I am looking for a specific paper nautical chart

Introduction

Some voyages require a paper nautical chart that does not fit into the usual categories of coastal or general-purpose charts. A particular area, port, approach, passage, maritime activity or professional requirement may call for specialized cartography. The “I am looking for a specific paper nautical chart” category from Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop is designed for this purpose, bringing together charts intended for specific uses and geographical areas.

A paper nautical chart remains a reference document for voyage planning, studying a route, identifying depths, locating hazards, analysing port approaches and having a navigation reference independent of electronic equipment. Depending on the area and intended use, charts may be produced by SHOM, Admiralty, Imray, NV Charts or other national hydrographic offices.

This search may concern a nautical chart for the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Caribbean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean or polar regions. It may also concern a very specific area around a port or archipelago.

What is a specific paper nautical chart?

A specific nautical chart is a cartographic document designed to meet a requirement that goes beyond the general representation of a coastline. It may be intended for a particular geographical area, maritime activity or type of navigation requiring specialized information.

The term specific chart may therefore include several types of documents:

• nautical chart covering a particular geographical area;

• chart for navigation or approaches around a port;

• chart intended for offshore or ocean navigation;

• chart for polar regions;

• sedimentological chart showing seabed characteristics;

• exercise-area chart;

• fishing chart;

• magnetic declination chart;

• time zone chart;

• maritime routing chart or routeing chart;

• gnomonic or orthodromic chart;

• chart intended for navigation examination preparation;

• specialized cartographic document for professional maritime activities.

When looking for a specific nautical chart, several parameters should therefore be considered: geographical area, scale, type of projection, intended use, publisher and, where necessary, edition or publication date.

Charts for all navigation areas

Cartographic requirements vary considerably depending on the destination. Coastal navigation in France does not require the same documents as an Atlantic crossing or navigation in polar regions.

For the English Channel, charts may cover approaches to Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dieppe, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Saint-Malo or Brest. The cartography must allow sailors to study coastlines, channels, banks, currents and port approaches.

On the French Atlantic coast, specific charts may cover Brest, Lorient, Concarneau, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bayonne or Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The Bay of Biscay is also an important area for offshore navigation and passages between France, Spain and Portugal.

In the Mediterranean, a specific chart may cover Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Ajaccio, Bastia, Genoa, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca or Gibraltar. Cartography may also cover larger areas such as the Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea or Aegean Sea.

For international navigation, searches may extend to the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Caribbean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea or the major oceans.

Specific nautical charts and offshore navigation

Sailors planning an ocean passage often need documents that are not intended solely for coastal navigation. An Atlantic crossing between the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Caribbean, for example, involves a much larger maritime area than an approach chart for a port.

Specific charts can then be used to study major ocean routes, prevailing winds, currents and average conditions according to the season. Admiralty Routeing Charts are specifically intended for ocean passage planning.

For a voyage between Lisbon, the Azores and the Caribbean, several types of documents may be combined. Likewise, a Pacific crossing between Panama, the Galápagos, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Australia requires documentation suited to each stage.

Specific charts can also be useful for sailors planning a circumnavigation, a transatlantic crossing, a Pacific passage or navigation at high latitudes.

Major publishers and hydrographic offices

The choice of publisher mainly depends on the geographical area covered and the type of document required.

SHOM, the French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service, is the official French reference for maritime cartography. Its charts cover French metropolitan and overseas coasts and waters, as well as certain areas of international maritime interest.

Admiralty, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, provides extensive international coverage. Its range includes nautical charts, routeing charts and numerous documents intended for professional and offshore navigation.

Imray is particularly well known for charts intended for leisure sailing and coastal navigation in many regions, including Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and several ocean areas.

NV Charts also offers paper charts and chart sets covering various navigation areas, particularly in Europe and certain international regions.

Other charts may be produced by national hydrographic offices. For a foreign area, the most appropriate publisher therefore depends on the country, available coverage and intended use.

Understanding nautical chart scale

Scale is an essential criterion when looking for a specific paper nautical chart. A large-scale chart represents a relatively small area with more detail. It is particularly suitable for port approaches, channels and coastal navigation.

Conversely, a small-scale chart covers a much larger area but provides less detail. It is more suitable for passage planning or studying a general route.

A voyage may therefore require several complementary scales. A general chart can be used to plan the route, while a larger-scale chart can be used to study a port approach or anchorage in detail.

Projection, route and nautical calculations

Some specific charts are sought because of their cartographic projection. The Mercator projection is particularly suited to maritime navigation because a constant-course route, or rhumb line, is represented as a straight line.

Gnomonic charts have a different purpose. They can be used to represent great circles as straight lines and are therefore useful for studying orthodromic routes, meaning the shortest routes between two points on a sphere.

These documents can be used to plan long passages across the Atlantic, Pacific or Indian Ocean. They are particularly relevant to offshore sailors, navigation schools and maritime professionals.

Specialized charts for particular requirements

Some charts are not intended to directly follow a conventional navigation route but provide important additional information.

A SHOM G sedimentological chart provides information on seabed characteristics such as sand, mud, gravel, shingle or rock. It may be particularly useful for studying seabeds, certain maritime activities and coastal seabed characteristics.

A SHOM Z chart covers exercise areas and certain sectors subject to specific activities. It can complement the documentation required to understand local restrictions.

Magnetic declination charts provide information on the difference between true north and magnetic north. They are particularly useful for traditional compass navigation.

Time zone charts are intended for international navigation and ocean passages. They show changes in time zones and the International Date Line.

Fishing charts or specialized documents may provide information relating to seabeds, fishing areas or other maritime characteristics.

Which chart for which type of navigation?

Before looking for a specific paper nautical chart, it is useful to define its purpose:

• coastal navigation around a port;

• offshore passage planning;

• ocean navigation;

• circumnavigation;

• navigation in polar regions;

• navigation examination preparation;

• seabed study;

• professional maritime activity;

• fishing;

• study of currents and prevailing winds;

• preparation of an orthodromic or rhumb-line route;

• understanding a regulated or exercise area.

This distinction helps determine the most appropriate type of document, scale, projection and publisher.

Why use a specific paper chart?

Paper charts retain an important role in the preparation and conduct of many voyages. They provide an immediate overall view of an area and can be used with traditional navigation instruments such as a Breton plotter, bearing compass, protractor, dividers or other navigation tools.

They also provide a reference independent of electronic systems. During voyage planning, several charts can be used together to move progressively from a general view of the route to a detailed representation of the coastline and port approaches.

For international navigation, chart documentation should naturally be supplemented by other relevant nautical publications, including sailing directions, tide tables, regulatory documents and port information.

Searching for a chart for a specific area

Finding a specific nautical chart often means starting with the location rather than the chart type. A sailor may be looking for a chart covering French Polynesia, New Caledonia, the Caribbean, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Greenland, Antarctica, the Red Sea or the Northwest Passage.

The same approach applies to ports. A request for an approach chart for Marseille, Brest, Papeete, Nouméa, Sydney or Cape Town may require a different chart from one used offshore.

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop therefore provides this category as an entry point for searches involving paper charts that do not fit into a single geographical or standard-use category.

Conclusion

A specific paper nautical chart meets a precise cartographic requirement: a particular area, specialized navigation, maritime activity, projection, scale or ocean passage planning. From the French coastline to the major routes of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, requirements can vary considerably depending on the type of navigation.

SHOM, Admiralty, Imray, NV Charts and other national hydrographic offices provide documents covering many regions of the world. Choosing a chart requires consideration of its coverage, scale, projection, edition and intended use.

Whether planning navigation around Brest, Cherbourg, Marseille or La Rochelle, or preparing a passage between Lisbon, the Caribbean, Papeete, Nouméa or Sydney, precisely adapted paper cartography is an important part of nautical preparation.

FAQ

What is the difference between a standard nautical chart and a specific nautical chart?

A standard nautical chart is generally intended for navigation in a particular coastal or maritime area. A specific chart meets a particular requirement, such as ocean routing, an exercise area, seabed study, magnetic declination, a particular projection, fishing or polar navigation.

Which paper nautical chart should be used for an ocean crossing?

An ocean crossing generally requires charts covering a large area, supplemented at different stages by larger-scale charts. Specialized documents such as routeing charts can also contribute to passage planning.

Which brands publish paper nautical charts?

The main publishers and hydrographic offices include SHOM, Admiralty, Imray and NV Charts. Other national hydrographic offices also produce official charts for their respective areas.

Which chart should be used for navigation in the Mediterranean?

The choice depends on the area and level of detail required. Navigation around Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Barcelona or Genoa may require detailed coastal charts, while a Mediterranean crossing may require charts covering a much larger area.

Are there specific nautical charts for polar regions?

Yes. Specialized charts cover certain areas of the Arctic and Antarctic. They may cover Greenland, the Beaufort Sea, the Northwest Passage, the Ross Sea or the Antarctic Peninsula.

What is a gnomonic chart used for?

A gnomonic chart is mainly used to study orthodromic routes. On this projection, great circles are represented as straight lines, making it easier to determine the shortest route between two distant points.

What is a magnetic declination chart used for?

It provides information about the difference between true north and magnetic north in different regions. This information is used particularly for compass-navigation calculations.

Can a paper chart complement electronic navigation?

Yes. A paper chart can provide a useful complementary reference for route planning, overall visualization of an area and certain navigation calculations. However, it does not necessarily replace the documents and systems required for a particular voyage.

How should the scale of a nautical chart be chosen?

A large scale is generally suitable for areas requiring a high level of detail, such as port approaches. A small scale allows a larger area to be represented and is more suitable for general route planning or passage preparation.

Does SHOM only cover the French coastline?

SHOM is the French hydrographic office and produces cartography for French maritime areas, including metropolitan and overseas waters. It also publishes certain documents covering international maritime areas or areas of interest to navigation.

Why search for a nautical chart by port?

The port helps identify the precise area required. An approach chart for Brest, Marseille, Papeete or Nouméa will have different coverage and detail from a chart intended for an ocean passage.

What other documents should be used with a paper nautical chart?

Depending on the voyage, it may be necessary to consult sailing directions, tide tables, current atlases, regulatory publications, port guides and other hydrographic documents appropriate to the area being navigated.