Here’s How You Can Identify An Unofficial Nautical Navigation Tool

Mariners can’t do without a nautical chart, in fact, it’s the most fundamental nautical navigation tool available to them. A nautical chart is important for safe navigation and helps depict the depth of the water, configures the shorelines of the adjacent land, and other navigational information to have the mariner pilot the boat safely.

That being said, usually, these charts are truly official and issued only on the authority of the government, or other relevant government institutions, or the registered nautical chart agents in the U.S. such as American Nautical Services (ANS). You have to carry an official nautical chart while transiting the U.S. waters because it’s essential for your safety. The unofficial charts are distorted, outdated, and sometimes, have the important navigation missing. 

Although you can find a handful of dealers selling the British & American Admiralty nautical charts online, the official charts are officially issued, available in the latest edition with an updated information complying with the notices served to mariners, and are of an appropriate scale.

Here’s how you can identify an unofficial navigation nautical chart.

●    Ink is inconsistent and somewhat, of a different color
●    You can easily erase the colors
●    It gives a different feeling when you hold it

It’s better to contact a registered producer of these nautical charts that conform to the standards laid down by the government.

In Need Of Nautical Charts? Explore American Nautical Services’s Site Now

The key to safe navigation, nautical charts are one of the most fundamental tools that are of great use to the mariner. Quite important for safe navigation, nautical charts are maps that depict the configuration of the shoreline and seafloor. Also, learn that these nautical charts comprise information about water depths, locations of dangers to navigation, locations & characteristics of aids to navigation, anchorages, and countless other features. Known to be a graphic representation of a maritime area and adjacent coastal regions, nautical charts are widely sought after by mariners to plan voyages and navigate ships in a safe and ergonomic manner.

If searching online for sailing charts, stop right away! With American Nautical Services at bay, there’s no need for you to search nautical charts online. Available in a vast range of scales, nautical charts offered by this celebrated company can be purchased at a pocket-friendly rate. Backed by a massive collection of nautical charts, American Nautical Services also comprises a huge selection of books, flags, instruments & accessories, signs & placards, software, hardware, marine supplies and countless other items. As a matter of fact, you can also avail USCG exam study material from this well-recognized online spot.

So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know about the best place to buy nautical charts, don’t waste time! Go to the site of American Nautical Services and place your order forthwith!

Know About Transportation in US through CFR 49 Title

If you are a sea transporter and travel through the US waters regularly, you need to follow certain guidelines as provided in code of federal regulations (CFR). They are prescribed by different administrative bodies working under the US federal government and are enforced upon the ship operators by the US Coast Guards. CFR is composed of 50 titles of which, the important ones are CFR 29, CFR 33, CFR 46, CFR 47 and CFR 49 titles because most of the regulations governing the US maritime industry are covered in them. Title 49 of the CFR provides rules and regulations to the operators regarding various forms of transportation in US. It is made up of 9 volumes covered in 12 chapters and 1699 parts. In the same way, title 47 of CFR contains the U.S. federal regulations for telecommunications. It is available in 5 volumes that provide information on the use of various telecommunication devices and services such as mobile, internet, satellite communications and radio broadcasting while commuting in different ways.

Having a copy of these regulations is vital for various sea operations. You can get the copies of these codes online with many companies providing different services related to US maritime.

Maritime Companies Need To Comply With CFR If Their Vessels Are Operating In US Waters

You could be any business, you have to abide by the law to ensure that you are allowed to continue running your business the way you always had. If you don’t, you might end up facing the wrath of the law and the government. You might even be sued or face strict actions. The Code of Federal Regulations or CFR sets of very important rules and regulations that are called the administrative law when put together. They are drafted in fifty different title that are updated on a regular basis. So, you need to make sure that you always have the upgraded version of these rules and regulation to not do anything that is not permitted in your business. These fifty titles contain rules and regulations governing so many different things, including Food & Drug, Postal Service, Federal Elections, and National Defense to name a few.

Now, if you are a maritime company that manages and/or operates commercial vessels that operate in the US maritime expanse or sail under American flag, it is mandatory for you comply with CFR. Amongst the volumes of the Code of federal Regulations that govern the maritime industry in the US are CFR 29, CFR33, CFR 46, CFR, 47, etc.

Buy Admiralty Nautical charts and Cruising Guides for a Safe and Sound Voyage

Unknown waters, like unknown lands, project a unique sense of danger and fear into the bravest of hearts. It is, therefore, crucial to learn about such unknown waters before embarking upon the voyage. This is especially vital when the purpose of the journey is recreational and not a research or discovery. Even the experienced owners and crew members of recreational vessels utilize professional help in the form of cruising guides for recommendations about specific paths, obstacles on the waters and navigational hazards.

There are often cases when the popular navigational routes are changed and cruising guides also contains information of such essential changes too.

Besides for the recreational vessels, there are large ships that travel in troubled waters for industrial purposes too. For such large vessels that accuracy of the navigational charts must be the highest. Since any sort of hazard will lead to an unimaginable loss of both lives and finances, one must use admiralty nautical charts that are renowned for their accuracy and easily comprehensible data. Each chart is updated and corrected to the best information available about the safety and navigation in the waters before sale.

These charts become all the more important in areas that are heavily trafficked such as the English Channel, the Gulf of Suez, the Singapore and Malacca Straits.

Top 5 Benefits Of Raster Charts In Navigation

A raster navigational chart is an accurate digital image comprised of pixels, displayed on an electronic screen. Each pixel has a unique color or it has no color. The pattern of the colored and the empty pixels gives shape to the individual features of the chart. Ideal for both planning and navigation, they can help simplify operational tasks and improve situational awareness.

Using the formatted images in electronic display systems called Raster Chart Display Systems (RCDS), mariners receive accurate real-time vessel positions. Hence they are also known as marine navigation charts.

Benefits furnished by raster charts have been mentioned below:

1.    The geographical loci of each cell is implied by its position in the cell matrix. No geographic coordinates are stored, other than an origin point such as bottom left corner.
2.    Because of the nature of the data storage method, analysis is normally easy to program and quick to perform.
3.    The inherent nature of raster maps, for example one attribute maps, is ideally suited for mathematical modeling and quantitative analysis.
4.    Discrete data, like forestry stands, is housed equally well as continuous data, say for example elevation data and facilitates the integration of the two data kinds.
5.    Grid cell systems are thoroughly compatible with raster based output devices. Such as electrostatic plotters and graphic terminals.

Read the ISGOTT for the Safe Carriage Of Crude Oil And Petroleum Products On Tankers

Carrying and handling cargo that consists of petroleum products and crude oil on tankers and at terminals, requires precision as well as the know how of safety rules and regulations. The recommended operating procedures continuously undergo change. And that is what makes it all the more important for the concerned people to remain up to date with the current developments.

The ISGOTT is as important as cruising guides. Elaborated as the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals, it is the ultimate handbook to be studied and followed so that best practice and legislation can be ensured as per the current updates at every stage.

The guide is basically divided into the following sections.

1. General information
2. Section on the management of tanker and terminal interface
3. Tanker information
4. Terminal information

Naturally, it is an extremely helpful tool and that is why all the concerned operators at present are urged to make full use of it. Moreover, the stress is laid on ensuring the recommendations are read and completely understood before they can be followed for certain. Though it is not a definitive description, the guide continues to provide the best technical guidance on tanker and terminal operations, maintaining a consistent approach to operational procedures.