The Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System (AWOIS) was implemented to assist the Office of Coast Survey in planning hydrographic survey operations and to catalog the substantial volume of reported wrecks and obstructions considered navigational hazards within U.S. coastal waters. Providing a historical record of selected wrecks and obstructions, AWOIS is a valuable tool and information source for marine archaeologists and historians, fishermen, divers, salvage operators, and others in the marine community. As a tool used for planning hydrographic surveys, the AWOIS database maintains an emphasis on items which may be a hazard to navigation. Wrecks or obstructions which require additional information or verification are assigned to specific field units for field investigation, the results of which become part of the permanent record. Historical research is also continuously being conducted to improve the quality of the file. The continuity of office research and field investigation, along with the emphasis on items of navigational significance, should be viewed as limitations. Potential users are encouraged to use the system as a supplement to other sources of information and are reminded that AWOIS should not be considered a comprehensive record of wrecks in any particular area.