NOAA's integrated suite of navigational products and services

Abstract

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains the United States' suite of nautical charts, the coastal water level observation system, and the geodetic positioning reference system. NOAA charts are developed from NOAA's hydrographic and shoreline surveys, tide and current measurements, and national geographic positioning data, as well as information from other sources. NOAA's integrated suite of surveying, charting, water level, and positioning services is capable of increasing the efficient movement of goods while significantly reducing the risk of marine accidents and resulting environmental damage. NOAA is creating a database of digital vector chart data for the production of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). ENCs are being produced in the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) format as defined in Edition 3.1 of Publication S-57: IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data. ENCs are being compiled from original source materials where appropriate to provide the most accurate data available. The ENC database will be kept in continual maintenance (i.e., up-to-date on a weekly basis), allowing ENC users to obtain vector data sets that contain the most up-to-date and accurate information. NOAA is also offering the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) in many major U.S. ports. PORTS is a program that supports safe and cost-efficient navigation by providing ship masters and pilots with accurate real-time information.