Nautical Chart for the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the world's major maritime navigation areas. It stretches between Europe and Africa to the east and the Americas to the west, from the Arctic regions to the southern waters. A nautical chart for the Atlantic Ocean is used to plan offshore navigation, transatlantic crossings, coastal passages, or routes connecting ports and island groups throughout the Atlantic.

Atlantic nautical charting covers an enormous area. It includes major ocean routes as well as coastal areas, straits, archipelagos, marginal seas and port approaches. Depending on its scale and geographical coverage, an Atlantic nautical chart may represent a large section of the ocean or focus on a specific area.

For navigators, a nautical chart is an essential reference for visualising the vessel's position, depths, hazards, coastlines, aids to navigation, ports and the main features required for route planning. Shom explains that nautical charts contain information relating to bathymetry, underwater hazards, coastlines, aids to navigation, regulated areas, offshore installations, ports and port approaches.

Charting the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic is generally divided into several major sectors to facilitate route planning and chart production.

These include:

• the North Atlantic;

• the central Atlantic;

• the tropical Atlantic;

• the South Atlantic;

• European approaches;

• the African coast;

• the North American coast;

• Central American and Caribbean waters;

• the South American coast;

• the Atlantic archipelagos.

This organisation makes it possible to select charts according to the type of navigation planned.

A passage between La Rochelle and the Caribbean, for example, does not require the same level of detail as navigation in the Gironde Estuary or approaching Fort-de-France.

For an ocean crossing, small-scale charts are useful for planning the overall route. For coastal navigation or port approaches, larger-scale charts become necessary.

The Main Seas and Regions of the Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean includes or connects with numerous seas and maritime regions, each with specific geographical and charting characteristics.

In the north are the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Greenland Sea, Iceland Sea and Labrador Sea.

To the west, the Atlantic connects with the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

To the south, maritime routes extend towards the waters around Brazil, Argentina, southern Africa and the sub-Antarctic islands.

Charts may also cover areas such as the Bay of Biscay, Celtic Sea, English Channel, Gulf of Guinea, Gulf of Tehuantepec and the various approaches to the Caribbean basin.

This diversity explains why the expression “nautical chart of the Atlantic Ocean” can refer to very different cartographic products depending on their scale and geographical coverage.

Transatlantic Routes

The Atlantic is particularly important for offshore navigation and transatlantic crossings.

Classic routes include:

• Europe – Caribbean;

• Europe – United States;

• Europe – Canada;

• Canary Islands – Cape Verde – Caribbean;

• Europe – Brazil;

• Africa – South America;

• South Africa – South America;

• routes to the Atlantic islands and South Atlantic.

For a transatlantic sailing passage, a general chart provides an overview of the entire route and the main island groups encountered along the way.

The Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean islands and islands in the Gulf of Guinea may serve as waypoints or intermediate destinations depending on the chosen route.

Chart planning should therefore be organised at several levels: a general chart for the ocean passage, regional charts for coastal areas and larger-scale charts for port and anchorage approaches.

Major Ports of the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic is home to some of the world's most important commercial ports.

In Europe, charts may cover approaches to Le Havre, Cherbourg, Brest, Saint-Nazaire, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Lisbon, Porto, A Coruña, Vigo and Cádiz.

In Africa, chart coverage includes ports such as Casablanca, Dakar, Banjul, Conakry, Freetown, Monrovia, Abidjan, Tema, Lomé, Lagos, Douala, Libreville, Pointe-Noire, Luanda and Walvis Bay.

In North America, relevant charted areas include Halifax, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah and Miami.

In South America, charts may cover Georgetown, Paramaribo, Cayenne, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

These ports illustrate the enormous geographical extent of Atlantic nautical charting.

Major Publishers and Hydrographic Services

Atlantic charting relies on the work of numerous national hydrographic services and specialist publishers.

Shom – Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine is the French reference organisation for nautical data and chart production. Its charts cover French coastal waters as well as numerous international maritime areas. Shom explains that its nautical products are produced from data that are collected, quality-controlled and compiled according to applicable standards for marine charting.

Admiralty / UKHO – United Kingdom Hydrographic Office provides one of the world's most extensive international chart coverages. Its series include the North Atlantic, European coasts, West Africa, the Caribbean and numerous ocean routes.

NGA – National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also provides data and charts covering the Atlantic. Its Digital Nautical Chart coverage includes several general Atlantic sectors between approximately 30°N and 60°S.

NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides nautical charting for US Atlantic waters and associated coastal areas. NOAA explains that its electronic navigational charts are designed for different types of navigation and represent depths, hazards, aids to navigation and coastal features.

Other organisations contribute to Atlantic coverage, including the hydrographic services of Canada, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa and many other coastal states.

Specialist private publishers such as Imray, Navicarte and NV Charts also produce chart series for selected Atlantic navigation areas.

The Importance of Scale on an Atlantic Nautical Chart

Scale is a fundamental consideration when selecting a nautical chart.

A small-scale chart represents a large geographical area with a greater degree of generalisation. It is suitable for planning an ocean crossing.

A medium-scale chart provides more detail for regional or coastal navigation.

A large-scale chart represents a smaller area with greater detail. It is suitable for port approaches, channels, anchorages and areas containing numerous hazards.

NOAA distinguishes between ocean, general, coastal and harbour charts according to their scale and intended use.

It is therefore important not to select a chart solely according to its geographical name. Its coverage and scale must correspond precisely to the intended stage of navigation.

Paper and Digital Atlantic Nautical Charts

Atlantic nautical charting is available in several formats.

A paper nautical chart allows the navigator to work with a broad geographical representation, plan a route and maintain an independent navigation reference that does not depend on electronic equipment.

A digital raster chart reproduces the appearance of a traditional chart in digital form and can be georeferenced for use with compatible software.

An Electronic Navigational Chart, or ENC, consists of digital geographical data organised as individual objects. NOAA notes that ENCs can be updated and used by different electronic navigation systems.

The choice of format therefore depends on the equipment being used, the planned navigation and the data available for the relevant area.

Offshore Navigation in the Atlantic

Offshore navigation in the Atlantic requires a different preparation process from coastal navigation.

During an ocean passage, the chart is used to:

• define the general route;

• visualise distances;

• identify archipelagos and waypoints;

• locate coastal areas;

• plan departures and arrivals;

• organise chart changes;

• identify areas requiring more detailed charts.

A nautical chart does not, however, provide all the information required for navigation. Weather information, currents, tides, navigational warnings, maritime safety information and the actual conditions encountered at sea must also be considered.

Shom explains that a nautical chart, whether paper or digital, is a fundamental component of nautical information but cannot, by itself, provide all the information required within the appropriate time frame.

Preparing a Transatlantic Crossing

Cartographic preparation for a transatlantic crossing begins with defining the route.

For a voyage between Europe and the Caribbean, for example, it is necessary to distinguish between the European departure area, the central Atlantic crossing and the approach to the Caribbean.

A route from the Canary Islands to Martinique requires chart coverage of the tropical Atlantic, the relevant waypoints and the Caribbean approaches. A passage between Lisbon and the Azores requires different coverage, including charts suitable for Portuguese coastal waters and the approaches to the archipelago.

A thorough preparation process includes:

• defining the geographical limits of the route;

• identifying the required general charts;

• determining which areas require more detailed charts;

• checking the relevant scales;

• identifying departure, arrival and diversion ports;

• checking applicable editions and corrections;

• preparing digital charts compatible with the navigation system;

• maintaining an appropriate cartographic backup resource.

Charting for All Atlantic Navigation Areas

The Atlantic Ocean is an enormous and highly diverse maritime environment. A single area may require several levels of charting: ocean, regional, coastal and harbour.

From the Bay of Biscay to the Caribbean, from the Azores to Cape Verde, from the African coast to Brazil, or from Canada to Bermuda, each sector has its own geographical and hydrographic characteristics.

Atlantic charting should therefore be understood as a coherent set of complementary charts rather than as one chart covering the entire region uniformly.

Conclusion

A nautical chart of the Atlantic Ocean is an essential tool for preparing navigation between Europe, Africa and the Americas. It represents major ocean routes, coastlines, depths, hazards, archipelagos, ports and the various seas associated with the Atlantic.

The choice of chart depends primarily on the geographical area, scale, type of navigation and level of detail required. For a transatlantic crossing, general charts are used to plan the ocean passage, while regional and coastal charts become essential when approaching land and ports.

Shom, Admiralty/UKHO, NGA, NOAA and numerous other hydrographic services contribute to the charting of this immense maritime area. Specialist publishers such as Imray, Navicarte and NV Charts complement this coverage for selected Atlantic regions and navigation requirements.

FAQ – Nautical Chart for the Atlantic Ocean

What is a nautical chart of the Atlantic Ocean?

A nautical chart of the Atlantic Ocean is a cartographic document designed for navigation in Atlantic waters. Depending on its area and scale, it may show depths, coastlines, hazards, aids to navigation, ports, anchorages and the main features required for route planning.

Which areas are covered by Atlantic nautical charts?

Coverage may include the North Atlantic, central Atlantic, tropical Atlantic and South Atlantic, as well as European, African, North American and South American coasts and the various Atlantic archipelagos.

Which seas are connected to the Atlantic Ocean?

Major seas and maritime areas associated with the Atlantic include the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Greenland Sea, Iceland Sea, Labrador Sea and Caribbean Sea, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Bay of Biscay.

Which chart should be used for a transatlantic crossing?

A transatlantic crossing generally requires small-scale charts for planning the ocean route, supplemented by regional and larger-scale charts for departure and arrival areas, archipelagos and port approaches.

What are the main ports of the Atlantic Ocean?

Major Atlantic ports include Le Havre, Brest, Bordeaux, Lisbon, Bilbao, Dakar, Casablanca, Cape Town, Halifax, New York, Miami, Cayenne, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Buenos Aires.

Which publishers produce Atlantic nautical charts?

Atlantic chart coverage includes Shom, Admiralty/UKHO, NGA and NOAA, as well as numerous national hydrographic services. Private publishers such as Imray, Navicarte and NV Charts also produce charts for different Atlantic regions.

Are digital nautical charts available for the Atlantic Ocean?

Yes. Digital raster charts and electronic vector charts are available for different Atlantic sectors. The available formats and compatibility depend on the publisher, geographical area and navigation system being used.

What is the difference between a general Atlantic chart and a coastal chart?

A general chart covers a much larger geographical area and is primarily used for offshore navigation and long-distance route planning. A coastal chart covers a smaller area with more detailed information on depths, hazards, channels and coastal features.

Why is scale important on an Atlantic nautical chart?

Scale determines the level of detail represented. A small scale allows a large part of the Atlantic to be covered, while a large scale allows coastlines, ports, channels and anchorages to be represented in greater detail.

Which charts are needed to sail from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean?

A voyage from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean requires appropriate coverage of the tropical Atlantic for the ocean crossing, followed by larger-scale charts for approaching and navigating in the Caribbean.

Is a nautical chart sufficient for planning an Atlantic crossing?

No. A chart is an essential foundation for voyage planning but should be supplemented by relevant nautical, meteorological and maritime safety information. Currents, tides, navigational warnings and actual conditions encountered at sea must also be considered.

Are there Shom charts of the Atlantic Ocean?

Yes. Shom coverage includes numerous Atlantic areas, particularly European and African coasts, American waters and several ocean sectors. Digital raster GeoTIFF charts are also available for selected Atlantic regions.

Are there Admiralty charts of the Atlantic Ocean?

Yes. Admiralty/UKHO has extensive international coverage of the Atlantic, including European, African and American coasts, the Caribbean and major ocean routes.

Are there NOAA charts for the Atlantic?

Yes. NOAA produces nautical charts covering US Atlantic waters, including the East Coast of the United States and associated areas around Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. NOAA now primarily provides electronic navigational charts while retaining certain forms of paper chart production.