On-Line Chart Viewer

Office of Coast Survey

Up-to-date charts you can view on the Internet and use as planning or analysis tools.
These chart displays or derived products are not to be used as navigational aids.

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On-Line Charts

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Supporting Information

Chart Catalogs

Dates of Latest Editions and Updates

Chart No.1, Nautical Chart Symbols

The Nautical Chart User’s Manual

Printed and Digital Charts

Nautical Chart Sales Agents

Chart Discrepancy Report

Organizational Links

View U.S.Coast Pilots Also!

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NOAA’s On-Line Chart Viewer

The nautical chart is a fundamental tool of marine navigation. It shows water depths, obstructions, aids to navigation, channels, shoreline, and more – hopefully all the information mariners need to navigate safely.

NOAA’s 1,000-plus U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts are viewable here on-line. Each chart is up-to-date with the most recent Notices to Mariners. Use these on-line charts as a ready reference or planning tool. Use one of NOAA’s printed or digital charts on your voyage.

Then click here to tell us what you think about this service! Tell us if you think it is a good idea. Tell us what you use it for. Tell us how it could be improved. Also, please notify us if a chart image fails to display properly so we can resolve the problem.

NOTE: Use the official, full scale NOAA nautical chart for real navigation whenever possible. These are available from authorized NOAA nautical chart sales agents. Screen captures of the on-line viewable charts available here do NOT fulfill chart carriage requirements for regulated commercial vessels under Titles 33 and 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Printed and Digital Charts

Official NOAA Nautical Charts – NOAA surveys and charts the national and territorial waters of the U.S, including the Great Lakes, producing over 1,000 traditional nautical charts covering 3.4 million square nautical miles. Carriage of official NOAA charts is mandatory on the commercial ships that carry our commerce. They are used on every Navy and Coast Guard ship, fishing and passenger vessels, and are widely carried by recreational boaters. Click here to find your closest nautical chart sales agent.

Official Electronic Navigational Charts^® (ENCs) – ENCs are digital files of each chart’s features and their attributes for use in computer-based navigation systems. ENCs comply with standards of the International Hydrographic Organization. ENCs and their updates are available for free from NOAA. Click here to visit the ENC download site.

Official Raster Navigational Charts (RNCs) – RNCs are georeferenced digital pictures of NOAA’s charts that are suitable for use in computer-based navigation systems. RNCs comply with standards of the International Hydrographic Organization. RNCs and their updates are available for free from NOAA. Click here to visit the RNC download site.

Official PocketCharts™ – PocketCharts™ are special charts compiled for beginning recreational boaters. They are intended for planning and locating, but not for real navigation. Measuring a convenient 13” by 19”, they contain a one-third scale chart on one side, and a mix of safety, boating, and educational information on the reverse. They can be purchased at selected retail outlets and over the Internet. Click here to find a supplier.

Official U.S. Coast Pilot^® – The Coast Pilots are 9 text volumes containing information important to navigators such as channel descriptions, port facilities, anchorages, bridge and cable clearances, currents, prominent features, weather, dangers, and Federal Regulations. They supplement the charts and are available from official NOAA chart agents or click here to download them for free.

Official Print-on-Demand Nautical Charts – These full-scale NOAA charts are updated each week by NOAA for all Notice to Mariner corrections. They have additional information added in the margin to supplement the chart. Print on Demand charts meet all federal chart carriage regulations for charts and updating. Produced under a public/private partnership between NOAA and OceanGrafix, LLC, suppliers of these premium charts are listed at www.OceanGrafix.com.

Official Chart No. 1, Nautical Chart Symbols – This reference publication depicts basic chart elements and explains nautical chart symbols and abbreviations. Click here to download it for free.

Coast Survey Navigation Managers – These ambassadors to the maritime community maintain a regional presence for NOAA and help identify the challenges facing marine transportation and boating. They are listed at http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/reps.htm.