1. Publishing Survey Quality – CATZOC on the ENC
Effects on
Hydrographic Survey Efforts, Data Partnerships, and Blue Economy in US Ports and Waterways.
CDR Olivia Hauser, NOAA, Rachel Medley, CDR Briana Hillstrom, NOAA, Lucy Hick
Publishing Survey Quality: CATZOC on the ENC
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey

2. This has changed shipping traffic and movement across the country
CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
Industry has pushed for CATZOC to be assessed and applied to all US charts
Shipping companies and insurance agencies are using it as risk management tools for underkeel clearance allowances
This has changed shipping traffic and movement across the country
NOAA has assigned all charts a CATZOC which has highlighted areas of concern, and has spurred closer partnerships with data providers
Publishing Survey Quality: CATZOC on the ENC
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey

3. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
S-57 attribute:
quality of the hydrographic data used to update the bathymetry and bathymetric features on the ENC.
seafloor coverage
positional accuracy (horizontal uncertainty)
depth accuracy (vertical uncertainty)
feature detection and identification.
This information used to be housed in a source diagram (As is shown on the right). Source diagrams provided the mariner the vintage of the survey that contributed to the chart, and by proxy some of the accuracy of the data, but it was pretty crude. Used for voyage planning, but was not very precise.
Publishing Survey Quality: CATZOC on the ENC
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey

4. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
A1 is the highest and D is the lowest
NOAA commissioned surveys are A1 (with some exceptions)
Challenges in assessing CATZOC for external source data
Biggest concerns: Depth accuracy and feature search and identification

5. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
Hydrographic Survey Considerations and Limitations
CATZOC categories line up (mostly) with IHO S-44 hydrographic data quality categories but no direct crossover
S-44 Special order and 1a : meet CATZOC A1
S-44 Order 1b and Order 2 : meet CATZOC B
CATZOC A2 does not have and S-44 equivalent
Some navigation areas warrant more stringent requirements.
How is that info conveyed to the ENC?

6. Charting Considerations and Limitations:
CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
Charting Considerations and Limitations:
CATZOC assessment is currently a manual process
Every survey is assessed individually
The S-57 value is static
Changing or dynamic seafloor
Harbor prone to anthropogenic seafloor debris
Major marine event (earthquake, hurricane, tsunami)
IHO Data Quality Working Group has been addressing.
Charting standards are moving from S-57 to S-100; which has a temporal component.
IHO S-44 (hydrographic standards) are also under review and revision

7. History of CATZOC on NOAA ENCs
2001: NOAA’s first ENC was created all CATZOC was designated U (Unassessed)
2012: CATZOC designation updated on US ENCs as new surveys were reviewed and compiled
2017: All US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) data on US ENCs is designated CATZOC B
2018: NOAA works with USACE to upgrade CATZOC in DE Bay and other ports

8. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
When CATZOC was (U) unassessed safe passage was delegated to pilots and local authorities
CATZOC on the chart changes that and is drawing attention to where there are high quality surveys and where additional high quality surveys may be needed.
International Standards for Underkeel Clearance
Has changed the large ship traffic patterns for tankers and other commerce in US ports and harbors.

9. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
CATZOC is assessed and applied on a survey by survey basis, which can create some unexpected mismatches in CATZOC
Most mismatches are between USACE federally maintained channels and the waters surrounding the channel.
Pinole Shoal Channel (Entrance to San Francisco)
Publishing Survey Quality: CATZOC on the ENC
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey

10. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
US Army Corps of Engineer’s mission:
”provide safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems (channels, harbors, and waterways) for movement of commerce, national security needs, and recreation.”
Not the charting authority for coastal and ocean charts
Meet the goals of their mission using many different hydrographic survey techniques (leading to different CATZOCs)
Publishing Survey Quality: CATZOC on the ENC
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey

11. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
seafloor coverage
positional accuracy (horizontal uncertainty)
depth accuracy (vertical uncertainty)
feature detection and identification.
Publishing Survey Quality: CATZOC on the ENC
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey

12. Real world effects of updating CATZOC
Anecdote from Philadelphia Energy Solutions
Controlling depth at the berth is 40’
Prior to CATZOC updates on the chart, ships at 40' used to be brought in all the time.
When channel was classified as CATZOC B, there was now ship lightering to 32-34' due to dynamic draft on a rising tide.
This left up 6 feet of draft on the table, equating to around 150k barrels of oil. 
When channel was classified as CATZOC A2, there is lightering to 36', which could leave 4 feet on the table. At 3 ships per week, k barrels of oil that needs to be lightered. 

13. Information from Pinole Shoal Channel : San Francisco
Real world effects of updating CATZOC
Information from Pinole Shoal Channel : San Francisco

14. NOAA Coast Survey’s approach
Navigation Managers are working directly with USACE districts across the country to collaborate on upgrading CATZOC in the federally maintained channels in their districts
Coast Survey has a draft CATZOC policy:
Addresses change in seafloor over time
Provides a mechanism to upgrade CATZOC values
Plans to be released and on website by FY20

15. CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
Coast Survey is building a bathymetric database to support changing charting needs (presentation later today)
Expand the BAG library to house data quality metadata
Capture S-100 and S-102 data quality standards
Data quality degradation factor to model seafloor change

16. Questions/Comments CATZOC (Category Zone of Confidence)
CDR Olivia Hauser, NOAA