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Wrecks and Obstructions

Metadata Updated: October 31, 2024

Ship wrecks and obstructions in the ocean have long been a hazard to navigation and construction, and a point of interest to archeologist, recreational divers, fisherman, educators and explorers. Locating hazardous wrecks and obstructions is part of the ongoing NOAA charting process. The exact position of many wrecks is difficult to determine because of changes in the environment, varied survey methods, and human error. Some wrecks are intentionally placed in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs or for disposal. Others pose a health and environmental threat from their cargo. Ownership and control over wrecks and obstructions is governed by a collection of state and federal regulations, the Abandoned Shipwreck Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

These data are a synthesis of two sources - the NOAA Office of Coast Survey's 2016 Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System (AWOIS), and the NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). Not included were those records that were clearly identified as natural features such as rocks, shoals, and trees. Features are recorded as either a wreck, wreck area, obstruction, or unknown.

Access & Use Information

License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Date August 15, 2024
Metadata Created Date October 31, 2024
Metadata Updated Date October 31, 2024
Reference Date(s) August 14, 2023 (publication)
Frequency Of Update notPlanned

Metadata Source

Harvested from NOS OCM

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Date August 15, 2024
Metadata Created Date October 31, 2024
Metadata Updated Date October 31, 2024
Reference Date(s) August 14, 2023 (publication)
Responsible Party NOAA Office for Coastal Management (Point of Contact)
Contact Email
Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:70439
Access Constraints Cite As: Office for Coastal Management, [Date of Access]: Wrecks and Obstructions [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/70439., Use Constraints: For coastal and ocean planning, Distribution Liability: https://www.marinecadastre.gov/about/disclaimer.html
Bbox East Long 179.3
Bbox North Lat 71.4
Bbox South Lat -14.4
Bbox West Long -178.4
Coupled Resource
Frequency Of Update notPlanned
Harvest Object Id c8c69cf7-69b8-4e35-887c-4a1296c8318a
Harvest Source Id c0121fd9-df15-4168-ac04-42f6e36a794d
Harvest Source Title NOS OCM
Licence NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.
Lineage
Metadata Language eng
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-178.4, -14.4], [179.3, -14.4], [179.3, 71.4], [-178.4, 71.4], [-178.4, -14.4]]]}
Progress completed
Spatial Data Service Type
Spatial Reference System EPSG::4269
Spatial Harvester True

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