US Government Shutdown: Only Critical Surveys

On 1 October 2013, the US federal government entered into a shutdown. This meant that the about 800,000 civil workers have been sent home without pay, services were suspended and only employees dealing with critical services were active. This reflects to the survey work by NOAA where only surveys and updates which are ‘of critical nature’ are taken on.

At NOAA Coast Survey, a small number of personnel are excepted from shutdown furlough to address work with timely and direct impact on life or property. This includes reviewing source information for Dangers to Navigation and writing Notice to Mariners that are of a critical nature, as well as updating charts with critical source. These updated charts (about 25 per day) are available as raster navigational charts, electronic navigational charts, and print-on-demand paper charts.

Data acquisition operations from government vessels have ceased, however some capacity to respond to navigation emergencies remains in a ready posture.

It remains unclear when the government shutdown will end and services are operating regularly.