[litmus]

I'm not a sea captain or anything, but I find it interesting that there is little reference or comparison to S-57/S-63 data (vector-based nautical chart standard maintained by the International Hydrographic Association) in either scope or in terms of future goals. The site is loading slow for me so I didn't get a chance to extensively navigate, from the couple of tile I managed to see I couldn't see any depth information (sounding data). In theory, there is some potential here because the S-57 is an old format ill-suited for the web or desktop-based systems for that matter. They are in the process or revamping the format (S-101), but we all know how well top-down committee based formats are designed. Any bottom-up format that spreads and proves itself in the field would be exciting...But it'll be interesting what the open source data movement could do to in this area that could disrupt the vast network of national hydrographic associations that update the depth values of the world's oceans on a weekly and monthly basis and sell them to sea vessels the world over.