39963
Maritime Limits and Boundaries of United States of America
MB_ParentDataset
Data Set
Published / External
37241
ocs
Project
Completed
2002
2020
2013-09-13
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.
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.
1534
For more detailed information about specific regional limits and boundaries, refer to the supplemental information documents.
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
boundaries
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
planningCadastre
Theme
NGDA Portfolio Themes
NGDA
Theme
NGDA Portfolio Themes
National Geospatial Data Asset
Theme
NGDA Portfolio Themes
Water Oceans and Coasts Theme
Theme
Geospatial Platform
OceanCommunity
Theme
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category
Marine Boundaries
Theme
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category
Nautical Charting
Theme
Boundary
Theme
Contiguous Zone
Theme
Exclusive Economic Zone
Theme
Federal Register, Vol 60, No. 163, August 23, 1995
Theme
GIS
Theme
ICJ Judgment, Gulf of Maine, 1984
Theme
International Boundary Commission
Theme
Law of the Sea
Theme
Limit
Theme
Maritime
Theme
Polyline
Theme
Presidential Proclamation No. 5030, March 1983
Theme
Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, December 1988
Theme
Presidential Proclamation No. 7219, August 1999
Theme
Territorial Sea
Theme
US/Cook Islands Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1980
Theme
US/Cuba Maritime Boundary Agreement, 1977
Theme
US/Japan Exchange of Notes, 1994
Theme
US/Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1970
Theme
US/Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1978
Theme
US/New Zealand (Tokelau) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1980
Theme
US/Niue Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1997
Theme
US/Russia Maritime Boundary Agreement, 1990
Theme
US/UK (Anguilla) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1993
Theme
US/UK (British Virgin Islands) Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1993
Theme
US/Venezuela Maritime Boundary Treaty, 1978
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Alabama
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Alaska
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
American Samoa
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Baker Island
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
California
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Delaware
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Florida
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Georgia
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Guam
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Hawaii
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Howland Island
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Jarvis Island
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Johnston Atoll
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Kingman Reef
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Louisiana
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Maine
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Maryland
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Massachusetts
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Mississippi
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
New Hampshire
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
New Jersey
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
New York
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
North Carolina
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Oregon
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Palmyra Atoll
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Puerto Rico
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Rhode Island
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
South Carolina
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Texas
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
U.S. Virgin Islands
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Virginia
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Wake Island
Spatial
Geographic Names Information System
Washington
Office of Coast Survey
Silver Spring
MD
Data Set
Continually
vector digital data
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.
41512
Maritime Limits and Boundaries
Maritime Limits and Boundaries
Published / External
Completed
Shapefile Attribute Table | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Converted from FGDC using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml_entity.pl' script.
1
FID
Unknown
No
No
Active
Internal feature number | Description Source: ESRI
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated
2
Shape
Unknown
No
No
Active
Feature geometry | Description Source: ESRI
Coordinates defining the features
3
BOUND_ID
Unknown
No
No
Active
Boundary ID | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Unique ID of this feature
4
REGION
Unknown
No
No
Active
Identifier of the general area, state(s), or territory from which the limit is drawn | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Contains free text of the general area, state(s), or territory name
5
FEAT_TYPE
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
Type of Feature | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Maritime Limit: Limit of the U.S. maritime zone | Maritime Boundary: International maritime boundary between the U.S. and a neighboring country | Land Boundary: International land boundary between the U.S. and a neighboring country |
6
TS
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
Territorial Sea | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
0: The feature is not the 12nm territorial sea limit or a segment of territorial sea from 0 to 12nm | 1: The feature is the 12nm territorial sea limit or a segment of territorial sea from 0 to 12nm |
7
CZ
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
Contiguous Zone | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
0: The feature is not the 24nm contiguous zone limit or a segment of contiguous zone from 12nm to 24nm | 1: The feature is the 24nm contiguous zone limit or a segment of contiguous zone from 12nm to 24nm |
8
EEZ
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
Exclusive Economic Zone | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
0: The feature is not the 200nm EEZ or a segment of the EEZ per customary international law from 12nm to 200nm | 1: The feature is the 200nm EEZ or a segment of the EEZ per customary international law from 12nm to 200nm |
9
F_EEZ
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
U.S. Fishery EEZ | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
0: The feature is not the 200nm EEZ or a segment of U.S. fishery EEZ from the limit of the states\x92 jurisdiction to 200nm | 1: The feature is the 200nm EEZ or a segment of U.S. fishery EEZ from the limit of the states\x92 jurisdiction to 200nm |
10
PUB_DATE
Unknown
No
No
Active
Publication Date | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Publication date of the limit/boundary line in MM/DD/YYYY format
11
APPRV_DATE
Unknown
No
No
Active
Approval date of baseline points by the ad hoc Committee on the U.S. Baseline | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Date Field formatted as MM/DD/YYYY for the date on which the limits were approved by the U.S. Baseline Committee, chaired by the Department of State
12
LEGAL_AUTH
Unknown
No
No
Active
Legal Authority | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Free text referencing the legal source of the limit/boundary
13
AOR
Unknown
No
No
Active
Agency of Responsibility | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
The government agency that is responsible for publishing and managing the limit/boundary on NOAA charts
14
NOTE
Unknown
No
No
Active
Note | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Free text containing special notes about the limit/boundary
15
UNILATERAL
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
Unilateral | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
0: The feature is not a segment of a U.S. unilateral maritime boundary claim | 1: The feature is a segment of a U.S. unilateral maritime boundary claim |
16
SYMBOL
VARCHAR
No
No
Active
Symbology | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
1: A black line of alternating crosses, generally conveying a land boundary per Chart No.1 symbol N40 | 2: A solid grey line interspersed with fish symbols at regular intervals, generally conveying the U.S. Fishery EEZ limit, per a combination of Chart No.1 symbols N42 and N45 | 3: A solid grey line, generally conveying U.S. maritime limits and U.S. unilateral maritime boundaries, per Chart No.1 symbol N42 | 4: A magenta line of alternating crosses and dashes with interspersed fish symbols at regular intervals, generally conveying a maritime boundary alongside the U.S. Fishery EEZ, per a combination of Chart No.1 symbols N41 and N45 | 5: A magenta line of alternating crosses and dashes, generally conveying a maritime boundary outside the U.S. Fishery EEZ, per Chart No.1 symbol N41 |
17
SUPP_INFO
Unknown
No
No
Active
Supplemental Information | Description Source: Office of Coast Survey
Link to supplemental information in text format about this feature
Data Steward
2013-09-13
Person
Wallace, Tara
tara.wallace@noaa.gov
Distributor
2013-09-13
Organization
Office of Coast Survey
OCS
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
Metadata Contact
2013-09-13
Person
Nelson, Kurt
kurt.a.nelson@noaa.gov
301-713-2645 x142
Point of Contact
2013-09-13
Person
Wallace, Tara
tara.wallace@noaa.gov
Ground Condition
140
-60
74.70884
-17.555
Range
2002
2010
Yes
Yes
367
Geographic 2D
EPSG:4326
WGS 84
World Geodetic System 1984
WGS 84
6378137
298.257223563
1
Geodetic Lattitude
Lat
degree
north
2
Geodetic Longitude
Lon
degree
east
Unclassified
None
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.
https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MaritimeBoundaries/US_Maritime_Limits_Boundaries/MapServer/
2013-09-13
Organization
Office of Coast Survey
Downloadable Data
ESRI REST service
ESRI REST Service
10.1
https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/arcgis/services/MaritimeBoundaries/US_Maritime_Limits_Boundaries/MapServer/WMSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS
2013-09-13
Organization
Office of Coast Survey
Downloadable Data
Web Mapping Service
WMS - Web Map Service
1.3.0
https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/downloads/USMaritimeLimitsAndBoundariesKML.kmz
2013-09-13
Organization
Office of Coast Survey
Downloadable Data
KML
KML/KMZ - Keyhole Markup Language
https://maritimeboundaries.noaa.gov/downloads/USMaritimeLimitsAndBoundariesSHP.zip
2013-09-13
Organization
Office of Coast Survey
Downloadable Data
SHP (ESRI Shapefile)
Shapefile
https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data/us-maritime-limits-and-boundaries.html
Online Resource
Project website
2016-09-01
Date that the source FGDC record was last modified.
2017-04-05
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.
2017-09-13
Partial upload of Spatial Info section only.
2017-11-01
Replaced entire Lineage section to populate new Source Contribution field.
2018-02-08
Partial upload of Positional Accuracy fields only.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Geographical Positions along the International Boundary (NAD83)
Organization
International Boundary Commission
Publisher
Range
1915
1986
http://www.internationalboundarycommission.org/en/maps-coordinates.php
Link to report.
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
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Discrete
2010
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
Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Publisher
Continuing
2011
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
Link to data source.
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
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
2011-05-01
Range
2002
2010
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
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
2011-05-01
Continuing
2011
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
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Discrete
2010
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
1
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
2011-03-01T00:00:00
Regional Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries
2
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
2011-03-01T00:00:00
Geographical Positions along the International Boundary (NAD83)
3
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
2010-01-01T00:00:00
Merged Digital Maritime Limits and Maritime Boundaries
4
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.
2013-01-01T00:00:00
US Baseline Committee Approved Maritime Limits and Boundaries
41512
Entity
Maritime Limits and Boundaries
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:39963
Tyler Christensen
2017-04-05T13:49:31
SysAdmin InPortAdmin
2023-10-17T16:12:13
2018-12-14
Office of Coast Survey
OCS
1002
Public
No
2018-12-14
1 Year
2019-12-14