Admiralty Nautical Charts – Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Arabian Sea

Introduction

Admiralty nautical charts covering the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf are designed for planning coastal, offshore and long-distance navigation in one of the world's major maritime regions. Published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), they provide detailed charting of the maritime areas between the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and the major commercial shipping routes of the Middle East.

This region forms a particularly important maritime network. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, while the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait provides the passage between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Further east, the Gulf of Oman provides access to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, while the Strait of Hormuz forms the gateway to the Persian Gulf.

An appropriate Admiralty nautical chart allows navigators to study depths, soundings, shoals, hazards, wrecks, rocks, lights, lighthouses, buoys, navigation marks, channels, ports and other navigational aids.

Admiralty nautical charts for this region

The different Admiralty chart references cover specific geographical areas. The choice of chart therefore depends directly on the area concerned and the type of navigation planned.

An Admiralty nautical chart of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden or Persian Gulf may show:

• depths and soundings;

• depth contours and depth areas;

• shoals and hazards;

• wrecks and obstructions;

• reefs and rocks;

• navigable channels;

• buoys and navigation marks;

• lighthouses and lights;

• anchorage areas;

• ports and harbour facilities;

• traffic separation schemes;

• regulated or restricted areas.

The wealth of charted information makes it possible to plan a route while taking account of seabed configuration and maritime infrastructure.

The Gulf of Suez and access to the Suez Canal

The Gulf of Suez forms the northern part of the Red Sea. It leads towards the Suez Canal, a major shipping route between the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea.

Navigation in this area requires careful planning because of channels, port and industrial facilities, traffic areas and sectors where available depth can be an important consideration.

An Admiralty chart of the Gulf of Suez can be used to study:

• approaches to the Suez Canal;

• major ports;

• channels;

• depths;

• anchorage areas;

• navigational aids;

• shipping traffic areas.

For a route connecting the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean, chart coverage should be considered for the entire passage rather than only the area around the canal.

The Red Sea

The Red Sea is a long maritime basin between north-eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It forms a major international shipping route connecting the Suez Canal with the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The Red Sea is characterised by desert coastlines, reefs, islands, shoals and numerous areas where accurate charting is important.

An Admiralty nautical chart of the Red Sea can be used to plan:

• a north–south Red Sea passage;

• coastal navigation in Egypt;

• navigation along the Arabian Peninsula;

• approaches to Red Sea ports;

• a route towards the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Navigators should also take local weather conditions, winds and the characteristics of the coastal areas into account.

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait forms the passage between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is an essential transition area for vessels travelling between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean.

The Gulf of Aden is a large maritime area between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.

An Admiralty nautical chart of the Gulf of Aden can be used to plan a route while identifying:

• depths;

• charted hazards;

• navigational aids;

• ports;

• channels;

• traffic areas;

• characteristics of coastal approaches.

For vessels undertaking long-distance passages, charting should be considered together with the relevant nautical and operational information for the area and period concerned.

The Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea is a vast navigation area between the Arabian Peninsula, India and Pakistan, opening towards the Indian Ocean.

The considerable distances involved make route planning and the selection of appropriate charting particularly important for the different stages of a passage.

An Admiralty nautical chart of the Arabian Sea can be used to plan:

• offshore passages;

• navigation between the Arabian Peninsula and India;

• routes towards the Gulf of Oman;

• professional navigation;

• approaches to major port areas.

Small-scale charting provides an overview of a large maritime area, while larger-scale charts are required for coastal navigation and port approaches.

The Gulf of Oman

The Gulf of Oman provides the transition between the Arabian Sea and Strait of Hormuz. It borders, among others, the coasts of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

This area forms an important commercial and maritime route. Admiralty charts can be used to study coastal areas, ports, channels and navigational aids.

An Admiralty nautical chart of the Gulf of Oman can be used to plan:

• navigation between Oman and the United Arab Emirates;

• a route towards the Strait of Hormuz;

• coastal navigation;

• a port approach;

• a passage towards the Arabian Sea.

The Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf is a large semi-enclosed maritime area bordered by several Middle Eastern states. It contains numerous commercial ports, oil terminals and offshore facilities.

Navigation requires charting suited to the density of infrastructure and maritime traffic.

An Admiralty nautical chart of the Persian Gulf can be used to study:

• port access channels;

• depths;

• shoals;

• port facilities;

• offshore terminals;

• buoys and navigation marks;

• regulated navigation areas;

• approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.

For commercial and professional vessels, accurate chart planning is particularly important in port areas and high-traffic zones.

The Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a strategically important maritime passage.

Navigation in this area requires consideration of the geographical configuration of the strait, the density of maritime traffic and the various navigational aids represented on the charts.

An appropriate Admiralty chart of the Strait of Hormuz can be used to plan a route between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

For a complete passage between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, however, the Strait of Hormuz is only one part of the route. Chart coverage should be consistent with the entire voyage.

The importance of chart scale

Choosing the appropriate chart scale is essential when selecting an Admiralty nautical chart for this region.

A small-scale chart provides an overview of a large maritime area and is particularly useful for general planning of a long-distance passage.

A larger-scale chart provides greater detail for coastal and port approaches.

The main factors to consider are:

• geographical area;

• route length;

• departure port;

• destination port;

• coastal areas to be visited;

• level of detail required;

• type of navigation.

For a route between Europe and the Indian Ocean, several chart references and different scales may be required.

Example: Mediterranean Sea to Indian Ocean passage

Consider a vessel travelling from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal.

Chart planning should successively cover:

1. approaches to the Suez Canal;

2. the Gulf of Suez;

3. the Red Sea;

4. the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait;

5. the Gulf of Aden;

6. the Arabian Sea;

7. the approach to the destination in the Indian Ocean.

At each stage, the navigator should check that the chart being used provides a scale appropriate to the planned navigation.

For port approaches, larger-scale charts may be required to provide sufficient detail.

Professional and commercial navigation

This geographical region is particularly important for international commercial shipping. Admiralty charts can therefore be used as part of passage planning for:

• merchant vessels;

• cargo ships;

• tankers;

• offshore service vessels;

• professional vessels;

• international passages;

• port approaches.

Charting should be considered as one element of the overall navigational preparation and used together with the appropriate regulatory and nautical information.

Recreational navigation and long-distance passages

Recreational sailors planning a long-distance passage may also require chart coverage for this geographical region. A passage between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean can involve crossing several maritime basins in succession.

Passage planning should therefore cover the entire route and take into account the specific characteristics of each area.

An Admiralty nautical chart can be used to:

• visualise the overall route;

• identify hazards;

• prepare coastal approaches;

• locate ports;

• study channels;

• plan the stages of the voyage.

How to choose an Admiralty nautical chart of the Red Sea or Persian Gulf

The selection of a chart should begin by precisely identifying the area being navigated.

The main criteria are:

• maritime basin concerned;

• geographical area;

• planned route;

• chart scale;

• type of navigation;

• ports concerned;

• level of detail required.

A chart covering the Gulf of Suez will not serve the same purpose as a chart intended for a port approach in the Persian Gulf. For a long-distance passage, several chart references will generally be required to cover the different stages of the voyage.

Conclusion

Admiralty nautical charts covering the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, as well as the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, cover maritime areas that are essential for navigation between Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.

They provide information on depths, soundings, shoals, hazards, wrecks, reefs, buoys, navigation marks, lights, ports, channels and other information required for route planning.

The appropriate Admiralty chart depends on the geographical area, planned route, chart scale and required level of detail. For a long-distance passage, particularly between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, several chart references may be required to provide suitable coverage for each stage.

FAQ – Admiralty nautical charts for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

Which Admiralty nautical chart should I use for the Red Sea?

The choice depends on the specific area of the Red Sea, the planned route and the required chart scale. Several references may be necessary to cover a long north–south passage.

Which Admiralty chart should I use for navigating the Gulf of Aden?

A chart reference covering the specific section of the Gulf of Aden concerned should be selected, with a scale appropriate to the planned navigation.

Do Admiralty charts cover the Persian Gulf?

The Admiralty range includes references covering different areas of the Persian Gulf. The appropriate reference depends on the area, planned route and required level of detail.

Which nautical chart should I use for the Gulf of Oman?

An appropriate Admiralty chart of the Gulf of Oman can be used to plan navigation between the Arabian Sea, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, depending on the area covered by the selected chart reference.

Do Admiralty charts cover the Strait of Hormuz?

Admiralty chart references cover areas relevant to navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Exact coverage should be checked according to the required chart reference.

Which Admiralty charts should I use for a Mediterranean–Indian Ocean passage?

Such a passage generally requires several chart references covering the different stages: Suez Canal, Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and the approach to the Indian Ocean.

Do Admiralty Red Sea charts show ports and channels?

Depending on their scale and coverage, charts show ports, channels, navigational aids, depths and other information useful for passage planning.

What chart scale should I choose for a Persian Gulf nautical chart?

The scale depends on the intended use. A small scale is suitable for general route planning, while a larger scale is required for coastal and port approaches.

Are Admiralty charts suitable for professional navigation in this region?

They are widely used for professional and commercial passage planning, particularly in areas of international shipping. They should be used together with the other relevant nautical and regulatory information.

Is a nautical chart alone sufficient for navigating the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden?

No. Passage planning should also take into account up-to-date nautical information, weather conditions, Notices to Mariners, applicable regulations and other relevant data for the area and period concerned.