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Nautical Products - navigation
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The Navigational Chart is one of the most fundamental tools
available to the mariner. Charts are available in various formats
as described below. A Nautical
Chart is a graphic portrayal of the marine environment
showing the nature and form of the coast, the general
configuration of the sea bottom including water depths, locations of
dangers to navigation, locations and characteristics of man-made aids to
navigation and other features useful to the mariner. View an
example of a chart section.
The Nautical Chart is
essential for safe navigation. In conjunction with supplemental
navigational aids, it is used by the mariner to lay out courses and
navigate ships by the shortest and most economically safe route. The
importance of Nautical charts is evident with over 98% of the nation’s
cargo carried by waterborne transportation.
For questions about Noaa's Nautical Chart products, please click Here for NOAA's Nautical Chart Product Inquiry page.
To report discrepancies on Noaa's Nautical Chart products, please click Here for NOAA's Nautical Chart Product Discrepancy page.
NOAA's Nautical Chart products are available in various formats.
NOAA's Nautical Chart, Print-on-Demand (POD) version is equivalent to the traditional
paper chart with two significant enhancements. The POD charts are updated continuously with
Notice to Mariner corrections, and are available four to six weeks prior to the traditional
paper chart for new edition printings. Print-on-Demand versions are distributed by OceanGrafix,
http://www.OceanGrafix.com
NOAA's Lithographic Nautical Charts are the traditional paper charts that are updated
with each new edition. The paper charts are are available from your local nautical
chart agent, or by contacting
the FAA Distribution Division at:
FAA Distribution Division, AVN-530
National Aeronautical Charting Office
Telephone: (301) 436-8301
(800) 638-8972 toll free, U.S. only
Email: 9-AMC-chartsales@faa.gov
NOAA's traditional paper chart distributed by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Geospatial Agency
(NGA) are available six to eight weeks after NOAA releases a New
Edition. This is the time required to print and warehouse the
traditional paper chart.
NOAA's Coast Pilot® consists of a series of nautical books that supplements
the nautical charts. They include a variety of information essential to marine
navigation. The Coast Pilot are available on the internet for viewing or
downloading at
http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot.htm
Coast Pilots are also available from your local nautical
chart agent, or by contacting
the FAA Distribution Division at:
FAA Distribution Division, AVN-530
National Aeronautical Charting Office
Telephone: (301) 436-8301
(800) 638-8972 toll free, U.S. only
Email: 9-AMC-chartsales@faa.gov
Example of a Nautical Chart Section
508 navigation insert
Revised Monday June 09 2008by OCS Webmaster
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