🔍 Key Concepts

• Which U.S. agency is responsible for nautical charting of foreign coasts used by U.S. mariners • Difference between hydrographic/nautical charting and other scientific or military mapping functions • Roles of NOAA / National Ocean Service vs. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Which organization actually publishes the paper and electronic sailing charts carried on commercial vessels for international voyages? • Think about which agency focuses on ocean and coastal science inside U.S. waters versus which one supports global navigation and defense-related charting. • Eliminate the choices that clearly have no primary role in making standard navigational charts for merchant mariners.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which agency is known for producing U.S. coastal charts (including harbors and approaches) for domestic waters. • Check which agency took over the former Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) mission for worldwide nautical charts. • Confirm that Coast Guard and Naval Observatory have important navigation roles, but not the main job of producing civil nautical charts.