Navigate with 

Confidence

NOAA Navigation Services

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Ocean Service
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) Navigation Services supports America’s economic 

vitality. Together, four navigation offices provide the essential tools and 

services, helping to ensure safe and reliable marine transportation in today’s 

changing global environment.

The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) maps the coastal seafloor, provides the 

nation’s nautical charts, and quickly conducts hydrographic surveys

following storms or other emergencies. 

Using state-of-the-art methods, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) 

offers precise positioning and advanced geodetic, photogrammetric, and 

remote-sensing techniques to establish and maintain a consistent national 

positioning system.

Collecting, analyzing, and distributing both real-time and historical 

oceanographic observations and predictions, the Center for Operational 

Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) provides water level, 

current, and meteorological information. 

Responding to environmental threats, the Office of Response and 

Restoration (OR&R) promotes sound decision making in the coastal zone.

Waterborne cargo 

contributes more than 

$742 billion to the 

nation’s economy and 

creates employment 

for more than 13 

million citizens. 
In the last 50 years, ships have doubled 

in length, width, height, and depth. Ships 

built today draw up to 60 feet of water 

– the equivalent of a five-story building. 

When transiting a channel, ships may 

have only inches between their hulls, the 

channel bottom, and the underside of a 

bridge. The National Spatial Reference 

System gives pilots consistent reference 

points for safe navigation. 

Over 78 million boaters, using 18 

million recreational boats, spend 

$39 billion a year. The U.S. fishing 

industry and its 110,000 fishing 

vessels contribute $35 billion 

annually to the U.S. economy.

The U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) – an intricate network of 

navigable waterways, ports, and harbors – gives our nation competitive access 

to suppliers and markets around the world.

Mariners rely on NOAA’s nautical charts, accurate positioning services, 

marine forecasts, and information on tides, currents, and water levels to move 

safely and efficiently in and out of U.S. ports.

NOAA’s navigation services are also used by the growing cruise line industry, 

national defense agencies, thousands of commercial fishing vessels, and 

millions of recreational boaters.

Supporting Marine 

Transport and Navigation

Larger and faster vessels 

in increasingly crowded 

waterways are stretching 

the limits of the MTS. 

Approximately 3,800 commercial shipping accidents and 5,000 

recreational boating accidents occur annually. An emerging issue 

is the increasing number of bridge strikes – which cost time and 

resources, and endanger marine environments. 
In addition to contributing to U.S. economic vitality, NOAA’s accurate 

navigation, information, and positioning tools contribute to national security 

and environmental protection. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy rely on 

NOAA products and services. Ports and coastal managers use NOAA tools to 

conserve oceans and coasts, locate and remove harmful debris, and protect 

the environment. 

Protecting Our Ports 

and Waterways

Supporting National 

Security

As gateways to our largest cities 

and industries, U.S. ports are 

strategic targets for terrorists 

and must be protected. NOAA’s 

underwater surveying experts 

conduct port hydrographic surveys 

for navigation, military threat 

detection analysis, identifying 

vulnerabilities in infrastructure, 

and determining evacuation routes. 

Locating and 

Removing Marine 

Debris

Marine debris – like lost fish nets, 

plastic bags and other human 

waste – interfere with navigation 

safety, hurt MTS shipping and 

coastal industries, and pose a 

threat to human health and marine 

life. Through surveying, research, 

removal, and outreach, NOAA is 

combating this growing problem. 

Updating Vertical 

Control

Knowing the relationship of water 

levels to land features is critical in 

determining an area’s susceptibility 

to rising seas, lakes, or rivers. Local 

sea level rise, which is a combination 

of local and regional oceanographic 

change, global sea level rise, and 

the vertical land movement of an 

area, threatens coastal communities. 

Storm surge – temporarily rising 

waters – results in damaging floods, 

which further add to the threats. 

NOAA provides the geospatial 

information to help coastal managers 

better understand the interface 

between water and land, allowing for 

better planning of port operations, 

flood control measures, emergency 

preparedness, evacuation routes, and 

other contingencies.
Population growth, climate change, sea level rise, bigger ships, busier 

waterways, and aging coastal infrastructure are just a few of the challenges 

facing the marine transportation system. NOAA works with ports, coastal 

communities, and other constituencies to adapt to these challenges. With 

3.4 million square nautical miles of constantly changing water, NOAA’s 

work is more important than ever. 

Meeting New

Challenges 

Exploring the Arctic

Melting sea ice in the Arctic is 

creating longer ice-free seasons 

and opening new opportunities 

for shipping. With more human 

activity in the Arctic, accidents 

in marine environments present 

unique challenges for response, 

assessment, and restoration. Limited 

resources, challenging conditions, 

and the remote location of disasters 

reduce operational options. 

Considering current knowledge 

and past experience with Arctic spill 

conditions, responding to a major oil 

spill in Arctic waters is problematic.

Supporting Coastal 

Communities

Sea level rise caused by climate 

change will have significant impacts 

on coastal communities and habitats. 

NOAA’s geodetic data, seafloor 

surveys, and tide information can 

be used to develop programs that 

protect coastal infrastructure and 

ecosystems. Coastal zone managers 

also use NOAA charts, water level 

and current information, and 

elevation and shoreline data to plan 

coastal protection projects.
Mapping and 

Charting the Coast

NOAA uses sonar, photogrammetry, 

and remote sensing technologies 

to survey waterways for depths and 

obstructions. This information is 

used to define the national shoreline 

and update NOAA’s nautical charts. 

Much like road maps, the charts 

provide the basic information 

necessary for safe marine navigation. 

With charts becoming increasingly 

electronic, mariners are able to 

more efficiently plan routes and 

avoid dangerous or ecologically 

sensitive areas.

Pinpoint Positioning

NOAA’s National Spatial Reference 

System and National Water Level 

Observation Network provide 

a highly accurate, precise, and 

consistent geographic reference 

framework throughout the U.S. 

The systems provide a foundation 

for determining land and water 

elevations. Precise positioning and 

accurate information on constantly 

changing water levels help mariners 

make the best decisions for safely 

maneuvering under a bridge or 

above an obstruction in our nation’s 

busy waterways.

Providing Innovative Tools 

and Practical Assistance 

NOAA’s integrated suite of accurate, real-time navigation and positioning 

tools contributes to the strength of America’s marine transportation system. 

With NOAA’s support, the MTS can be the world’s safest, most efficient, 

most competitive, most technologically advanced, and most environmentally 

responsible system for moving people and products.
Reporting Real-Time 

Data on Marine 

Conditions

Today’s massive ships push the depth 

limit of many ports and harbors. To 

help mariners select the safest time 

to transit shallow waterways, NOAA 

delivers real-time tide, current, 

wind and bridge clearance data in a 

single, consistent coordinated system. 

Conversely, when marine winds push 

water into a port, shippers can decide 

to load extra cargo before heading 

to deep-water foreign destinations. 

Responding to 

Disasters

NOAA’s efforts speed the reopening 

of ports. Navigation response teams 

move into a coastal area after a storm 

moves out, and survey ports and 

channels, searching for submerged 

debris and finding alternative routes 

for commercial and military ships. 

NOAA aerial photography helps the 

public, decision makers, and insurance 

adjusters assess the extent of storm 

damage. Real-time data supports 

federal, state, and local decisions on 

post-storm response. 
NOAA Navigation Services

Office of Coast Survey (OCS)

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov

(301) 713-2770

OCS offers a variety of navigation services. These include raster and electronic 

navigational charts, Coast Pilot, hydrographic surveys, water-level and current 

modeling, and emergency response teams. Navigation managers serve as 

OCS representatives in the field.

National Geodetic Survey (NGS)

http://geodesy.noaa.gov

(301) 713-3222

NGS applies state-of-the-art methods of precise positioning and advanced geodetic, 

photogrammetric, and remote-sensing techniques to establish and maintain a 

consistent national coordinate system. NGS manages the National Spatial Reference 

System, which provides the foundation for all geospatial products and services.

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS)

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov

(301) 713-2981

CO-OPS collects, analyzes, and distributes both real-time and historical observations 

and predictions of water levels, coastal currents, forecasts, and other meteorological 

and oceanographic data. CO-OPS manages the National Water Level Program, 

the National Current Observation Program, and the Physical Oceanographic 

Real-Time System.

Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov

(301) 713-2989

OR&R responds to environmental threats and promotes sound decision making 

in the coastal zone. OR&R mitigates negative environmental effects that may be 

associated with oil and chemical spills from marine accidents by providing primary 

scientific support to cleanup agencies.

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Ocean Service