91 



Although our production responds to Defense 

 requirements, DMA's statutory (10 USC § 2791-94 and 44 USC 

 § 1336) responsibility to the civil sector requires that we 

 make available to the mariner in general such products as our 

 nautical charts and Notice to Mariners which would enhance 

 maritime safety. We do this now, very effectively, through 

 the commercial sales agent network managed by NOS. This 

 support to the civil sector, and similar support related to 

 Flight Information Publications, represents approximately 13 

 percent of our production effort. 



The production of nautical charts involves the 

 collection of data from many sources. The majority of our 

 charts are based on information received from the national 

 hydrographic authorities of other nations. To facilitate 

 this, DMA shares with NOS the role of National Representative 

 to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) , which 

 gives an inherent benefit of the free exchange of 

 hydrographic information with 58 other countries. Further, 

 all Member States of the IHO collect data and produce charts 

 to agreed international standards, which gives some assurance 

 of quality control. In addition, among the 90 bilateral 

 agreements DMA has in place with co-producing nations for a 

 broad range of its products, 55 include arrangements for 

 nautical program cooperation. 



When surveys of foreign waters are required, DMA 

 normally relies on the Navy for data collection. If the Navy 

 is unable to respond to such a survey request, the Department 

 of Defense may contract with NOS if the waters are not too 

 distant, as was done for hydrography on the Nicaraguan Rise. 

 When surveys for charting purposes are needed of U.S. waters, 

 this is an NOS responsibility and DMA will always request NOS 

 to program action. If, as has been the case in recent years, 

 civil priorities or a lack of resources have prevented timely 



