Page 32: of Marine News Magazine (July 2021)

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Navigation age that,” explained Julia Powell, Chief of the Navigation complete the process of canceling all traditional paper and

Services Division, Of? ce of Coast Survey. raster nautical chart products by Jan 2025,” Powell said.

NOAA received more than 430 comments, Powell said. With no access to public comments, it’s hard to assess

About 70% were from recreational boaters, 20% from profes- industry’s top concerns and suggestions and whether that sional mariners, and the remaining from other sources, such information is in? uencing implementation. As with all as maritime educational institutions and other government big projects, there are outstanding issues and unanswered agencies. Over half of the comments supported the continu- questions. Maybe the biggest question: is the USCG a ation of paper charts, especially as backup for e-charts. Powell participant in the sunsetting project, or standing by as an added that there were “several comments” conveying “satis- observer? Yes, NVIC 01-16 is a critical document. But it faction with the use of NOAA ENCs and the advantages of wasn’t issued as part of NOAA’s sunsetting.

focusing efforts on improving this digital chart product.” During NOAA’s recent webinars, questions came up

Regarding the many references to keeping paper charts, about NOAA and USCG teamwork. One participant

Powell emphasized that the e-chart move still makes paper asked, for example, about USCG-approved custom POD charts accessible via the new NOAA Custom Chart app. (print on demand) charts. NOAA’s reply: “That is a good

Overall, the project is on schedule. “We fully expect to question for which we don’t have an answer. We are look- ing into what it would take to make a carriage compliant,

NOAA custom chart.” Another person asked about petro- leum transport and charting. NOAA’s reply was a general reference to NVIC 01-16.

NOAA added that the Coast Guard is “presently work- ing on preliminary steps that will result in new regulations related to the use of electronic navigational charts,” likely ready in about a year. In response to a question about the

Light List NOAA mentioned a NOAA-CG effort at “har- monization,” underway now, pertaining to updated water- way references. NOAA’s 2019 Sunsetting document tells that NOAA and the Coast Guard are “currently discussing if and what paper chart carriage the USCG may have in the future.” Those discussions are ongoing.

After one question NOAA staff remarked that the we- binar attendee list included several participants from the

Coast Guard. Hopefully, NOAA’s staff commented, “they will take note of (the) question.”

With a new program, nobody expects all the answers at start up. But regulated businesses, facing inspection and enforcement, want to avoid policy zigs and zags and con? icting timelines. In fact, e-chart development seems active on a number of fronts – “harmonization,” new car- riage allowances – not just the sunsetting process. People expect interagency teamwork.

In 2020, the American Waterways Operators, sent com- ments to NOAA on sunsetting.

AWO suggested that NOAA “strategically sequence” the transition from paper to ENC products “for those (com- 32 | MN July 2021