These data show the boundaries for select vessel routing measures in U.S. waters. These measures are part of an international ships routing system established by the IMO. Routing systems are systems of predetermined routes and related measures that are recommended for use by, and may be made mandatory for, all ships, certain categories of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes when adopted and implemented in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the [IMO] and are designed to contribute to the safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation, and/or protection of the marine environment. SOLAS Chapter V, reg. 10, para. 1. For coastal and ocean planning. Not for navigation.

Regulated Navigation Areas (RNA) as outlined in 33 CFR Part 165 are established to regulate vessels and their movement within a specific area. The District Commander can issue an RNA to control vessel traffic in a place determined to have hazardous conditions. RNAs usually prescribe what type or size of vessels may enter an area or in what manner they must navigate. RNAs differ from Safety and Security Zones in two respects. First, only District Commanders are authorized to establish RNAs while Coast Guard Captains of the Port may not. Second, Safety and Security Zones are typically transitory in nature, responsive to a temporary safety or security concern on the water. They are meant to control access to an area, but they could also be used to control access based on compliance with specified temporary operating conditions within the Safety or Security Zone necessary for the purpose of the zones creation. RNAs are usually created where a more permanent solution to a safety or environmental concern is required. They principally regulate the operation of vessels permitted inside the area, but may also establish control of access to an area if necessary.

The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) has been involved in the development of a NOAA Electronic Navigational Chart (NOAA ENC) suite to support the marine transportation infrastructure and coastal management for a number of years. The NOAA ENC will support all types of marine navigation by providing the official database for electronic charting systems (ECS), including the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). NOAA ENCs support real-time navigation as well as collision and grounding avoidance needs of the mariner, and accommodate a real-time tide and current display capability that is essential for large vessel navigation. NOAA ENCs will also provide fully integrated vector base maps for use in geographic information systems (GIS) that are used for coastal management or other purposes. The NOAA ENCs are in the International Hydrographic Office (IHO) S-57 international exchange format and comply with the ENC Product Specification.

This data set contains vector polygons depicting locations for anchorages, vector lines depicting locations for shipping lanes and ferry routes, and vector points depicting locations for beach access locations, boat ramps, ferry locations, marinas, and ports in North Carolina. Location-specific type and source information are stored in associated data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set is a portion of the ESI data for North Carolina. As a whole, the ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil, and include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the PARKS/MANAGED AREAS (POINTS and POLYGONS), NAVIGATION/MARINE (POINTS and POLYGONS), POLITICAL/JURISDICTIONAL (LINES and POLYGONS), RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (POINTS and POLYGONS), and NAT_HAZARD (POLYGONS) data layers for additional human-use information.

These data show the location of ocean observing assets within U.S. waters, and the physical parameters generally collected at each platform or gauge.

These data represent the boundaries of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) eleven regional associations (RAs). There are thousands of ocean observing tools in use every day-satellites in orbit, gliders, buoys, high-frequency radar, sharks with satellite tags, sensors on the ocean floor, and more operated by different organizations and researchers. IOOS, a national-regional partnership, gathers and integrates many of those data streams and makes those observations compatible and accessible by science, industry, government, and citizens. RAs design regional coastal observing systems to meet the unique needs of the regional environment and stakeholders. The eleven IOOS RAs maintain and operate regional coastal observing systems and develop information products for their users. The RAs provide increased observations, distinctive knowledge, and critical technological abilities, and apply these towards the development of products to meet regional and local needs

These data show the general location of commercial and research submarine cables within U.S. waters. The majority of these cables are for telecommunications, and the remaining are for power transmission. The geographic footprint for each cable may vary and is dependent on the original source data. In the nearshore, cables are routinely buried below the seabed. In the offshore, they are placed directly on the seabed. A submarine cable area may contain one or more physical cables. 30 CFR 585.301 defines a minimum 100-foot-wide right of way grant on each side of a cable.

These data show the general location of commercial and research submarine cables within U.S. waters. The majority of these cables are for telecommunications, and the remaining are for power transmission. The geographic footprint for each cable may vary and is dependent on the original source data. In the nearshore, cables are routinely buried below the seabed. In the offshore, they are placed directly on the seabed. A submarine cable area may contain one or more physical cables. 30 CFR 585.301 defines a minimum 100-foot-wide right of way grant on each side of a cable.

This data set contains vector points depicting locations for access, anchorage, boat ramps, diving sites, locks and dams, marinas, and ports in Northwest Peninsular Florida. As a whole, the ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil, and include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. The entirety of the ESI Human-Use data layers consists of: PARKS-MANAGED AREAS Polygons; NAVIGATION-MARINE Points; POLITICAL-JURISDICTIONAL Polygons, Points; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Polygons, Points; SOCECON Polygons, Lines, Points; and NATURAL HAZARD Polygons.

This dataset represents US states and equivalent territorial units which have at least one coastal border.