Nautical Charts: British Admiralty Charts, NOAA Nautical Charts and NGA Charts

As you are preparing for your next marine expedition, it is imperative to be fully equipped with all the instruments. This will ensure that you will be ready not only to deal with the challenges that you are preparing for, but also the unforeseen obstacles that might lie ahead. One instrument that is perhaps the most important of all is the nautical charts.

Nautical charts are navigational tools that help you sail through your course safely, by depicting the configuration for the shoreline and seafloor. They come either as physical charts (printed on paper) or as electronic charts (displayed on ECDIS), and are generally sourced one of United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO/British Admiralty), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Geospatial Intelligence (NGA).

The British Admiralty charts are produced by the office of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. These charts set the standards when it comes to nautical charts, as they provide you with the most up-to-date nautical information. The NOAA nautical charts are charts that come in an electronic format. Printed “on-demand”, these charts are known for their accuracy, durability and user friendliness. Finally, the NGA charts are nautical charts that are used along with the NOAA charts. This is because the NOAA charts provide information of the coastal US while the NGA charts provide info of the open ocean.

So as you prepare for your next marine endeavor, buy the appropriate nautical charts and chart a safe route through your course.