display of bridge information, picture, history
  of past discrepancy reports and enforcement
  actions.

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On-Line Bridge Discrepancy Reporting
System LIVE DEMONSTRATION