US COAST GUARD TO OVERSEE THE DEMOLITION AND REPLACEMENT OF TWO NAVIGATIONAL AIDS IN MARYLAND

Talbot County, MD - The U.S. Coast Guard will oversee the demolition and replacement of two important navigational aids in Maryland. The La Trappe Creek Daybeacon 1 (LLNR 24955) and La Trappe Creek Daybeacon 2 (LLNR 24960), located near La Trappe Creek, are scheduled for removal due to their deteriorating condition.

This operation is set to take place in Spring 2025. To ensure safe navigation for vessels during the demolition and replacement process, the Coast Guard will establish two temporary unlighted buoys.

Once the work is completed, new daybeacons will be installed in place of the old ones. The La Trappe Creek Daybeacons 1 and 2 have been serving mariners for over 40 years.

Visible signs of wear and tear indicate that replacement is necessary, as stated by Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Motta of the Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region. He emphasized that safety on the Chesapeake's waterways is a top priority, and the Coast Guard is dedicated to maintaining reliable navigational aids.

Introduced in 1962 and 1982 respectively, both beacons are concrete-filled iron caisson aids that mark the navigable channel of the Choptank River-La Trappe Creek. The Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region is responsible for managing 4,436 navigational aids throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding waterways, ensuring safe navigation for both commercial and private vessels.