The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate and the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System's (CMTS) Future of Navigation Integrated Action Team (IAT), delivered a harmonized geospatial dataset of national waterways to Federal agency members of the CMTS. The new Harmonized Waterway:
- Revolutionizes the delivery of critical Marine Safety Information (MSI) to the mariner by deconflicting and synchronizing names and abbreviations for rivers, bays, and landmarks, which can differ between local, state, and Federal agencies;
- Improves interagency coordination for enhanced waterways management;
- Provides online access to navigational information for U.S. waters; and
- Provides a tool for waterways managers/planners, industry leaders, and researchers to study and monitor our national waterways with implications for marine transportation system (MTS) supply chain, resilience, and safety.