Reporting of Surface and Subsurface Obstacles
As a UNOLS vessel WECOMA will make every effort to cooperate with the
Office of Naval Research by reporting to the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA)
surface or subsurface obstacles towed or placed by the vessel in the course of
scientific operations. This is done so that military, shipping and fishing
interests may be notified of such obstacles through the Notice to Mariners
system. The procedures for reporting are described here-in. Principal
investigators are requested to provide Ship Operations and/or the Master with
sufficient information to permit timely reporting.
Procedures for Reporting Surface and Subsurface Obstacles
The Defence Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center (DMAHTC) is the point of contact for ship operations that use sonic emmiters, towed devices or explosive charges. Such operations present special hazards to submarine operations and navigation. DMAHTC has agreed to disseminate information concerning underwater hazards as part of the Notice to Mariners system. The intent of the new reporting procedures is to eliminate mutual interference problems and equipment damage between ongoing and planned operations by advising units at sea of surface and subsurface obstacles. The revised Notice To Mariners system relies on the cooperation of the maritime community (military, government and commercial). Timely notification is needed to DMAHTC for all operations that install moored underwater instrumentation, tow or drag devices of any kind, use of sonic emitters or explosives. DMAHTC will disseminate information as follows:
- For moored instrumentation in depths of 300 meters or less (the maximum depth where damage could result from normal fishing operations), information will be broadcast as a radio navigation warning and reprinted in Section III of the Notice to Mariners.
- For depths greater than 300 meters, the information will not be broadcast. Documentation will be forwarded to appropriate Naval Commands for their use.
The DMAHTC point of contact for information and notification is
Defence Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center
Navigation Warnings Department
4600 Sangamore Rd.
Bethesda, MD 20315
(301)227-3149
FAX: (301)227-3731
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