These changes are an effort to standardize depth presentation on printed and raster charts.

February 7, 2019
Contact:
Kristen Crossett, 301-325-2113

NOAA announces change in channel depths on raster nautical chart products
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey recently announced plans to change the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintained channel depth values on raster chart products, which include paper nautical charts and the corresponding digital raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC®). Minimum depths (also called controlling depths) are collected during periodic USACE sonar surveys of channels. In the past, controlling depths were provided on raster charts but will now be replaced with the original channel design dredging depths used by the USACE (called project depths). Standardizing depth presentation on these products will improve data consistency and overall safety. Implementation begins in early 2019.

NOAA’s suite of electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC®) are not affected by these changes. Mariners are encouraged to use NOAA ENCs for critical safety information as these products are typically updated up to one month ahead of raster products.

For more information, please visit: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/updates/?p=171708

NOAA Office of Coast Survey is the nation’s nautical chartmaker. Originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, Coast Survey updates charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation.

NOAA Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3 #6509, Silver Spring, MD 20906