1SR Chart Updating Program

The Chart Updating program encourages the update of every NOAA Chart by any Auxiliarist. There are no restrictions and any member can make Chart Updating reports to NOAA for any problems found on any chart.  “The Auxiliary may also help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in updating nautical charts and publications.” (Excerpted from Chapter 2, Section B3 of the Auxiliary Manual.) All changes to Aids to Navigation are automatically sent to NOAA by the Coast Guard. NOAA looks for our help for identifying of all other changes. We also provide NOAA with updates to the Coast Pilot, and the the Small Craft Facility tables on the small craft charts.

 Construction or demolition of major landmarks should be reported so that charts can be updated to reflect the change. These reports should always include full documentation, including photographs and GPS Lat/Lon readings, to verify the exact location of the landmark.  A simple one paragraph report is never enough. NOAA need enough supporting information with your report to let them know that you know what you are doing, and that your information is complete and accurate. Only then can they add your information to the chart. Newspaper articles, engineering drawings and Google Earth printouts are examples of documentation that helps verify your information.

A new reward system: NOAA has agreed to supply replacement Nautical Charts.  The only stipulation is that the Auxiliarist must submit a Chart Update report that is usable to NOAA, and the report must have an attached chartlet. Since the DSO-NS performs a quality control check on all chart update reports before they are forwarded to NOAA, any sub-grade reports will be returned to the reporter for corrections and not sent to NOAA.