Nautical Charts
Displaced features on nautical chart
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) issued a Hydrolant stating that, due to a production problem that caused displaced features, NIMA has determined that digital nautical chart CD15 (Gulf of Mexico/Straits of Florida) is not to be used for navigation or situational awareness. A NIMA review is in process to address this situation. (Source: HK Law)
Online Chart Viewer from NOAA
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, surveys and charts U.S. waters, producing over 1,000 traditional nautical charts 3.4m sq. nautical miles. Carriage of NOAA charts is mandatory on the commercial ships that carry our commerce. They are used on every Navy and Coast Guard ship, fishing and passenger vessels. On July 4, NOAA introduced a new public service called the Online Chart Viewer. The Viewer lets mariners display any nautical chart in the national suite using only
Chart Agent, ECS Provider, Move Office
ChartWorld & SevenCs have moved offices to the heart of Hamburg opposite the BSH (German Hydrographic Office). “As the companies are growing, we now have enough space to accommodate the team now and in the future. The new office and its location are a big step forward for us and will help us to ensure high quality products and services to our customers.” Jochen Rudolph, Managing Director, comments.
New Edition of U.S. Chart No. 1 Available
U.S. Chart No.1, Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms, is an essential aid for new chart users and a useful reference for all mariners. The latest version, Edition 11, is now available for free download from the web. The new edition updates the descriptions and depictions of the basic nautical chart elements and symbols used on nautical charts produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Offshore Systems Awarded New Geomatics Contracts
Offshore Systems International Ltd. (OSI) announced that its nautical charting and land-mapping division, OSI Geomatics, has received new orders worth more than CDN$1,500,000. The group of orders span the end of the company's third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter. "Our data production division continues to make excellent progress," said John Jacobson, OSI's President and CEO, "and we're pleased with its growing contribution to OSI's overall business
NOAA’s Newest Chart to Support Puerto Rico Maritime Economy
The Port of San Juan, which is experiencing a tremendous growth of maritime traffic and planning for more, received an additional economic boost today when NOAA debuted a new nautical chart that will make ocean-going vessel traffic safer and more efficient through San Juan Bay and the port area. “There is not only more traffic, but larger vessels are making San Juan their port call,” said Capt. John Lowell, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey
NOAA Finalizes Plans for 2011 Survey Season
As the new year approaches, NOAA ships and independent contractors are preparing for the nation’s 177th hydrographic surveying season, aiming to collect critically needed ocean and coastal mapping data for 2,525 square nautical miles in high-traffic coastal waters of the continental United States and Alaska. “The science of these surveys underpins the steady flow of commerce and the safety of mariners and coastal communities,” said NOAA Corps Capt. John E
NOAA Fairweather Updates Arctic Charts
As Arctic ice recedes, countries are looking forward to faster, safer and more efficient sea routes across the top of the world. Responding to a request from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Maritime Pilots and the commercial shipping industry, NOAA sent one of its premier surveying vessels, NOAA Ship Fairweather, to detect navigational dangers in critical Arctic waters that have not been charted for more than 50 years.
P&O Nedlloyd Changes Chart Supplier
P&O Nedlloyd has decided to further expand the relationship with chart agent Marine Press of Canada. All charts, publications and electronic charts for the fleet of over 40 container vessels will now be supplied by the new chart agent. P&O Nedlloyd already use the chart correction system Digitrace from Marine Press onboard all vessels. “Digitrace is working very well onboard, so this move was natural for us. We will now achieve a much more streamlined process by getting both the
NOAA Launches Coast Pilot Disaster Impact Web Site
The NOAA Office of Coast Survey has established a special Coast Pilot Disaster Impact Web site to help speed the recovery efforts of 21 significant port facilities in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The purpose of the Coast Pilot Disaster Impact Web site is to help facilitate the recovery efforts by providing a resource for port facility managers to send critical information to NOAA's Coast Survey
Australian Reef Protected by New Safety Initiative
To protect the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia’s north-west region, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to establish an area ships should avoid. A new AMSA Marine Notice will recommend ships keep at least two nautical miles from the edge of Ningaloo
Underwater Survey System Patented
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for the ARGUS™ (Autonomous Remote Global Underwater Surveillance) system. The purpose of ARGUS™, which has been in operation and field testing since 2010, is to automate the acquisition and processing of depth, environmental
Krill Systems Completes NOAA Contract
Krill Systems Inc. have installed their Vessel Fuel Measurement and Monitoring Systems (VFMMS) in 6 NOAA Fisheries survey vessels. Installations on NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada, NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson and NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler represent the final fittings of a multiple vessel NOAA contract
NOAA’s Coast Survey Plans for New Arctic Nautical Charts
Less sea ice and more ship traffic means new charts needed for safety. NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has issued an updated Arctic Nautical Charting Plan, as a major effort to improve inadequate chart coverage for Arctic areas experiencing increasing vessel traffic due to ice diminishment
Arctic Nautical Charts: NOAA Plans Updates
Less sea ice and more ship traffic means new charts needed for safety. NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has issued an updated Arctic Nautical Charting Plan , as a major effort to improve inadequate chart coverage for Arctic areas experiencing increasing vessel traffic due to ice diminishment.
NOAA & US Power Squadrons Sign Agreement
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey & US Power Squadrons sign a Memorandum of Agreement to improve cooperative charting program. Rear Adm. Gerd Glang, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey, recently sat down with John Alter, chief commander of the U.S
Waterproof Charts Available from OceanGrafix
Nearly all nautical charts in stock are now available from OceanGrafix in new 100% waterproof format. Printed on a high-grade synthetic material, OceanGrafix’ s new waterproof charts are completely impervious to water. “Mariners face a variety of conditions onboard that can make it
OceanGrafix to Print NOAA's New POD Coast Pilots
OceanGrafix, now approved as Print-on-Demand (POD) printer/distrubutor for NOAA's US Coast Pilot Series. In conjunction with NOAA’s new process of making weekly online updates to the U.S. Coast Pilot books, OceanGrafix will print the books that reflect all updates and corrections.
NOAA and U.S. Power Squadrons Renew Program
This week, NOAA and the U.S. Power Squadrons, a non-profit organization dedicated to safe boating, will renew a 50-year commitment to a cooperative charting program that helps to update the nation's thousands of navigational charts.
Not Safe to Anchor After All
NOAA chart reveals underwater hazard for proposed anchorage area near Bayou Goula Crossing channel of Mississippi River. Cartographers from NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey recently flagged a potentially dangerous situation during their review of a proposed federal rule establishing new
New JW Fishers HF Side Scan Sonar
JW Fishers spotlights its new 1200 kHz sonar which provides detailed images of even small and soft underwater targets. This new side scan sonar can show extremely detailed images of even small and soft targets such as old wood wrecks, areas of scattered debris, or even a drowning victim.
NOAA Panel to Discuss GOM Maritime Issues
NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel will meet Nov. 27-29 in New Orleans to discuss hydrographic surveying, nautical charting, tides and current measurements, as well as geodetic and geospatial measurements for the Gulf of Mexico region.
APA & NOAA Cooperate to Keep Charts Current
NOAA and American Pilots’ Association (APA) sign Memorandum of Agreement to advance safe navigation in coastal waters. Dr. Kathryn Sullivan , NOAA Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation & Prediction, signs an agreement that recognizes the longstanding
Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center Opened
NOAA brings to bear centralized disaster planning, response expertise to the Gulf of Mexico region from its new Mobile, Alabama, office. NOAA's new Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) promises to change the way people prepare for and respond to the many hard-hitting storms, spills
NOAA Seafloor Mapping Project Delivers Diverse Data
NOAA ship 'Thomas Jefferson' mapping Long Island Sound seafloor this summer contributes to a multi-level data gathering collaboration. In addition to updating NOAA’s nautical charts, ongoing collaborations in Long Island Sound will create products that depict physical, geological