What is an eVDSD?

In 2018 a new standard was developed by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) for an SOS electronic visual distress signal device (eVDSD).

The RTCM SC13200.0 standard for eVDSDs was determined to be acceptable for use by CG-ENG Policy Letter 03-18, dated December 21,2018.

A wide range of eVDSDs are available to provide basic SOS communications for mariners during nighttime situations. 

The U.S. Coast Guard apparently considers eVDSD technology to be a component of a wider safety strategy, stating:

"Any single distress signal should be considered only a part of a vessel’s complete distress system.  Other communications, safety, and distress signal equipment should always be used as personal preparedness for a worse case distress situation."

NOAA Paper Nautical Charts To Be Discontinued

Vintage Chart Chesapeake Bay - Cape Henry to Thimble Shoal Light 1970 | credit:

NOAA Historical Map & Chart Collection

NOAA is initiating a five-year process to end all traditional paper nautical chart production. A public comment process is also underway.

According to the NOAA Office of Coast Survey, production will ultimately be shut down for all raster chart products and services associated with traditional NOAA paper nautical charts, including:

• Print-on-demand (POD) paper nautical charts
• Full-size chart PDFs
• NOAA raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC®)
• BookletChart™ PDFs
• NOAA RNC tile service
• Online RNC viewer

NOAA expects the cancellation of these product and services to start in mid to late 2020 and be completed by January 2025.

More detailed information regarding this transition is explained in the document Sunsetting Traditional NOAA Paper Charts: End of Paper and Raster Nautical Chart Production and Introduction of NOAA Custom Charts (https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/raster-sunset.pdf).

Public Comments

Chart users and other stakeholders can help shape the manner and timing in which the product sunsetting process will proceed by submitting comments to NOAA.

More information concerning public feedback is available via the Federal Register Notice (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/15/2019-24807/sunsetting-of-raster-nautical-charts) published on November 15, 2019.

Comments may be submitted through NOAA’s online ASSIST feedback tool (https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/customer-service/assist).

source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey

Related Information

NOAA Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Historical Map and Chart Collection