Admiralty Pacific Ocean Nautical Chart: Charting for Offshore Navigation and Ocean Passages

The Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart is designed for planning offshore navigation, ocean passages and circumnavigation projects across the largest ocean in the world. Published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), Admiralty charting makes it possible to represent vast maritime areas and plan the major stages of a route between the Americas, Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Navigating the Pacific requires working across enormous distances and through highly varied maritime environments. An Admiralty Pacific Ocean chart provides an overall view of the route and places each stage within its wider geographical context.

It is, however, a large-scale planning document and does not replace the more detailed nautical charts required for coastal navigation, approaches to archipelagos, passages between islands or approaches to ports and anchorages.

What is an Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart used for?

An Admiralty nautical chart covering the Pacific Ocean is primarily used to prepare and visualise navigation over very long distances.

It can be used to:

• plan a Pacific Ocean crossing;

• plan a voyage between the Americas and Polynesia;

• prepare a route between Polynesia and New Zealand;

• plan a voyage towards Australia or Asia;

• prepare a circumnavigation;

• visualise the main Pacific archipelagos;

• compare different ocean routes;

• identify the major stages of a long-distance voyage;

• plan transitions between different chart coverage areas;

• maintain an overall view of an international navigation project.

For a sailor preparing a Pacific crossing, this overall representation provides a first level of planning. It allows the general route to be determined before selecting charts at appropriate scales for each stage.

The Pacific: an exceptionally vast maritime area

The Pacific Ocean presents a particularly demanding cartographic environment. Distances between land masses can reach several thousand nautical miles, and some routes cross vast areas with no shelter.

Navigation may also involve very different regions:

• the west coast of North America;

• the west coast of South America;

• French Polynesia;

• the Cook Islands;

• Tonga;

• Fiji;

• Vanuatu;

• New Caledonia;

• New Zealand;

• Australia;

• Melanesia;

• Micronesia;

• the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

A Pacific Ocean nautical chart allows these different areas to be placed within a consistent representation and helps organise the major stages of an itinerary.

For a circumnavigation following the trade winds, for example, it provides an overview of the succession of ocean basins and archipelagos crossed before each area is studied at a more detailed scale.

Planning a Pacific crossing

A Pacific crossing requires charting appropriate to the length and nature of the voyage.

Take the example of a sailing yacht departing from the west coast of Mexico and heading for French Polynesia.

The first stage is to determine the general route and the main areas crossed. A small-scale chart allows the navigator to visualise:

• the departure point;

• the destination area;

• the overall distance to be covered;

• archipelagos located on or near the route;

• different route options;

• possible intermediate stopovers.

The navigator can then use passage charts and larger-scale charts to prepare each sector in greater detail.

The same approach applies to sailing between French Polynesia and New Zealand, between Pacific islands or as part of a voyage linking Australia and Asia.

Admiralty Pacific chart and offshore navigation

Offshore navigation requires a representation suited to long distances. The navigator must be able to think on a scale of several hundred or several thousand nautical miles.

An Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart can be used to analyse:

• the general direction of the route;

• distances between different stages;

• the maritime areas crossed;

• the position of archipelagos;

• possible stopovers;

• successive chart coverage areas;

• the overall organisation of the voyage.

It is therefore particularly suited to offshore skippers, circumnavigators, delivery crews and sailors preparing international passages.

Using a Pacific chart for a circumnavigation

The Pacific Ocean plays a major role in many round-the-world sailing projects.

A sailor departing from Europe may, depending on the chosen route, cross the Atlantic, transit the Panama Canal and enter the Pacific before continuing towards Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia or Asia.

In this context, an Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart makes it possible to maintain an overall representation of the entire route.

It can be used to:

• visualise the Pacific section of a circumnavigation;

• identify the main archipelagos;

• organise the major stages;

• plan transitions between navigation areas;

• compare different routes;

• monitor the overall progress of the project.

This global overview complements the charts used on board for day-to-day navigation.

A complement to electronic navigation systems

GPS, ECDIS, chartplotters and routing software now play a central role in the preparation and monitoring of ocean passages.

Paper charts nevertheless provide a complementary function.

An Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart provides a physical representation of the route that is independent of electronic systems. It does not depend on a battery, screen, software or network connection.

For long-distance navigation, this independence can be particularly useful. A paper chart also provides a rapid overall view of the voyage, while electronic systems are often used at more detailed scales.

Combining paper and electronic navigation therefore provides several complementary levels of representation.

Which scale should you choose for navigation in the Pacific?

The appropriate scale depends on the stage of navigation.

For planning a crossing or viewing the Pacific as a whole, a small-scale chart is appropriate.

For following an ocean route, a passage chart provides greater detail.

For navigating close to an archipelago or coastline, a coastal chart is required.

Finally, for entering a port, following a channel or planning an anchorage, a detailed chart or harbour plan is essential.

It is therefore useful to distinguish between:

• world or planning chart: overall view;

• ocean or passage chart: navigation between distant areas;

• coastal chart: navigation along the coast;

• detailed chart: approaches to complex areas;

• harbour plan: navigation within ports and their approaches.

This organisation by chart scale makes it possible to build consistent nautical documentation.

Admiralty Pacific Ocean chart for navigation schools

Admiralty charts can also be used in maritime training.

A Pacific Ocean chart provides a useful educational resource for studying:

• maritime geography;

• major ocean routes;

• passage planning;

• circumnavigation planning;

• differences between chart scales;

• the organisation of nautical documentation.

It allows students to understand how to move from a general representation of an ocean to increasingly detailed charts as navigation approaches a coastline or archipelago.

Who are Pacific Ocean nautical charts intended for?

An Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart can meet the needs of many different users:

• sailors preparing a Pacific crossing;

• offshore navigators;

• circumnavigators;

• professional skippers;

• delivery crews;

• merchant navy professionals;

• navigation schools;

• instructors;

• maritime cartography enthusiasts;

• sailors preparing an international navigation project.

It is particularly relevant for projects requiring long-term planning and a representation of vast ocean distances.

Why choose Admiralty charting for the Pacific?

Admiralty charting is published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), the British national hydrographic organisation whose publications are widely used throughout the international maritime sector.

For the navigator, the advantages of an Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart include:

• coverage suited to international navigation;

• consistent representation of maritime areas;

• suitability for planning major routes;

• complementarity with larger-scale charts;

• possible use in maritime training;

• a paper representation independent of electronic systems.

The choice of chart should nevertheless always take into account the exact navigation area, the required scale and the level of detail needed.

Preparing a Pacific voyage with appropriate nautical documentation

Preparing a voyage across the Pacific requires several levels of information.

A general chart makes it possible to establish the overall strategy of the voyage. Passage charts can then be used to prepare individual crossings. Coastal and detailed charts take over when approaching land, archipelagos and ports.

This organisation is particularly important in the Pacific, where a voyage can alternate between very long ocean passages and coastal or island approaches that may be technically more demanding.

Good preparation therefore means anticipating the charting requirements for each stage rather than relying on a single chart for the entire voyage.

Conclusion

The Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart is a reference tool for planning major voyages across the largest ocean in the world. It makes it possible to visualise the principal archipelagos, major routes and stages of a voyage between the Americas, Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Particularly suited to ocean passages, offshore navigation and circumnavigation projects, it provides a first level of planning that should be complemented by passage, coastal and detailed charts according to the area being navigated.

For a sailor preparing a Pacific crossing or a round-the-world voyage, it therefore provides an overall view that is essential to developing a coherent navigation strategy.

FAQ – Admiralty Pacific Ocean Nautical Chart

What is an Admiralty Pacific Ocean nautical chart used for?

It is primarily used to prepare and visualise major ocean routes, Pacific crossings, offshore navigation projects and circumnavigations.

Is an Admiralty Pacific chart suitable for an ocean crossing?

Yes. It allows the general route to be planned and the major distances to be visualised. Passage charts and larger-scale charts are nevertheless required for operational navigation.

Can an Admiralty Pacific Ocean chart be used for navigation in Polynesia?

A general chart allows Polynesia to be visualised and the major stages to be planned. To navigate between islands, approach passes and enter anchorages, larger-scale charts covering the relevant areas are required.

Which chart should be used for a passage between the Americas and Polynesia?

A small-scale or planning chart can be used to establish the general route. It should then be complemented by passage charts and detailed charts covering the different sectors of the voyage.

Is an Admiralty Pacific Ocean chart useful for a round-the-world voyage?

Yes. It allows the entire Pacific section of a circumnavigation to be represented and the major stages to be planned before each area is studied using more detailed charts.

Is a paper chart still useful for navigation in the Pacific?

Yes. It provides a resource independent of batteries, screens, software and network connections. It can effectively complement the electronic systems used on board.

What is the difference between a Pacific Ocean chart and a coastal chart?

A general Pacific Ocean chart covers a very large area but provides a limited level of detail. A coastal chart covers a smaller area and provides more information for navigation close to the coastline.

Are Admiralty Pacific charts used by professionals?

UKHO Admiralty charting is widely used throughout the professional maritime sector and in maritime training. It is particularly suited to route planning and international navigation.

Is an Admiralty Pacific chart suitable for circumnavigators?

Yes. It allows navigators to maintain an overall view of the route and the main areas crossed during the Pacific section of a round-the-world voyage.

Which navigators use Pacific Ocean nautical charts?

They can be useful to offshore recreational sailors, circumnavigators, skippers, delivery crews, merchant navy professionals, navigation schools and sailors preparing an international passage.

Do you need a different chart for each Pacific archipelago?

For precise navigation around an archipelago, larger-scale charts covering the relevant area are generally required. The general Pacific chart is primarily used for overall planning.

Does an Admiralty Pacific chart replace a GPS?

No. Paper charts and GPS fulfil complementary functions. The paper chart provides a representation independent of electronic systems, while GPS provides an electronic position that can be used to monitor the route.