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Canadian Hydrographic Service
The nautical charts, nautical documents and electronic charts produced by
the Canadian Hydrographic Service
(CHS) are essential in light of ever-greater commercial shipping
requirements, important fisheries activity, development of ocean
resources, and the boom in recreational boating.
Moreover, the Canada Shipping Act states that the CHS' charts and
nautical publications are legal documents. The St. Lawrence Seaway is one
of the most heavily used in the world. It is characterised by strong
currents, high tides and the heavy ice formation during winter.
Information on these features shown in CHS' nautical documents is
essential to ensure marine traffic safety.
The Canadian Hydrographic Service at MLI is responsible for approximately
75 nautical charts covering the St. Lawrence River and Estuary, a section
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and certain navigable lakes and rivers in the
province of Québec. The CHS also produces sailing directions and other
nautical documents that complement the nautical charts. Furthermore, the
CHS oversees the annual survey of the Maritime Channel in order to detect
navigational dangers.
In collaboration with the private sector and teaching institutions, CHS
manages the Permanent Water Level Network, which is accessible in
real-time, and helps develop new technologies such as multi-beam sounders
used to obtain a continuous seabed profile. By order of its international
mandate, the CHS is involved in the development of the international norm
for electronic charts, and is also associated with various projects abroad
requiring hydrographic expertise.
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