Coastguardsmen assigned to Regional Dive Locker Pacific get underway on a Station Honolulu 45-foot Response Boat – Medium, to replace a buoy swept off-station during Hurricane Lowell in Honolulu Harbor, Sept. 15, 2026. The buoy was one out of 11 aids to navigation that were impacted by the storm. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mikaela McGee)
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Every day, billions of dollars in cargo move through California’s ports, carrying everything from food, fuel, vehicles and medical supplies. Most people never think about the buoys that guide ships through crowded waterways, but when one of those guides fails, the consequences could be major, threatening lives at sea, the environment and the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce.
