EP 1130-2-520
29 Nov 96
CHAPTER 5 - WATERBORNE COMMERCE STATISTICS
5-1. Purpose. This chapter establishes guidance governing the Navigation Data Center (NDC)
programs, their implementation and responsibilities, including the collection, compilation,
publication, and dissemination of Waterborne Commerce Statistics and the collection,
compilation, and reporting of data on waterway traffic through locks and regulated canals (e.g.,
the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the Cape Cod Canal).
5-2. Terminology. In order to facilitate the use of this pamphlet, terminology unique to the
Waterborne Commerce Statistics Program are provided in Appendix O.
5-3. Background and Responsibilities. The Navigation Data Center (NDC) located at Fort
Belvoir, Virginia is responsible for the Federal water transportation statistical programs including
waterborne commerce statistics, port and waterway facilities, lock performance monitoring, and
dredging statistics. The NDC is under the direction of the Director, Water Resources Support
Center (WRSC) who has authority over three main interrelated areas comprising (1) planning,
developing, and evaluating navigation data collection and processing systems; (2) ensuring that
national and regional data bases are adequately integrated and efficiently operated and maintained;
and (3) assessing the efficiency of data dissemination technology and procedures. Outlined below
are the management responsibilities of NDC components:
a. The Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center (WCSC), located in New Orleans,
Louisiana, is responsible for the following:
(1) Data collection, compilation, printing, and distribution of all domestic waterborne
commerce statistics. Coding procedures are discussed in Appendix P. The WCSC discharges
these functions by publishing the data collected on ENG Forms 3925, 3925B, 3925P or an
authorized automated equivalent in the annual publication, Waterborne Commerce of the United
States and the data collected on ENG Forms 3931 and 3932 in the annual publication,
Waterborne Transportation Lines of the United States. A description of the publications and ton-
mile computation methods is contained in Appendix Q.
(2) Continuous monitoring of data collection and recommending changes, as necessary, to
the Chief of Engineers through the Director, WRSC.
(3) Handling special requests for waterborne commerce statistics. The WCSC will
respond to special requests from USACE offices, other government agencies, and the general
public as resources are available within the WCSC. Special requests that require substantial effort
to produce will be handled on a cost reimbursable basis.
b. The Ports and Waterways Division of NDC is responsible for the collection, review,
analysis, preparation, and publication of data on the physical and internodal characteristics of the
coastal, Great Lakes, and inland ports and waterways in the United States.
c. The NDC, through the Lock Performance Monitoring System, has responsibility for the
collection, editing, maintenance, and analysis of data collected at channelized waterways,
regulated man-made canals, and all Corps-owned and operated locks. These data are collected
on ENG Forms 3102b, 3102c, and 3102d as prescribed by ER 1130-2-520, Chapter 6. The
5-1
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