Advice and expertise

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) applies nautical geodesy — the science that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in four dimensions— to the production of nautical charts, tide tables, and other products and services. CHS provides advice and expertise in four areas:

Machias Seal Island is one of the boundary lines under dispute between Canada and the United States.

Machias Seal Island is one of the boundary lines under dispute between Canada and the United States.

Domestic and international maritime boundaries

CHS conducts hydrographic surveys to collect data for nautical charts and products that are used to delineate Canada’s Territorial Sea Baselines, which are used to define Canada's  maritime zones and limits. These establish Canada’s maritime sovereignty. CHS is the technical custodian of the geographical coordinates of the Territorial Sea Baselines. It possesses the geodetic knowledge and tools to use in resolving maritime boundary disputes.

Since geodetic models of the Earth have evolved, datum transformation of geographic coordinates to newer models is needed. In support of domestic maritime boundaries, CHS provides the following services:

  • Datum transformation of national Territorial Sea Baseline points to current datum, NAD83
  • Maintenance of Territorial Sea Baseline points referenced to CHS charts
  • Calculation of maritime limits derived from the Territorial Sea Baseline

CHS also provides expert advice to assist in creating electronic navigation charts (ENCs) that depict disputed maritime boundaries. While paper charts depict only Canada’s interpretation of the maritime boundary line, transboundary ENCs will depict both the Canadian and U.S. boundary interpretations. This information is helpful to caution ships about disputed maritime zones where different laws and jurisdictions overlap. CHS provides expert advice to assist in cooperative efforts to create and update ENCs in order to properly depict disputed maritime boundaries.

CHS charts are considered the official navigation charts for use by the Canadian Government in international boundary disputes. CHS nautical geodesists act as technical experts in legal matters involving these boundary disputes or infringements on Canada’s sovereign territory.

Current boundary issues for which CHS is providing technical advice include:

  • Beaufort Sea (the disputed Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) bilateral boundary with the U.S.)
  • Lincoln Sea (the disputed EEZ bilateral boundary with the U.S.)
  • Hans Island (the disputed sovereignty of the island with Denmark)
  • Gulf of St. Lawrence (the fishing closing lines and disputed internal waters)
  • Bay of Fundy (fishing closing lines and disputed internal waters)
  • Machias Seal Island (disputed sovereignty of the island with the U.S.)
  • Seaward Juan De Fuca Strait (disputed EEZ bilateral boundary with the U.S.)
  • Queen Charlotte Sound (fishing closing lines and disputed internal waters)
  • Dixon Entrance (disputed EEZ bilateral boundary with the U.S.)
  • Seaward Dixon Entrance (disputed EEZ bilateral boundary with the U.S.)

Consultations for other government departments and value-added resellers

In the fields of nautical geodesy, chart interpretation, nautical products and international marine standards, CHS provides technical advice and expertise to other government departments, as well as value-added resellers, that is, private companies licensed to resell CHS navigational products and services. These companies use CHS navigational information to manufacture and sell related navigational products.

CHS provides advice and expertise to other departments regarding nautical charts and maritime limits affecting natural resources under Canadian jurisdiction, resource management, environmental protection, shipping, fish habitat, sovereignty and national security. Services provided include the provision of maritime boundaries and limits data.

Some of the government departments to whom CHS provides its expertise are: Natural Resources Canada, Parks Canada, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Transport Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Environment Canada, the Department of National Defence, as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, including the Canadian Coast Guard, the Conservation and Protection program, the Habitat program, and Legal Services.

Survey, datum and geodetic calculations for charts

CHS applies nautical geodesy to the production of its navigational charts, tide tables, and supporting products and services. CHS hydrographers and nautical geodesists work with geospatial data, map projections, as well as transformations and coordinates systems. They perform calculations to assist in the data acquisition and datum transformation phases of chart production.

Datum transformation involves the shifting of datum from an older theoretical model of the Earth to the current horizontal datum, NAD83. This datum is compatible with geographic positions obtained from modern GPS.

CHS assists in maintaining Canada’s maritime limits by conducting hydrographic surveys to update the Territorial Sea Baseline on nautical charts. Maritime limits are calculated from the Territorial Sea Baseline.

CHS also assists in establishing national marine policies and standards. It participates in forums with Transport Canada to discuss federal marine policy, regulations and standards. It also participates in the Canadian Geodetic Reference System Committee, a working group of federal and provincial agencies of the Canadian Council on Geomatics for geographic information management.

Expert testimony in court cases

CHS navigation charts are considered official navigation documents. According to the Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations, 1995, which are related to the Canada Shipping Act, all ships and boats navigating in Canadian waters must carry the most up-to-date CHS nautical charts.

These charts are used in court cases involving violations of Canadian marine laws. CHS nautical geodesists often provide expert testimony in these court cases to assist the Crown prosecutor, particularly regarding nautical charts, international marine boundaries, maritime limits and electronic navigation. Parties to assist in these court cases may include Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Canadian Coast Guard, the Conservation and Protection program, Habitat or Legal Services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.