WHAT IS COOPERATIVE CHARTING?

Cooperative Charting is the name of the program of civic service performed by the United States Power Squadrons in cooperation with the National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Program is conducted and administered cooperatively by the Marine Chart Division of the National Ocean Service (NOS) and the national USPS Cooperative Charting Committee.

The Program is a major public service of USPS. Under it, USPS members supply information to the Marine Chart division of NOS leading to the production “of accurate and up-to-date nautical and aeronautical charts” and related publications, and the preservation of geodetic control stations in the National Geodetic Reference System.

HOW DOES USPS EFFORTS IN THIS PROGRAM BENEFIT THE PUBLIC?

USPS members act as field observers for NOAA. They are uniquely suited to this role because of the outstanding education and training they receive through the USPS educational program. As the number of official NOAA observers decrease through budget stringency’s, USPS members report on many items that would otherwise go undetected and unreported. Many of these reports are of a critical nature requiring immediate distribution through the Coast Guard’s broadcasted and published ‘Local Notice To Mariners’. Without these USPS observations, many hazards would go undetected until tragedy strikes through a nautical mishap. Thus, USPS members save lives and property, as well as furthering boating safety through these efforts to improve the quality of our nations charts. The Cooperative Charting Program is a highly successful, public service effort dedicated to the advancement of safety on the water for both the boating public and USPS members.

HOW DO I JOIN COOPERATIVE CHARTING?

If you’d like to learn more about Cooperative Charting visit our national CoCh page

I’VE JOINED THE EFFORT BUT, HOW DO I SUBMIT AN INSPECTION REPORT?

To submit a report of inspection follow the directions in this document.

With thanks to the Poverty Bay Power Squadron in Washington State for the detailed information.