Nautical Chart

– a conventional graphic representation, on a plane surface, of a navigable

portion of the surface of the earth
♦ small scale – covers a relatively large area
♦ large scale – covers a relatively small area

Sailing charts – smaller than 1: 600,000

– used for planning, fixing position at sea and for plotting the
dead reckoning while proceeding on a long voyage.
General charts – 1: 150,000 – 1: 600,000
– intended for coastwise navigation outside of outlying reefs
and shoals.

Coast charts – 1: 50,000 – 1: 150,000

– intended for inshore coastwise navigation inside of outlying
reefs and shoals, for entering or leaving bays and harbours of
considerable width and for navigating large inland waterways.
Harbour charts – larger than 1: 50,000
– intended for navigation and anchorage in harbours and small
waterways.
 Reference Datum
Level of the water at any time
Height of tide
Tidal datum, datum plane,
reference plane, reference datum,
Actual depth chart sounding datum
Charted depth

Bottom of the sea/ocean, sea bed

Tidal datum – level from which heights and depths are measured
Charted depth – vertical distance from the bottom of the sea to the chart
sounding datum
Height of tide – vertical distance from the tidal datum to the surface of the water
at any time
Actual depth – vertical distance from the bottom of the sea to the surface of the
water at any time ( charted depth + height of tide )
 Tidal Datum

1. U.S. Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts - Mean Lower Low Water
2. Hawaiian Islands, Alaska and Philippines - Mean Lower Low Water
3. Most British Admiralty Charts - Mean Low Water Springs or
Mean Lower Low Water Springs
Confined waters - Mean Sea Level
- Baltic Sea
- Great Lakes
Heights and elevations - Mean High Water
- lighthouses
 Chart Projections
Mercator - based on a cylinder tangent at one point
- rhumb lines appear as straight lines

Gnomonic - based on a plane tangent at one point

- parallels of latitude appear as curved lines
- A straight line drawn on the chart represents a great circle.

Conic - based on a cone tangent at one parallel

- A straight line drawn on the chart approximates a great circle.

Polyconic - based on a series of cone tangent at selected parallels

- most suitable for marine surveying
 Navigational Publications

U.K. British Admiralty

Pilot Books and all publications

U.S.A. N.O.S. D.M.A. U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Pilot Sailing Directions Light List
- Enroute Format Notice to Mariners
- Planning Guide

N.O.S. – issues charts and publications for use within the U.S. and her possessions
D.M.A. – issues charts and publications for use outside of the U.S.