Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§892 Definitions

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 17— - NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - NOAA HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES › § 892

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

It defines key words used in this part. "Administrator" means the person who leads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Administration" means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Hydrographic data" means information collected by surveys and measurements—like depth and shoreline surveys, remote sensing, geodetic/geospatial/geomagnetic readings, and tide, water-level, or current observations—that is used for hydrographic work. "Hydrographic services" means managing, analyzing, certifying, and sharing that data and making charts, databases, models, and related systems. "Coast and Geodetic Survey Act" refers to the law approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.).

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §892

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this subchapter:
(1)The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2)The term “Administration” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3)The term “hydrographic data” means information that—
(A)is acquired through—
(i)hydrographic, bathymetric, photogrammetric, lidar, radar, remote sensing, or shoreline and other ocean- and coastal-related surveying;
(ii)geodetic, geospatial, or geomagnetic measurements;
(iii)tide, water level, and current observations; or
(iv)other methods; and
(B)is used in providing hydrographic services.
(4)The term “hydrographic services” means—
(A)the management, maintenance, interpretation, certification, and dissemination of bathymetric, hydrographic, shoreline, geodetic, geospatial, geomagnetic, and tide, water level, and current information, including the production of nautical charts, nautical information databases, hydrodynamic forecast and datum transformation models, and other products derived from hydrographic data;
(B)the development of nautical information systems; and
(C)related activities.
(5)The term “Coast and Geodetic Survey Act” means the Act entitled “An Act to define the functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and for other purposes”, approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title III of Pub. L. 105–384, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3454, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this title to the Code, see

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of 1998 Amendment note set out under section 851 of this title and Tables. Act of August 6, 1947, referred to in par. (5), is act Aug. 6, 1947, ch. 504, 61 Stat. 787, which is classified generally to subchapter II of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

2022—Par. (4)(A). Pub. L. 117–263 inserted “hydrodynamic forecast and datum transformation models,” after “nautical information databases,”. 2008—Pars. (3) to (5). Pub. L. 110–386, which directed the amendment of section “303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892)” by adding pars. (3) to (5) and striking out former pars. (3) to (5), was executed to this section, which is section 302 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, pars. (3) to (5) defined the terms “hydrographic data”, “hydrographic services”, and “Act of 1947”, respectively. 2002—Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–372, § 102(1), inserted “, geospatial, or geomagnetic” after “geodetic”. Par. (4). Pub. L. 107–372, § 102(2), inserted “geospatial, geomagnetic,” after “geodetic,”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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For

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of this subchapter as the “Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998”, see section 301 of Pub. L. 105–384, set out as a

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of 1998 Amendment note under section 851 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 892

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73