Should Address Alternatives as It Proceeds with VTS 2000. GAO/ RCED-96-83. Washington, D.C.: GAO.

National Dialog on Vessel Traffic Services. 1997. Summary of Guidance from the National Dialog on Vessel Traffic Services. Available from the Marine Board, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418. Tel. 202-334-3119.

NOS (National Ocean Service). 1998. Hydrographic Data Acquisition Plan for Nautical Charting. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NRC (National Research Council). 1994a. Minding the Helm: Marine Navigation and Piloting. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

NRC. 1994b. Charting a Course into the Digital Era: Guidance for NOAA's Nautical Charting Mission. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

NRC. 1996a. Vessel Navigation and Traffic Services for Safe and Efficient Ports and Waterways, Interim Report. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

NRC. 1996b. Informing Risk in a Democratic Society. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Front Matter (R1-R10)

Executive Summary (1-3)

1 Need for Improved Navigation Information Systems (4-12)

2 Federal, State, and Private Roles (13-18)

3 Enhancing Navigation Safety Information Systems (19-29)

4 Vision of the Future and How to Achieve It (30-33)

5 Conclusions and Recommendations (34-36)

A Biographies of Committee Members (37-40)

B Excerpt from the National Dialog on Vessel Traffic Services, April 1997 (41-44)

C Maritime Advanced Information Systems, Puget Sound Region (45-48)

D Maritime Information Systems, Port of Charleston, South Carolina (49-53)

E Arrival-to-Departure Information Exchange (54-56)