Our Clients

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) develops and maintains a variety of products and services designed to meet the exclusive needs of all its clients. These clients include:

● Commercial Shippers

Hydrographic surveys and the resulting navigation charts and other publications are an integral part of Canada's economic development. The sea routes are made safe by having them surveyed for the draft of shipping likely to transit the areas.  In Canadian waters, marine transportation is regulated by the Canada Shipping Act.  This act specifically requires all vessels to carry and keep up-to-date CHS charts and related publications.

● Recreational Boaters

● Fishers

The fishing industry is of great importance to CHS.

• Commercial fishermen are interested in hydrographic information not only for the safe navigation of their fishing fleet, but also as a tool to increase their production.  CHS must provide information on contours, bottom classification, etc.  Other Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) programs are looking to CHS technology applications in developing alternate methods of assessing fish populations and migrations. 
• Special nautical charts have been developed exclusively for recreational fishing and boating.  The demand for electronic charts (ECs) is also increasing. 

● Canada's Defence

CHS provides hydrographic services to DND (Department of National Defence) and to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) countries through various agreements. In addition to regular navigation information, special surveys and charts are required for special defence purposes such as mine countermeasure warfare, anti-submarine warfare and submarine navigation.

● Climate Change

Information collected by the Permanent Water Level Gauging network of CHS is essential to measure sea level rise, an important aspect of climate change, and an important parameter in terms of society.

● Oil, Gas and Mineral Exploration

CHS has a significant role to play in providing data to the offshore petroleum industry. It requires precise measurements and accurate forecasts of sea and lake levels, currents, tides, bottom contours, and bottom types.

● Marine Environmental Protection

Groups responsible for environmental protection in the event of marine oil spill or similar disaster must have a detailed knowledge of the surface water movements in order to respond effectively. Expertise with respect to surface water movement resides within CHS. There is a further requirement to systematically collect and manage data for spill response purposes. These data are used to produce sensitivity maps of marine areas where oil or chemical spills may occur.

● Exploration of Natural Resources

CHS has a significant role to play in providing data to the offshore petroleum industry. It requires precise measurements and accurate forecasts of sea and lake levels, currents, tides, bottom contours, and bottom types.

● Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR)

When a marine search is initiated, the rescuers must have up to date charts, Tide and Current Tables, and Sailing Directions. CHS survey craft have the dual task of also being active SAR vessels.

This site is maintained by the Canadian Hydrographic Service.