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Maritime Limits and Boundaries of United States of America

Data Set (DS)  |  Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:39963  |  Updated: October 17, 2023  |  Published / External 
Summary
Item Identification
Keywords
Physical Location
Data Set Info
Support Roles
Extents
Spatial Info
Access Info
Distribution Info
URLs
Activity Log
Tech Environment
Data Quality
Lineage
Child Items
Catalog Details

Summary

Short Citation
Office of Coast Survey, 2024: Maritime Limits and Boundaries of United States of America, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/39963.
Full Citation Examples

Abstract

NOAA is responsible for depicting on its nautical charts the limits of the 12 nautical mile Territorial Sea, 24 nautical mile Contiguous Zone, and 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The outer limit of each of these zones is measured from the U.S. normal baseline, which coincides with the low water line depicted on NOAA charts and includes closing lines across the entrances of legal bays and rivers, consistent with international law. The U.S. baseline and associated maritime limits are reviewed and approved through the interagency U.S. Baseline Committee, which is chaired by the U.S. Department of State. The Committee serves the function of gaining interagency consensus on the proper location of the baseline using the provisions of the 1958 Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, to ensure that the seaward extent of U.S. maritime zones do not exceed the breadth that is permitted by international law. In 2002 and in response to mounting requests for digital maritime zones, NOAA launched a project to re-evaluate the U.S. baseline in partnership with other federal agencies via the U.S. Baseline Committee. The focus of the baseline evaluation was NOAA's largest scale, most recent edition nautical charts as well as supplemental source materials for verification of certain charted features. This dataset is a result of the 2002-present initiative and reflects a multi-year iterative project whereby the baseline and associated maritime limits were re-evaluated on a state or regional basis. In addition to the U.S. maritime limits, the U.S. maritime boundaries with opposite or adjacent countries as well as the US/Canada International Boundary (on land and through the Great Lakes) are also included in this dataset.

Distribution Information

Access Constraints:

None

Use Constraints:

NOT FOR LEGAL USE. These limits and boundaries were created for internal purposes only to update the charted maritime limits and maritime boundaries on NOAA charts. These limits and boundaries do not represent the official depiction. For official depiction, please see NOAA's paper or raster nautical charts.

Controlled Theme Keywords

boundaries, National Geospatial Data Asset, NGDA, planningCadastre, Water Oceans and Coasts Theme

Child Items

Type Title
Entity Maritime Limits and Boundaries

Contact Information

Point of Contact
Tara Wallace
tara.wallace@noaa.gov

Metadata Contact
Kurt Nelson
kurt.a.nelson@noaa.gov
301-713-2645 x142

Extents

Geographic Area 1

140° W, -60° E, 74.70884° N, -17.555° S

Time Frame 1
2002 - 2010

Item Identification

Title: Maritime Limits and Boundaries of United States of America
Short Name: MB_ParentDataset
Status: Completed
Creation Date: 2002
Revision Date: 2020
Publication Date: 2013-09-13
Abstract:

NOAA is responsible for depicting on its nautical charts the limits of the 12 nautical mile Territorial Sea, 24 nautical mile Contiguous Zone, and 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The outer limit of each of these zones is measured from the U.S. normal baseline, which coincides with the low water line depicted on NOAA charts and includes closing lines across the entrances of legal bays and rivers, consistent with international law. The U.S. baseline and associated maritime limits are reviewed and approved through the interagency U.S. Baseline Committee, which is chaired by the U.S. Department of State. The Committee serves the function of gaining interagency consensus on the proper location of the baseline using the provisions of the 1958 Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, to ensure that the seaward extent of U.S. maritime zones do not exceed the breadth that is permitted by international law. In 2002 and in response to mounting requests for digital maritime zones, NOAA launched a project to re-evaluate the U.S. baseline in partnership with other federal agencies via the U.S. Baseline Committee. The focus of the baseline evaluation was NOAA's largest scale, most recent edition nautical charts as well as supplemental source materials for verification of certain charted features. This dataset is a result of the 2002-present initiative and reflects a multi-year iterative project whereby the baseline and associated maritime limits were re-evaluated on a state or regional basis. In addition to the U.S. maritime limits, the U.S. maritime boundaries with opposite or adjacent countries as well as the US/Canada International Boundary (on land and through the Great Lakes) are also included in this dataset.
Purpose:

The primary purpose of this dataset is to update the official depiction of these maritime zones and maritime boundaries on NOAA's nautical charts. The limits of these zones are subject to modification, as represented on future charts. The limits shown on the most recent chart edition take precedence.
Notes:

1534
Supplemental Information:

For more detailed information about specific regional limits and boundaries, refer to the supplemental information documents.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
ISO 19115 Topic Category
boundaries
ISO 19115 Topic Category
planningCadastre
NGDA Portfolio Themes
National Geospatial Data Asset
NGDA Portfolio Themes
NGDA
NGDA Portfolio Themes
Water Oceans and Coasts Theme
UNCONTROLLED
Geospatial Platform OceanCommunity
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category Marine Boundaries
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category Nautical Charting
None Boundary
None Contiguous Zone
None Exclusive Economic Zone
None Federal Register, Vol 60, No. 163, August 23, 1995
None GIS
None ICJ Judgment, Gulf of Maine, 1984
None International Boundary Commission
None Law of the Sea
None Limit
None Maritime
None Polyline
None Presidential Proclamation No. 5030, March 1983
None Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, December 1988
None Presidential Proclamation No. 7219, August 1999
None Territorial Sea
None US/Cook Islands Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1980
None US/Cuba Maritime Boundary Agreement, 1977
None US/Japan Exchange of Notes, 1994
None US/Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1970
None US/Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1978
None US/New Zealand (Tokelau) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1980
None US/Niue Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1997
None US/Russia Maritime Boundary Agreement, 1990
None US/UK (Anguilla) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1993
None US/UK (British Virgin Islands) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1993
None US/Venezuela Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1978

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
Geographic Names Information System Alabama
Geographic Names Information System Alaska
Geographic Names Information System American Samoa
Geographic Names Information System Baker Island
Geographic Names Information System California
Geographic Names Information System Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic Names Information System Delaware
Geographic Names Information System Florida
Geographic Names Information System Georgia
Geographic Names Information System Guam
Geographic Names Information System Hawaii
Geographic Names Information System Howland Island
Geographic Names Information System Jarvis Island
Geographic Names Information System Johnston Atoll
Geographic Names Information System Kingman Reef
Geographic Names Information System Louisiana
Geographic Names Information System Maine
Geographic Names Information System Maryland
Geographic Names Information System Massachusetts
Geographic Names Information System Mississippi
Geographic Names Information System New Hampshire
Geographic Names Information System New Jersey
Geographic Names Information System New York
Geographic Names Information System North Carolina
Geographic Names Information System Oregon
Geographic Names Information System Palmyra Atoll
Geographic Names Information System Puerto Rico
Geographic Names Information System Rhode Island
Geographic Names Information System South Carolina
Geographic Names Information System Texas
Geographic Names Information System U.S. Virgin Islands
Geographic Names Information System Virginia
Geographic Names Information System Wake Island
Geographic Names Information System Washington

Physical Location

Organization: Office of Coast Survey
City: Silver Spring
State/Province: MD

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Maintenance Frequency: Continually
Data Presentation Form: vector digital data
Distribution Liability:

Users must assume responsibility to determine the appropriate use of this data set. The digital maritime limits are not to be used for a legal definition. The legal definition still remains the depiction on NOAA's nautical charts.

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 493436
Date Effective From: 2013-09-13
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Wallace, Tara
Email Address: tara.wallace@noaa.gov

Distributor

CC ID: 493438
Date Effective From: 2013-09-13
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Address: 1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
URL: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 493439
Date Effective From: 2013-09-13
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Nelson, Kurt
Email Address: kurt.a.nelson@noaa.gov
Phone: 301-713-2645 x142

Point of Contact

CC ID: 493437
Date Effective From: 2013-09-13
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Wallace, Tara
Email Address: tara.wallace@noaa.gov

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 493442
W° Bound: 140
E° Bound: -60
N° Bound: 74.70884
S° Bound: -17.555

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 493441
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2002
End: 2010

Spatial Information

Spatial Representation

Representations Used

Vector: Yes

Vector Representation 1

CC ID: 587942
Curve Object Present?: Yes
Curve Object Count: 367

Reference Systems

Reference System 1

CC ID: 1270220

Coordinate Reference System
CRS Type: Geographic 2D
EPSG Code: EPSG:4326
EPSG Name: WGS 84
▾ See Full Coordinate Reference System Information

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Constraints:

None
Data Use Constraints:

NOT FOR LEGAL USE. These limits and boundaries were created for internal purposes only to update the charted maritime limits and maritime boundaries on NOAA charts. These limits and boundaries do not represent the official depiction. For official depiction, please see NOAA's paper or raster nautical charts.

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 493445
Download URL: https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MaritimeBoundaries/US_Maritime_Limits_Boundaries/MapServer/
Distributor: Office of Coast Survey (OCS) (2013-09-13 - Present)
Description:

Downloadable Data
File Type (Deprecated): ESRI REST service
Distribution Format: ESRI REST Service
Application Version: 10.1

Distribution 2

CC ID: 493444
Download URL: https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/arcgis/services/MaritimeBoundaries/US_Maritime_Limits_Boundaries/MapServer/WMSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS
Distributor: Office of Coast Survey (OCS) (2013-09-13 - Present)
Description:

Downloadable Data
File Type (Deprecated): Web Mapping Service
Distribution Format: WMS - Web Map Service
Application Version: 1.3.0

Distribution 3

CC ID: 493443
Download URL: https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/downloads/USMaritimeLimitsAndBoundariesKML.kmz
Distributor: Office of Coast Survey (OCS) (2013-09-13 - Present)
Description:

Downloadable Data
File Type (Deprecated): KML
Distribution Format: KML/KMZ - Keyhole Markup Language

Distribution 4

CC ID: 493446
Download URL: https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/downloads/USMaritimeLimitsAndBoundariesSHP.zip
Distributor: Office of Coast Survey (OCS) (2013-09-13 - Present)
Description:

Downloadable Data
File Type (Deprecated): SHP (ESRI Shapefile)
Distribution Format: Shapefile

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 493434
URL: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data/us-maritime-limits-and-boundaries.html
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

Project website

Activity Log

Activity Log 1

CC ID: 493516
Activity Date/Time: 2016-09-01
Description:

Date that the source FGDC record was last modified.

Activity Log 2

CC ID: 493515
Activity Date/Time: 2017-04-05
Description:

Converted from FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version FGDC-STD-001-1998) using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml.pl' script. Contact Tyler Christensen (NOS) for details.

Activity Log 3

CC ID: 587940
Activity Date/Time: 2017-09-13
Description:

Partial upload of Spatial Info section only.

Activity Log 4

CC ID: 601795
Activity Date/Time: 2017-11-01
Description:

Replaced entire Lineage section to populate new Source Contribution field.

Activity Log 5

CC ID: 718979
Activity Date/Time: 2018-02-08
Description:

Partial upload of Positional Accuracy fields only.

Technical Environment

Description:

Caris Law of the Sea: Limits and Boundaries v.4.0 Service Pack 6 and v. 4.1; Esri ArcGIS Desktop 10.2.1+; Microsoft Windows 10

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Due to software and process limitations, this dataset does not contain attributes that speak to the issue of accuracy. The accuracy of this dataset is dependent on the map resolution created in CARIS LOTS, the chart scale used to derive the baseline from which the maritime limits are measured, and coordinate precision of maritime boundary coordinates that are defined in treaties or in the 1995 Federal Register Notice.
Horizontal Positional Accuracy:

No specific test was performed on the dataset. The maritime limits are a reflection of the largest scale raster nautical charts of the area. The number of decimal places used in the output format does not imply an accuracy level higher than the source chart documents.
Vertical Positional Accuracy:

The maritime limits are projected from salient points along a designated baseline, which is generally referred to as the farthest seaward low-water mark depicted on the largest scale, most recent edition raster nautical charts. When necessary, hydrographic surveys were referenced to ensure the depiction of certain rocks on NOAA's nautical charts dry at mean lower low water. Beyond utilizing the tidally-referenced shoreline depicted on NOAA's nautical charts, no specific test was used to determine the vertical accuracy of the points.
Completeness Report:

This dataset is complete. Maritime limits are ambulatory; therefore, the limits may be updated at a later date if the charted depictions of the farthest seaward low-water mark changes. In addition, the maritime boundaries portion of this dataset may be updated if a new maritime boundary agreement is established or revised.
Conceptual Consistency:

The maritime limits reflect the baseline as depicted on relevant largest scale, most recent edition raster nautical charts of the area. They are believed to be logically consistent.

Lineage

Sources

Geographical Positions along the International Boundary (NAD83)

CC ID: 601797
Contact Role Type: Publisher
Contact Type: Organization
Contact Name: International Boundary Commission
Extent Type: Range
Extent Start Date/Time: 1915
Extent End Date/Time: 1986
Citation URL: http://www.internationalboundarycommission.org/en/maps-coordinates.php
Citation URL Description:

Link to report.
Source Contribution:

US/Canada international boundary polyline was constructed using published coordinates from the US/Canada International Boundary Commission. The polyline was used as a source of this dataset. The boundary was merged with OCS' published maritime limits and maritime boundaries and further attributed | Source Geospatial Form: Text | Type of Source Media: online

Merged Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries

CC ID: 601798
Contact Name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Extent Type: Discrete
Extent Start Date/Time: 2010
Source Contribution:

Single dataset in WGS84 of digital state/regional maritime limits, created by merging published ESRI Shapefiles from NOAA's Office of Coast Survey website. Dataset was merged with the US/Canada international boundary to create the approved US maritime limits and boundaries dataset. | Source Geospatial Form: geodatabase feature class | Type of Source Media: online

Nautical Charts

CC ID: 601801
Contact Role Type: Publisher
Contact Type: Organization
Contact Name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Extent Type: Continuing
Extent Start Date/Time: 2011
Citation URL: http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
Citation URL Description:

Link to data source.
Source Contribution:

NOAA's Nautical charts are used to derive the US baseline, which incorporates the charted low-water line and closing lines across entrances to legal bays, rivers, and harbors. The most recent edition, largest scale nautical charts are used as a source of the baseline. | Source Geospatial Form: raster digital data | Type of Source Media: chart

Regional Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries

CC ID: 601796
Contact Name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Publish Date: 2011-05-01
Extent Type: Range
Extent Start Date/Time: 2002
Extent End Date/Time: 2010
Source Contribution:

The limits of the 12 nautical mile Territorial Sea, 24 nautical mile Contiguous Zone, and 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone as well as the maritime boundaries were published in vector digital data format on a state or region basis between 2002 and 2010. These previously published regional data were used as source for this dataset. They were compiled together and further attributed. | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: Vector digital data

US Baseline Committee Approved Maritime Limits and Boundaries

CC ID: 601800
Contact Name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Publish Date: 2011-05-01
Extent Type: Continuing
Extent Start Date/Time: 2011
Source Contribution:

Digital US maritime limits, maritime boundaries, and international boundaries were approved by the interagency US Baseline Committee. Dataset is continually revised based on changes to nautical charts or by special request. | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: vector digital data

US/Canada international Boundary

CC ID: 601799
Contact Name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Extent Type: Discrete
Extent Start Date/Time: 2010
Source Contribution:

Polylines of the US/Canada international boundary contructed from coordinates obtained from the IBC. Polylines combined with maritime limits to created the approved US maritime limits and boundaries dataset. | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: online

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 601802
Description:

From 2002 to 2010, the interagency U.S. Baseline Committee re-evaluated the U.S. baseline and associated maritime limits as depicted on NOAA charts on a state or regional basis. As a result of this multiple year, iterative project, digital state/regional maritime limits, including the 200nm EEZ, were produced and published in ESRI Shapefile format on NOAA\x92s Office of Coast Survey website. To create a seamless, continuous maritime limits dataset, OCS did the following: 1) transformed the state/regional digital limits, in SHP format, from NAD83 to WGS84; 2) merged the WGS84 SHP files into a single dataset using ESRI ArcGIS and imported into a file geodatabase; 3) segmented the merged limits according to chart symbology groupings as well as feature type (e.g. maritime boundary, maritime limit, or land boundary) to more closely match NOAA charts; and 4) re-attributed the dataset | Source Produced: Merged Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries
Process Date/Time: 2011-03-01 00:00:00
Source: Regional Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries

Process Step 2

CC ID: 601803
Description:

The coordinates of US/Canada international boundary were obtained from International Boundary Commission in NAD83 and saved into a text file. A point shapefile was created based on the text file in NAD83 and then transformed to WGS84. Polylines were constructed using the point shapefile. All polylines were constructed as rhumb lines, except the following three portions: 1) line segment from 43.631127N, 76.796687W to 43.631127N, 78.690388W; 2) line segment from 41.676561N, 82.397473W to 41.676561N, 82.679716W; 3) line segment in Gulf of Maine ruled by ICJ. These three portions were constructed as geodesic lines. The polylines were segmented according to the grouping of published coordinates on IBC website. New attributes were created and the polyline was attributed. | Source Produced: US/Canada international Boundary
Process Date/Time: 2011-03-01 00:00:00
Source: Geographical Positions along the International Boundary (NAD83)

Process Step 3

CC ID: 601804
Description:

US/Canada international boundaries generated in the second process step were imported into file geodatabase and merged with maritime limits generated in the first process step. Topology rules were established in the file geodatabase to detect overlapping, self-intersecting, and dangling polyline features. Any topological errors flagged by topology check were investigated and corrected when necessary. When a polyline feature spans across -/+180 longitude, ESRI clips the feature at the longitude, resulting in dangling polyline. Topology errors as a result of clipping at 180 longitude were marked as exception. Other topology errors were corrected. The dataset was exported as a shapefile. | Source Produced: US Baseline Committee Approved Maritime Limits and Boundaries
Process Date/Time: 2010-01-01 00:00:00
Source: Merged Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries

Process Step 4

CC ID: 601805
Description:

Maritime limits and boundaries are updated using the most recent edition, largest scale nautical charts. Updates are triggered by a new chart edition, or by a formal request to re-evaluate the baseline. Charts are used as a backdrop in the ESRI ArcMap environment to create vector shorelines and lines closing the entrances to legal bays, rivers, and harbors. These lines are imported to the Caris LOTS environment. The "Enevelope of Arcs from normal baselines" tool is applied to vector shorelines, and the "Envelope of Arcs from straight baselines" tool is applied to closing lines. As input to the tools, OCS selects the limit distance in nautical miles and designates minimum attributes for the baseline points. The tool generates the contributing baseline points and the boundary limit using a wagon-wheel filtering process of rolling a circle with a diameter specified by the limit distance and choosing the seaward-most points along the low water line. Previously approved limits are manually intersected and replaced with the revised limits to create seamless, revised limit lines. Caris generated EOA control lines, which display how baseline points contribute to particular arc segments of the limit line, are used to inform the manual intersect and replace function. The final dataset is exported from Caris to a shapefile in WGS84, and attributed in the ESRI ArcMap environment.
Process Date/Time: 2013-01-01 00:00:00
Source: US Baseline Committee Approved Maritime Limits and Boundaries

Child Items

Rubric scores updated every 15m

Rubric Score Type Title
Entity Maritime Limits and Boundaries

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 39963
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:39963
Metadata Record Created By: Tyler Christensen
Metadata Record Created: 2017-04-05 13:49+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2023-10-17 16:12+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2018-12-14
Owner Org: OCS
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2018-12-14
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2019-12-14