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NAUTICAL CHART

USER’S MANUAL

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Ocean Service

Washington, DC, 1997

 

Written by Dr. L. Daniel Maxim and NOAA staff

 

Elibra Electronic Edition.

Distributed by Starpath School of Navigation

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Preface and Acknowledgments.......................................................

 

Chapter 1 Introduction

Background ..................................................................................

The Nautical Chart User's Manual ...................................................

Organization of this Manual ............................................................

Relevant Facts, Statistics, and Products .........................................

Purpose of the Nautical Chart .........................................................

How Does a Nautical Chart Differ from a Map? .................................

            An Illustrative Chart ...........................................................

            An Illustrative Map .............................................................

User Groups .................................................................................

Efficiency of Chart Compared to Text ..............................................

Chart Distribution—Where to Purchase Charts ................................

            Mail Order Sales ...............................................................

            Authorized Chart Agents ....................................................

            The Nautical Chart Catalog ................................................

Chart Prices and Related Matters....................................................

Chart Demand ..............................................................................

ECDIS, The End of the Paper Era? .................................................

Chart-Related Publications .............................................................

            Chart No. 1 .......................................................................

            Chart Catalogs ..................................................................

            Dates of Latest Editions ....................................................

            Notice to Mariners .............................................................

            Local Notice to Mariners ....................................................

            U. S. Coast Pilot ...............................................................

            Light List ..........................................................................

            Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables ...................................

The Track Ahead ...........................................................................

 

Chapter 2 General Information and Overview

Introduction ..................................................................................

Chart No. 1 ...................................................................................

Schematic Layout of a Nautical Chart .............................................

Number, Title, and Marginal Notes...................................................

Latticed Charts..............................................................................

Edition..........................................................................................

Reconstructed, Provisional, and Preliminary Charts...........................

            Importance of Current and Corrected Charts ........................

Source Diagram ............................................................................

Neatline Dimensions .....................................................................

Chart Title, Authorities Note, and Seal.............................................

Projection and Scale......................................................................

            Projections .......................................................................

            Chart Scale ......................................................................

            Chart Types ......................................................................

            A Mix of Charts Necessary ................................................

A Brief Aside, Chart Storage and Care — Rollers versus Folders .......

Linear and Logarithmic Speed Scales .............................................

Notes and Cautions .......................................................................

Chart Overlap, Insets, and Related Matters ......................................

Measures to Minimize Confusion: The Chartmaker's Perspective .......

Measures to Minimize Confusion: The Navigator's Role .....................

Latitude, Longitude, Regular, and Skewed Projections ......................

Depth Units and Vertical Datum .....................................................

Horizontal Datum...........................................................................

Relevance of Horizontal Datum .......................................................

Direction and Magnetics ................................................................

Compass Roses............................................................................

Local Magnetic Disturbance Notes .................................................

Isogonic Lines ..............................................................................

Additional Information ....................................................................

Lettering Styles (Vertical versus Slant Type) ....................................

Use of Color on Charts ..................................................................

Symbols and Abbreviations ............................................................

Use of Charts ...............................................................................

 

Chapter 3 Topography and Related Information

Introduction and Overview ...............................................................

Utility of this Information and Implications for Chart Design.................

Coastline/Shoreline  ......................................................................

            Shoreline Plane of Reference .............................................

            Apparent Shoreline.............................................................

            Approximate or Unsurveyed Shoreline..................................

            Flat Coast) .......................................................................

            Steep Coast Bluff; Cliff .......................................................

            Surveyed Coastline  ..........................................................

            Other Shoreline Types .......................................................

            Foreshore .........................................................................

            Chart Sounding Datum Line  ..............................................

            Approximate Sounding Datum Line  ....................................

            Breakers ..........................................................................

            Grass ..............................................................................

            Mud/Sand/Stone or Gravel/Sand and

Mud/Sand and Gravel/Rock/Coral/Rubble.........................................

Elevation and Relief Data................................................................

            Land Contours ..................................................................

            Approximate Contour Lines ................................................

            Peaks and Treetop Elevations ....................................……..

            Hachures .........................................................................

            Height of Object ................................................................

            An Aside: Indirect Use of Terrain Information ........................

Inland Waters ...............................................................................

            Glaciers ...........................................................................

            Intermittent Rivers and Streams ..........................................

            Lakes and Ponds; Lagoons.................................................

            Rapids and Waterfalls........................................................

            Rivers and Streams   .........................................................

            Salt Pan   .........................................................................

Trees ...........................................................................................

Lava Flow   ...................................................................................

Vegetation .............................………………………………………......

Marshes and Swamps....................................................................

Ports and Harbors .........................................................................

            Berthing Structures............................................................

            Additional Sources ............................................................

Erosion Control Structures .............................................................

            Breakwater   .....................................................................

            Groins  ....................................................................……..

            Jetties   ............................................................................

            Seawall  ...........................................................................

            Dikes and Levees   ............................................................

            Additional Sources ............................................................

Docks and Tidal Basins..................................................................

            Dry Dock, Graving Dock  ) .................................................

            Tidal Basin   .....................................................................

            Wet Dock   .......................................................................

            Additional Sources ............................................................

Bridges   ...................................................................……………...

            Bridge Symbols   and Related .........................…………......

            Hazards Under Bridges ......................................................

            Bridge Clearances   ...........................................................

            Names .............................................................................

            VHF Radio Capability ........................................................

            Additional Sources ............................................................

Locks and Other Barriers ...............................................................

            Locks   ............................................................................

            Floodgates, Sills, and Miscellaneous Other .........................

Landing and Launching Sites .........................................................

            Marine Railway   ...............................................................

            Ramps   ...........................................................................

Artificial Features ..........................................................................

            Roads and Related ............................................................

            Cable Ferry   ....................................................................

            Canal   .............................................................................

            Dam  )..............................................................................

            Ditch   ..............................................................................

            Pipelines on Land   ...........................................................

            Railroads  .........................................................................

            Roads and Road Patterns   ..................……………………….

            Trails   .............................................................................

            Tunnel Entrances...............................................................

Buildings and Structures ................................................................

            Airports.............................................................................

            Buildings.......………………………………………………………

            Illustration.........................................................................

            Cemeteries........................................................................

            Church Buildings)...............................................................

            Hospitals ..........................................................................

            Urban Screen ...................................................................

Miscellaneous Stations .................................................................

            USCG Stations .................................................................

            Fireboat Station ................................................................

            Marine Police Stations ......................................................

            Pilot Stations ....................................................................

Overhead Cables and Crossings ....................................................

            Overhead Cable Cars .........................................................

Land Boundaries and Limits ...........................................................

Key Points and Miscellaneous Comments ......................................

Concluding Comments ..................................................................

 

Chapter 4 Hydrography and Related Information

Introduction and Overview ...............................................................

            A Brief Aside: Dual Units ...................................................

Utility of Hydrographic and Related Information ................................

Hydrographic Information ...............................................................

            Common Plane of Reference and Survey Scales ..................

            Source Diagrams ..............................................................

Soundings ....................................................................................

            The Soundings Selection Challenge ....................................

            Selection Criteria for Soundings to be Charted .....................

            Charting Practices ............................................................

Depth curves..................................................………………………..

            Shallow Water Tint(s) ........................................................

            Improved (Artificial) Channels..............................................

Bottom Characteristics ..................................................................

Specific Hazards to Navigation .......................................................

Danger Curve.................................................................................

Rocks...................................................................…………….......

            Rocks Symbols and Labels ...............................................

            Bare Rock ........................................................................

            Rocks Which Cover and Uncover.........................................

            Rocks Awash at the Level of Chart Datum............................

            Sunken Rocks...................................................................

            Doubtful Danger Labels ......................................................

Shoals .........................................................................................

Ledges and Reefs..........................................................................

Foul Area .....................................................................................

Wrecks and Hulks ........................................................................

            Wrecks Marked by Buoys .................................................

Obstructions..................................................................................

            Natural Dangers.................................................................

Fish Havens Regulated by State and Federal Permits..………………..

Miscellaneous Hazards .................................................................

Unexploded Ordnance ...................................................................

Unsurveyed Areas .........................................................................

Dangerous Water Conditions...........................................................

Submarine Pipeline and Cables .....................................................

            Submarine Pipelines...................……………………………...

            Individual Pipelines ............................................................

            Pipeline Areas ..................................................................

            Submarine Cables  ..........................………………………….

            Individual Cables ...............................................................

            Cable Areas .....................................................................

Other Relevant Sources of Information .............................................

U.S. Coast Pilot.............................................................................

Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables ...............................................

Notice to Mariners .........................................................................

Local Notice to Mariners ................................................................

Concluding Remarks .....................................................................

 

Chapter 5 Aids to Navigation

Introduction and Overview ...............................................................

Brief Historical Asides ...................................................................

Importance of ATONs in Coastal Navigation......................................

Importance of Positive Identification and Related Matters ..................

ATONs and Related Chart Information (General) ...............................

Lights ..........................................................................................

            Sectors and Related Matters ..............................................

            Directional Lights ..............................................................

            Leading Light ....................................................................

            Aeronautical Lights ...........................................................

            Articulated Lights...............................................................

            Strobe Lights ....................................................................

            Riprap ..............................................................................

Supplemental Information Regarding Lights and Other ATONs ...........

            The U.S. Coast Guard Light List .........................................

            The U.S. Coast Pilot .........................................................

            Published Guides and Other Books ....................................

Buoys ..........................................................................................

            A Brief Digression: Position Fixing with Buoys .....................

            Charted Characteristics .....................................................

            Channel Buoys .................................................................

            Junction Buoys .................................................................

            Mid-channel Buoys............................................................

Fog Signals...................................................................................

Daybeacons .................................................................................

Ranges.........................................................................................

            Dredging Ranges ..............................................................

            Natural Ranges .................................................................

Radiobeacons and Related Aids .....................................................

            Aeronautical Radiobeacons ................................................

Miscellaneous Related Information ..................................................

            Measured Course  ..............................................…............

Concluding Remarks .....................................................................

 

Chapter 6 Landmarks

Introduction and Overview ...............................................................

Importance of Landmarks in Coastal Navigation ...............................

Types of Landmark ........................................................................

Objects Not Normally Depicted as Landmarks .................................

How Landmarks Are Depicted on the Chart......................................

            Other Sources of Landmark Information ...............................

Practical Pointers and Limitations Relevant to Landmarks.................

            Pointers............................................................................

            Selecting Landmarks For Use ............................................

            Limitations .......................................................................

Concluding Comments ..................................................................

 

Chapter 7 Areas, Limits, Tracks, and Routes

Introduction and Overview ...............................................................

Utility of This Information ................................................................

Federally Regulated Areas ..........................................………………

            Regulated Navigation Areas ...............................................

            Danger Area .....................................................................

            Seaplane Restricted and Seaplane Operating Areas....………

            Restricted Area .................................................................

            Safety Zones/Defense Areas/Security Zones .......................

            Relevance to the Mariner ...................................................

            Examples .........................................................................

            Illustrative Regulations .......................................................

            Summary..........................................................................

Civil Reservations ..........................................................................

            Relevance to the Mariner ...................................................

Federally Regulated Anchorage Areas/Grounds................................

            Anchorage Grounds ..........................................................

            Special Anchorage Areas ..................................................

            Fairway Anchorages ..........................................................

            Relevance to the Mariner ...................................................

Non-federally Regulated Anchorages................................................

Harbors of Refuge  ........................................................................

Dumping/Disposal Areas ...............................................................

            EPA     Established Dumping Areas  ......................………..

            Navy     Established Dumping Areas ...................................

            U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Areas ..................................

            Dumping Grounds..............................................................

            Relevance to the Mariner ...................................................

            Illustration.........................................................................

COLREGS Demarcation Line .........................................................

Degaussing Range  .......................................................................

Maritime Boundaries......................................................................

            International Boundaries  ...................................................

            Exclusive Economic Zone ..................................................

            Closing Line/Three Nautical Mile Line/

Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone ................………………………..

Traffic Separation Schemes and Related Matters .............................

            Additional Information ........................................................

            Relevance to the Mariner ...................................................

            Smaller Vessels ...............................................................

Course Lines ................................................................................

Courses..................................................................………………..

Concluding Comments ..................................................................

 

Appendix A Glossary ..................................................................

 

Appendix B Abbreviations

Part I Index of Abbreviations (Section V of Chart No. 1) .....................

Part II Index of Abbreviations— supplementary National

Abbreviations (Section V of Chart No. 1).....................................…..

Part III International Abbreviations (Section W of Chart No. 1) ............

Part IV Abbreviations used this Manual, NM, LNM,

Light List, Broadcast Notice To Mariners,

Nautical Chart Catalog, or Dates of Latest Editions ........………........

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