As U.S. Navy assets steam towards the Philippines to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, Navy hydrographers are busy charting safe passages through potential navigation hazards created by the receding storm surge. 'USNS Bowditch', a Navy survey vessel, was one of the first ships on station and began immediately surveying the approaches to San Pedro Bay. "In many natural disaster situations around the world, forward-deployed Navy and Marine Corps assets act as first responders for U.S.