Office of Coast Survey

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New York City

The Office of Coast Survey is the oldest U.S. scientific organization, dating from 1807 when the United States Congress directed that a "survey of the coast" be carried out. In the ensuing years additional responsibilities were assigned to the young agency to meet scientific and engineering needs of a growing national population and economy and by1836, it was called the U.S. Coast Survey. In1871, a geodetic connection between theAtlantic and Pacific coasts was officially authorized and in 1878, the name was changed to the U.S.Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS). In 1926, the production of aeronautical charts was added to meet the requirements of the new air transportation age. In 1970, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey became the National Ocean Survey under the newly established National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and in 1982, it was renamed the National Ocean Service (NOS). In December of that year, the Office of Charting and Geodetic Services was created within the new National Ocean Service to better focus on charting and geodetic activities, re-establishing the former C&GS acronym. Then in 1991, the office was renamed to its former 1878 name of Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Under the U.S. Government's 1994 streamlining process, C&GS was disestablished, but its former subordinate divisions were elevated to the status of Office under the National Ocean Service. Thus the former Nautical Charting Division became the present Office of Coast Survey (OCS), which is responsible for NOAA's mapping and charting, programs, rendering national leadership in these scientific and technical areas.

The United States claims 12 nautical miles for its territorial sea and 200 nautical miles fisheries jurisdiction and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the exploration and management of both living and nonliving marine resources. This vast area covers approximately 3.4 million nautical square miles. OCS provides accurate and timely nautical charts, maps, and related products for the coastal and adjacent ocean areas of the United States (including possessions and territories), the Great Lakes, other inland navigable waters, for the safety and efficiency of marine transportation and commerce, offshore engineering projects, naval operations, and recreational activities.

OCS is responsible for satisfying the requirements of the United States for marine navigation information to facilitate the electronic integration of accurate chart data, Global Positioning Reference Systems, and real-time tide, current, and environmental information. This information is fundamental to efficient navigaton for the safety of life and property. The Nation's commerce, of which 98% by weight is waterborne, will move with greater efficiencies as data bases supporting navigation information systems provide mariners, engineers, managers, scientists, and environmentalists with basic layers of important and critical navigational information and related geographic information at the touch of a button.

OCS processes marine mapping and charting data obtained from many other sources in addition to the basic hydrographic survey data used to produce the approximately 1,000 nautical charts and 9 volumes of Coast Pilot publications. The update cycle for nautical charts is as often as every 6 months or as infrequently as 12 years for remote areas. The average revision interval per nautical chart is about 2 years.

As a part of its national leadership role, OCS provides guidance in mapping and charting procedures. The office assists national, state, and local organizations through a variety of cooperative programs. To judge the value and usefulness of its products and services, the agency maintains close contact with its users. Such contacts are made between OCS personnel and local users during field surveys. The Cooperative Charting Program involving the U.S. Power Squadrons and the Coast Guard Auxiliary provides valuable feedback information on nautical charts. Additional contacts are made through professional organizations, technical conventions, boat shows, and similar activities. Marketing studies are conducted to determine user reactions to existing products and to formulate plans for new products, formats, and coverage.

The United States is an active member of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). OCS, along with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, share responsibilities associated with IHO membership. OCS maintains close contacts with other countries either through the IHO or through nation-to-nation agreements to exchange information, establish international standards, and avoid duplication of effort though joint cooperative projects.

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Revised Friday December 09 2005by OCS Webmaster