TOPIC 1: Different Nautical Charts

Introduction to Nautical Charts – Types of Navigation Charts Based

on Origin
Nautical Chart is a conventional graphic representation on a plane surface of
navigable portion of the surface of the earth. It shows depth by numerous soundings
and depth contours, the shoreline of adjacent land , topographic features as landmarks,
aids to navigation, dangers and other information related to navigation.

Charts are classified on the basis of the regions where they are printed,
published, and updated or because of regional hydrographic offices controlling
generation, assimilation and update of information concerning them.
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is the major organization
dealing with upkeep of charts and numerous nautical publications. The
Hydrographer of the Navy in United Kingdom is under the command of
Admiralty – an administrative authority commanding the Royal Navy. Of their
various functions one is to gather information in the form of hydrographic data,
scrutinize it carefully, update it and broadcast the contemplated data in the
form of paper charts, electronic charts and several allied publications.

Attributed By: International Hydrographic Organization 2018

IMO requirements for the carriage of nautical charts?
The requirements for carriage of nautical charts are laid down in SOLAS Chapter V. The relevant
regulations are: /
• Regulation 2, defines the nautical chart
• Regulation 19 1 , specifies the equipment to be carried on different types of ships and
●Regulation 27, specifies the requirement to keep charts and publications up-to-date. Applying
IMO regulations in detail The nautical charts and nautical publications referred to in regulation
V/2 are in short called “official charts and publications”
1. Applies to ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002. Ships constructed before 1 July 2002
may comply with regulations V/11,V/12 and V/20 of SOLAS in force prior to 1 July 2002.
Regulation V/20 contains the chart carriage requirements.
Facts about chart carriage requirements IMO SOLAS V/2:
Nautical chart or nautical publication is a special-purpose map or book that is issued officially by
the authority of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government
institution and is designed to meet the requirements of marine navigation. IMO SOLAS V/19 2.1
All ships irrespective of size shall have:
2.1.4 Nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship’s route for the
intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage; an Electronic Chart
Display and Information System (ECDIS) may be accepted as meeting the chart carriage
requirements of this subparagraph;

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2.1.5 Back-up arrangements to meet the functional requirements of subparagraph 2.1.4, if this
function is partly or fully fulfilled by electronic means. An appropriate folio of paper nautical
charts may be used as a back-up arrangement for ECDIS. Other back-up arrangements for ECDIS
are acceptable (see appendix 6 to resolution A.817(19), as amended). IMO SOLAS V/27 Nautical
charts and nautical publications, such as sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners,
tide tables and all other nautical publications necessary for the intended voyage, shall be
adequate and up to date.
From the three regulations referred to in the box above the requirements for charts and
publications to be carried can be fulfilled by
1) Carriage of official and up-to-date paper charts, or
2) Carriage of a type-approved ECDIS, using official and up-to-date Electronic Navigational
Charts (ENC) together with an appropriate back up arrangement.
The minimum carriage requirements for charts and publications are satisfied by the use of
paper products. After the amendment of SOLAS regulations 1 July 2002 it is allowed to replace
the paper charts and publications by electronic means if a suitable back up is provided. Paper
charts and publications continue to be the minimum requirement for back up purposes.

There are three kinds of nautical paper charts:

1 Original charts, established from hydrographic and other surveys and produced by the
relevant national authority;
2.“Facsimile” charts, are exact reproductions or copies of original charts. In some cases
however the facsimile may be ”modified” to the publishers language and adapted to the
distinct style of the publisher. In these circumstances the hydrographic content of the chart
remains unchanged; and
3. Recompiled charts, reproduced from original charts. The recompilation may be to a different
scale, omitting information from the original chart and changing the appearance of the original
chart. Recompiled and facsimile charts will be delayed in publication time compared to the
original charts. There is no synchronization between the Notices to Mariners for the original
charts and Notices to Mariners for recompiled or facsimile charts produced by other nations.
There are two kinds of official digital charts; Electronic Navigational Charts
1.ENC
ENC stands for “Electronic Navigational Chart”. The term was originally introduced for digital
chart data complying with the IHO chart data transfer standard S-57. By IMO definition ENCs
can only be produced by or on the authority of a government authorized Hydrographic Office or
other relevant government institution; however the term ENC is not protected and has been
widely (and incorrectly) used by private organizations to refer to their own products. To avoid
possible confusion the word “official” has been used as a prefix to ENC in this document.
Official ENCs have the following attributes:
• ENC content is based on source data or official charts of the responsible Hydrographic Office;
• ENCs are compiled and coded according to international standards;
• ENCs are referred to World Geodetic System 1984 Datum (WGS84);
• ENCs are issued only by the responsible Hydrographic Office; and
• ENCs are regularly updated with official update information distributed digitally

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2.Raster Navigational Charts (RNC).
RNC means “Raster Navigational Chart”. Official RNCs are digital raster copies of official paper
charts conforming to IHO Product Specifications RNC (S-61). By definition RNCs can only be
issued by, or on the authority of, a national Hydrographic Office. To avoid possible confusion
the word “official” has been used as a prefix to RNC in this document. Official RNCs have the
following attributes:
• RNCs are a facsimile of official paper charts;
• RNCs are produced according to international standards;
• RNC content is the responsibility of the issuing Hydrographic Office; and
• RNCs are regularly updated with official update information distributed digitally.

A series of diagrammatic representation and index showing geographical

limits of charts is provided in The Catalogue of Admiralty charts and
Publications (NP 131).
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These publications have various regions of world into folios, which contain
further detailed charts for those regions.

 The large scale

 The small scale

These charts contain addresses of hydrographic offices and agencies where

Admiralty and other charts are available.

Small scale charts shows overall details such as light vessels, light floats,
lanbys, territorial waters and land separating adjoining countries, obstructions,
shoals, reefs, buoys and fog signals .As the name suggests they represent a
vast stretch of an area on a small scale thus representing macroscopic
features of the same. For e.g. there are small scale charts for the Pacific
ocean , South china sea , the Atlantic ocean , the Caribbean sea etc. These
charts are preferentially used as reference charts for planning routes and
plotting courses, and from there on courses could be transferred to large scale
charts. They are best suited to provide a general overview of passage.

Large scale
charts

Large scale charts are broader in terms of details and provide a much
extensive representation of an area depicting the features, landmarks,
harbors, and coastlines along with other important details. Differentiating
fundamentally, the scale or the ratio of area displayed to actual area is
considerably bigger than a small scale chart.

An area covered by a small scale chart can be split further into 10 , 20 or 30

large scale charts showing features such as full details and characteristics of
principal lights and fog signals , light vessels , light houses , aids to
navigations , leading lights , directional buoys , channel buoys , refineries ,
terminals , docks etc. For e.g. on a small scale chart a principle lighthouse or
light is marked with the help of a symbol whereas on a large scale chart along
with the mark further details such as range, height, luminous range and
characteristics of the same are provided.

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Though the UKHO covers expansive stretch of the ocean regions and ports,
certain ports of the world remain uncovered by the Admiralty charts for those
regions the local hydrographic offices prepare foreign charts using the
internationally prevailing standard chart symbols and abbreviations. These
charts also named as Foreign Charts are managed and kept updated using
similar system to the Admiralty. They are usually available at national
agencies at larger ports or designated hydrographic offices.

Classification of Charts:

1. Sailing Charts. Are smallest scale charts used for planning, fixing positions at sea
and for plotting the dead reckoning while proceeding in a long voyage. The shoreline
and topography are generalized and only offshore soundings, the principal navigational
lights. Outer buoys and landmarks visible at considerable distance are shown.
Scale is smaller than 1:600.000.

2. General Charts. These are charts intended for coastwise navigation outside outlying
reefs and shoal. Scale is from 1: 150,000 to 1:600,000.

3. Coast Charts. Are charts intended for inshore coastwise navigation where the course
may lie inside outlying reefs and shoals, for entering or leaving bays and harbors of
considerable width and for navigating inland waterways. Scale is from 1:50,000 to
1: 150,000.

4. Harbor Charts. Are charts intended for navigation and anchorage in harbors and
small waterways. Scale is larger than 1:50,000.

TOPIC 2: Nautical Charts - Chart Reading - Common Parts of the

Nautical Charts - Water Depths Conversion - Seabed Characteristics.
Nautical Chart is a conventional graphic representation on a plane surface of
navigable portion of the surface of the earth. It shows depth by numerous soundings
and depth contours, the shoreline of adjacent land , topographic features as landmarks,
aids to navigation, dangers and other information related to navigation.

Common parts of a Nautical chart

They include:
a) Depth curves or soundings or both.

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b) Aids to navigation such as buoys, channel markers, and lights; islands, rocks,
wrecks, reefs and other hazards.
c) Significant features of the coastal areas.

Water depths are measured by soundings usually acquired by hydrographic surveys.

The depths may be in either feet or fathoms. A fathom is a nautical unit of
measurement and is equal to six feet.
The NOS uses various shades of five colors on their regular charts: land areas are
shown in buff or yellowish color; water areas are shown in white except in shallow
regions which are shown in blue; submerged areas which at times uncover at some tidal
stages are shown in green.

Reading a nautical chart.

Read the chart numbers to figure out the water's lowest depth. The black numbers
printed on the chart represent water depth. Each number indicates the “mean lower low
water” (MLLW) in an area. This is the average water depth at low tide, so most of the
time the water is deeper than what you see on a chart.
NOAA SOUNDINGS can be in FATHOMS (1 Fathom = 6 feet), FEET, or
METERS (1 Meter = 3.28 feet). Most are in feet but it depends on location and age :
U.S. charts began switching from feet and fathoms to soundings in meters using the
international standard for measuring depth.
For instance 'Shoal Rep' means that shallow water was reported ('Rep') at that position
by a mariner, but it has not been surveyed. Stay clear of any area on your
navigation chart marked by these abbreviations. PA - Position Approximate.
Fish havens are artificial shelters made up of rocks, rubble, subway cars, ships,
airplanes, specially designed concrete structures, and other objects placed on the sea
floor to attract fish and enhance their habitat. They are often located near fishing ports
or major coastal inlets.

Charts symbols meaning

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