A descriptive book for the use of mariners, containing detailed information on a wide variety of material important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters. Most of this information cannot be shown graphically on the standard nautical charts and is not readily available elsewhere. This information includes navigation regulations, outstanding landmarks, channel and anchorage peculiarities, dangers, weather, ice, currents, and port facilities. They are compiled and issued by national hydrographic authorities. For waters of the United States and its possessions, sailing directions are published by the National Ocean Service and are called United States Coast Pilots.