Posted by Kevin on September 30, 19102 at 18:05:52:
In Reply to: Re: Putting lines on wrecks posted by Brady Schickinger on September 29, 19102 at 12:39:17:
This approach does not work, at least in Ohio waters in Lake Erie. Official moorings have been attempted for over eight years using this approach with absolutely no success. The Coast Guard, Lake Carriers Association, ODNR, and other interest groups have all done their best to prevent moorings from happening through this process. The last I heard, the Coast Guard was also questioning the moorings established in various Michigan underwater preserves. Moorings are an excellent idea. They greatly increase dive safety and decrease damage and wear to wrecks, but I recommend they only be informally installed by individuals, not official organizations, and left unmarked if legal liability issues are in any way a concern.
: The answer to this question is a simple one. All buoys on the Great Lakes shipwrecks in U.S. waters must be authorized by the Coast Guard. The application to the Coast Guard is simple, free and takes about six weeks to come back after you get a letter of no objection for the DNR of the appropriate state. The buoy location is published in the "Notice to Mariners". After that, you're off the the hook as long as your buoy is in the location and meets the specs the Coast Guard authorized. Someone may sue you (anyone can sue) but the case will be dismissed by the court at its first hearing. The error many diving organizations make is by not requesting the Coast Guard's authorization.