A shoal is an area where sedimentation and/or deposited objects cause bathymetry to no longer conform to the expected reference model. This excess material is a hazard and must be addressed to allow normal usage of the waterway. In the mean time, however, mariners must be informed about these exceptions to the model.
The EAM tools allow users to publish simplified representations of shoal areas to inform mariners of the shoals and maximize the width of the area that is available to vessel traffic. The tools also allow the classification of hazards based on their location in the waterway and the type of traffic that frequently travels through the affected lanes.
These and other shoal tools are explained in the topics listed below.