SENATE RESOLUTION STRONGLY REPROVING THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD'S PLAN TO REMOVE 38 BUOYS FROM RHODE ISLAND WATERS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Ujifusa

Rhode Island Senate strongly opposes the Coast Guard's plan to remove 38 buoys, urging retention of navigational aids to protect boating safety and Rhode Island's maritime economy.

06/03/2025 Senate read and passed

Overview

Type: Non-binding Senate Resolution (SR)

Purpose: Strongly reproves the United States Coast Guard’s plan to remove 38 aids to navigation (AtoN)—specifically buoys—from Rhode Island waters and urges retention of these navigational aids to protect boating safety and commerce.

Introduced: May 29, 2025 by Senator Linda L. Ujifusa

Status: Read and passed by the Rhode Island Senate on June 3, 2025; placed on Senate Consent Calendar May 29, 2025

Location: State of Rhode Island General Assembly

What the resolution does (Key Provisions)

Adopts a formal, urgent stance against the Coast Guard’s proposed buoy removals, arguing that maintaining the 38 buoys is essential for safe navigation and boating safety in Rhode Island waters.

Emphasizes the economic importance of Rhode Island’s maritime industry (aids to navigation support safety, commerce, and recreational boating), noting the region’s reliance on physical navigation markers in busy waterways like Narragansett Bay.

States that Rhode Island currently has about 400 AtoN, including roughly three dozen coastal buoys targeted for removal under the Coast Guard proposal.

Asserts concerns about heavy reliance on electronic navigation systems alone, especially in complex or changing conditions, and highlights safety risks for smaller, less technologically equipped vessels.

Directs the Secretary of State to transmit certified copies of the resolution to:

Members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation
Terry Gray, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM)
Rear Admiral Michael E. Platt, Commander, First Coast Guard District
Captain Clinton J. Prindle, Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard First District

Who is affected

Boaters and commercial traffic operating in Rhode Island waters, particularly in Narragansett Bay and other congested routes that rely on traditional AtoN.

Rhode Island’s maritime industry and recreational boating sector, which the resolution characterizes as a significant economic driver.

Federal navigational planning processes, as the resolution communicates the state’s position to federal officials and the Coast Guard.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Introduction: May 29, 2025

Placement: Senate Consent Calendar (same date)

Action: Senate read and passed on June 3, 2025

Nature of effect: Non-binding; a formal expression of the Rhode Island Senate’s views intended to influence federal consideration and demonstrate state support for retaining the buoys.

Impact and Context

The resolution signals strong statewide opposition to the Coast Guard’s proposed removal of 38 buoys and seeks to preserve navigational safety and economic activity in Rhode Island.

While non-binding, it serves as an official statement of state policy and may inform discussions with federal legislators and agencies.

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