U. S. COAST PILOTS

1. Obtain copy of pertinent section of current COAST PILOT at "http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/ cpdownload.htm" appropriate to your cruising area. Familiarize yourself with this information.

2. Visit areas comparing information in COAST PILOT with observation (s). Note corrections, discrepancies, new details, etc.

3. Edit text in COAST PILOT preserving style, format, etc. Organize your supporting data including edition, volume, page, column, and line to which correction applies on a copy of the "Coast Pilot" worksheet.

4. Log on CCWEB at "https://www.ccweb.noaa.gov/ccweb/" and complete the on-line report. Attach information, corrections, corrected text, new text, photographs, etc. Check all information and promptly submit your report.

Suggested items to check:

  • Aids to Navigation
  • anchorages
  • bridge and cable clearances
  • channels and routes
  • depths
  • ferries and other type of marine traffic
  • geographic names, features and landmarks
  • Hazards to Navigation
  • legal holidays observed locally
  • local and Federal regulations
  • pilotage and towage
  • small-craft facilities, repairs and supplies
  • tides, currents and water levels
  • weather and ice conditions
Some sources of information:
  • local piloting or tugboat firms
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • local harbor/dock masters
  • marine terminal operators
  • local residents and area users

RANGE LINE SURVEYS

Preparation:
1. Obtain nautical charts for areas you wish to work. Select the largest scale charts that cover the areas. (1:20,000 charts are larger scale than 1:40,000).

2. Review the chart(s) and make a list of candidate ranges to survey.

3. Look at "Recent Range Line Surveys" on CCWEB at "https://www.ccweb.noaa.gov/ccweb/PreviousRanges.asp" and delete from your list any candidates that have been reported within the last three years.

In the Field:
4. Using a vessel equipped with a DGPS or WAAS receiver, follow the range line up the channel, keeping the range markers in line visually. Record Latitude and Longitude at the beginning and end of the solid line marking the range on your chart and at intervals of approximately one inch (on your chart) along the way (minimum of four.) Use the greatest precision available.
HINT: Set one of the Range Markers as a waypoint in your GPS and predetermine the distances from this waypoint at which you will take position readings.

Reporting:
5. Express the whole degrees of Latitude with two digits and Longitude to three. Insert leading "0's", if necessary. Insert leading "-" for southern Latitudes and western Longitudes. Convert minutes or minutes and seconds of Latitude and Longitude to decimal fractions of degrees expressed to five decimal places. Place each position on a separate line in a text file using Notepad or equivalent text-editing program. A sample line might look like:
"XX.XXXXX|-0XX.XXXXX|Sample Range"
where the fields are separated by the "pipe" symbol but no spaces.

6. Organize your data by listing the information on a copy of the "Range Line Surveys" worksheet.

7. Log on CCWEB at "https://www.ccweb.noaa.gov/ccweb/" and complete the on-line report.
HINT: If the desired data or its format is unclear, click on a nearby hyperlink for an explanation.
Include any scanned chart section files and any other support files. Check all information and promptly submit your report. (Note: CCWEB will accept only text files with extensions of .dww, .txt and graphic files with extensions of .gif and .jpg).