comdtinst m16114.32c - U.S. Coast Guard

Part 3 – Station Operations
Chapter 4 – Surf Stations
A.3. Heavy
Weather
Conditions
Documentation
A.4. AOPS Surf
Conditions
Reporting
Abstract of Operations (AOPS) will be used to track the environmental
conditions and frequency of those conditions at individual Stations. Since
designation as a Surf Station involves a significant investment by the
Coast Guard, accurate data is essential. The data is used to document
local conditions that warrant designation of a unit as a Surf Station, and it
is used to make policy and resource allocation decisions for designated
Surf Stations and non-designated Surf Stations. Surf Stations shall enter
surf data into AOPS. Stations not designated as Surf Stations may track
local environmental conditions to justify Surf Station designation.
District Commanders may use this accumulated data to seek unit
designation as a Surf Station. See Figure 3-2.
Surf exists when breaking seas exceed 10 FT and/or when, in the
judgment of the CO/OIC, rough bar/surf conditions exist and/or
whenever there is doubt in the mind of the Coxswain as to the present
conditions. Document surf conditions in AOPS. Make an entry into the
system where surf conditions exist for at least one hour on a federally
maintained navigable bar or entrance that falls within the Station’s area
of responsibility.
Stations shall choose one of three categories of sea height:
(01) Seas < 8 FT
(02) Seas 8 - 15 FT
(03) Seas >15 FT
At the AOPS/TMT opening screen, click on ‘Launch AOPS’, select
‘Unit Maintenance’, then click the ‘Surf Conditions’ tab at the top of the
screen. This will bring up the surf log. The system will display previous
entries by date and surf height. To make a new entry, fill in the date and
select the surf height in the ‘Insert New Surf Conditions’ box at the
bottom of the page and then click ‘Insert’. The new entry is now
recorded. Inaccurate entries can be deleted by clicking the ‘delete’
button next to the entry.
A.5. Surf Hours
If units choose, the Training Management Tool (TMT) can be used to
track the number of hours that crewmembers operate in the surf. Follow
the same process that is currently used to track night boat hours by using
the “SURF OPERATIONS, USE TO TRACK SURF HOURS” task. All
time spent in the surf, regardless of surf location, may be counted.
Tracking time in surf is encouraged but not required.
3-57