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NAU 102
Lesson 5
 Chart Editions
•Date and Edition Number are on the chart
•1st Edition date – top center
•Current edition number – lower
left

•New editions issued due to many changes

You must use the latest chart!

Chart Editions
 Chart Revisions

Issued when out of stock

•Few, minor corrections
•A new edition not warranted
•Includes latest corrections
•Revision date (not number) printed
near the current edition number.
Chart Revision Date
 Chart Corrections

Things Change!
•Printing errors
•New hazards discovered
•Objects move

Always use up to date charts!

 Chart Corrections

Options:
•Buy a new chart (expensive)
•Correct it yourself (tedious)

Corrections are promulgated through:

Notices to Mariners
Chart Corrections

Corrections for
charts / publications
Issued weekly
Downloaded online
http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/untm/

Email subscription
Chart Corrections
Chart Corrections
Chart Corrections
 Nautical Charts

Before using a chart,

always closely examine it.
Chart Title
 Chart Information
Important information is found in
the chart Title Block
•Title of Chart (e.g. Chesapeake Bay Entrance)
•Publisher (e.g. NOAA)
•Projection (e.g. Mercator)
•Scale (e.g. 1:80,000)
•Tidal information
Chart Title
Chart Title
Chart Title
 Chart Information
Title Block (cont.)
•Geodetic datum (e.g. WGS-84)
•Sounding datum (e.g. Mean Lower Low Water)
•Reference for water depth
•Vertical datum (e.g. High Water)
•Reference for height (bridges, etc.)
•Units of measure (e.g. feet)
Chart Title
 Chart Information
Chart Notes
•Placed wherever they’ll best fit

•Important information, such as:

•Local regulations
•Cautions & Warnings
•Unusual conditions
•Channel depth
•Can’t be shown by symbols/abbreviations
Chart Notes
 Chart Information
Distance
•Usually in nautical miles
•Measured using latitude scale (mercator)
•Sometimes in statute miles (rivers)
•Or, kilometers (foreign)

•Sometimes measured using graphic scale

 Chart Information
•Latitude – marked on sides of chart
•Longitude – marked on top and bottom
•Divisions depend on scale
•Small Scale = degrees and minutes
•Large Scale =
•Degrees, minutes and seconds, or
•Degrees, minutes and tenths of minutes
Chart Information
 Chart Information

Always check the divisions!

 Chart Information
•Latitude – North is always up.

•North of the equator – latitude

increases going up.

•South of the equator – latitude

increases going down.
 Chart Information
•Longitude – West is always to left.

•West longitude – longitude increases

going left.

•East longitude – longitude increases

going right.
 Chart Information
Direction
•Measured on Compass
Rose
•Outer circle = true
direction
•Inner circle = magnetic
direction
 Chart Information
Color
•Very important!
•Shows depth of water, shoal area, etc.
•Highlights navigation hazards
•Varies chart to chart
•Magenta is used vice red.
 Chart Information
Lettering
•Style & font communicate information
•Vertical letters (roman type) = always dry

•Italics = submerged & floating

 Chart No. 1

Nautical Symbols, Abbreviations and

Terms
•Published by NOS and NGA

•Shows all symbols used on charts

Chart No. 1
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Contour Lines

Connect points of
equal depth.
Chart No. 1
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Introduction to Navigation

Questions?