I am looking for a paper nautical chart by publisher

Finding a paper nautical chart according to the publisher, hydrographic office and sailing area

Choosing a paper nautical chart often starts with a simple question: which publisher or hydrographic office covers the area in which I will be sailing? Depending on the country, sea, ocean or territory concerned, the nautical chart may be produced by a national hydrographic office or by a specialist publisher recognized for its nautical cartography.

Librairie Maritime Nautic Way brings together paper nautical charts from numerous official hydrographic offices and specialist publishers. The catalogue includes charts from Shom, Admiralty, NOAA, NGA, the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the Australian Hydrographic Office and Kartverket, as well as publications from specialist publishers such as Imray, NV Charts and Navicarte.

This organization reflects a reality of international navigation: a nautical chart suitable for the English Channel will not necessarily be the right reference for an Atlantic crossing, navigation in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean.

Searching by publisher therefore makes it possible to select charts corresponding to the geographical area, the level of detail required and the type of navigation planned.

Why choose a nautical chart by publisher?

National hydrographic offices have specialist knowledge of the maritime areas under their responsibility. They produce charts according to their own catalogues, numbering systems, formats, scales and cartographic conventions.

For international navigation, it is therefore common to encounter several publishers during the same voyage.

For example:

• navigation departing from Brest may require charts covering Brittany and the English Channel;

• a crossing towards the Caribbean may lead to searches for charts covering the Atlantic, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Caribbean Sea;

• navigation in the Mediterranean may involve Marseille, Toulon, Ajaccio, Barcelona, Palma, Valletta, Naples, Athens or Istanbul;

• a route towards the Indian Ocean may pass through the Suez Canal, Port Said, Suez, Jeddah, Aden, Salalah, Muscat, Mumbai, Colombo or Port Louis;

• navigation in the Pacific may involve Papeete, Nouméa, Auckland, Suva or Honolulu.

The publisher should therefore be considered a search criterion alongside the area, scale and format.

The main publishers and hydrographic offices

Shom is the French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service. Its charts cover the French coastline and numerous areas associated with French territories and the relevant maritime areas.

Admiralty, produced by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, is a major reference for international maritime cartography. Its charts cover numerous regions around the world.

NOAA has historically produced nautical charts covering the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes and certain areas of the Pacific and Atlantic. Traditional NOAA paper chart production was discontinued on January 1, 2025.

Other hydrographic offices are also sought for specific navigation areas: the Canadian Hydrographic Service for Canada, the Australian Hydrographic Office for Australia, Kartverket for Norway, the Icelandic Hydrographic Office for Iceland, as well as various European, Asian and Oceanian hydrographic services.

Alongside official organizations, specialist publishers such as Imray, NV Charts and Navicarte also produce charts for different types of navigation.

Shom nautical charts: C, L, G, Z and Raster

Shom offers several types of cartographic documents. They do not all meet the same requirements, and it is important to understand their differences before choosing a chart.

The Shom catalogue specifies that L charts contain the same cartographic information as C charts bearing the same number. G charts provide additional information about seabed characteristics and are not intended to replace the standard nautical chart.

The importance of scale

Choosing the publisher is not enough. Chart scale is also a decisive factor.

A small-scale chart represents a large maritime area but with a lower level of detail. Conversely, a large-scale chart covers a smaller area but provides more information for coastal navigation and harbour approaches.

The chart required for an Atlantic crossing is therefore not necessarily the same as the chart required for entering the ports of Brest, Cherbourg, Marseille, Papeete or Fort-de-France.

For complete passage planning, several scales may be required:

• a general chart to provide an overall view of the route;

• a passage chart for offshore navigation;

• a coastal chart for approaching the coastline;

• a large-scale chart for approaching a port or anchorage.

A nautical chart for every part of the world

Searching by publisher becomes particularly important when navigation extends beyond French waters.

In the Atlantic, charts may cover European coastlines, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the Caribbean or the American coast. The ports of Brest, Lisbon, Las Palmas, Mindelo, Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre and Miami are examples of destinations associated with these routes.

In the Mediterranean, cartography may cover France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece, Turkey or the Black Sea. Marseille, Toulon, Ajaccio, Barcelona, Palma, Valletta, Naples, Athens and Istanbul illustrate the diversity of ports concerned.

In the Indian Ocean and towards the Red Sea, charting requirements may extend from Suez and Port Said to Jeddah, Aden, Salalah, Muscat, Mumbai, Colombo, Malé, Victoria or Port Louis.

In the Pacific, charts may be searched for navigation around Papeete, Nouméa, Auckland, Suva or Honolulu.

Searching by area and publisher therefore makes it possible to progressively build the cartographic coverage required for a long-distance maritime route.

The paper chart in modern passage planning

The widespread use of GPS chartplotters and electronic systems has not eliminated the usefulness of paper charts. They remain a valuable tool for passage planning, overall geographical awareness and chart work.

A paper chart can be used to:

• obtain an overall view of a maritime area;

• plot a route graphically;

• identify major hazards and landmarks;

• measure distances;

• compare different stages of a voyage;

• maintain a reference independent of electronic equipment.

It can be used alongside digital cartography and other nautical documents required for voyage planning.

How to choose a nautical chart by publisher?

To carry out an effective search, it is useful to identify the following elements in sequence:

1. The sailing area: English Channel, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific, etc.

2. The hydrographic office or publisher: Shom, Admiralty, CHS, AHO, Kartverket, Imray, NV Charts, etc.

3. The chart type: standard chart, folded chart, specialist chart or digital chart.

4. The scale: general, passage, coastal or harbour.

5. The format: rolled or folded according to onboard use.

6. The edition date and corrections: an essential consideration before using a chart for navigation.

Shom paper charts are printed with the latest available correction at the time of production; however, Shom reminds mariners that they must ensure that the chart is properly kept up to date before use.

Conclusion

Searching for a paper nautical chart by publisher means starting with a particularly relevant criterion: identifying the organization or publisher responsible for charting the intended sailing area.

Shom offers several chart families designed for different uses. The Shom C is the traditional chart, the Shom L contains the same information in a folded format, the Shom G provides information about seabed characteristics, while the Shom Z identifies exercise and firing areas. Shom Raster, meanwhile, is a digital GeoTIFF version intended for compatible software.

For international navigation, other hydrographic offices and publishers complement this range: Admiralty, the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the Australian Hydrographic Office, Kartverket, NGA, Imray, NV Charts, Navicarte and other specialist producers.

The appropriate choice ultimately depends on four essential elements: the sailing area, publisher, scale and chart type. This method makes it possible to search for a nautical chart suitable for coastal navigation in the English Channel, an Atlantic crossing, a Mediterranean cruise or a round-the-world voyage.

FAQ – Paper nautical charts by publisher

Why search for a nautical chart by publisher?

Each hydrographic office or publisher has its own catalogue and covers specific geographical areas. Searching by publisher therefore makes it easier to identify charts corresponding to a particular sailing area.

Who are the main publishers of paper nautical charts?

Major producers include Shom, Admiralty, the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the Australian Hydrographic Office, Kartverket and NGA, as well as specialist publishers such as Imray, NV Charts and Navicarte.

What is the difference between a Shom C and a Shom L chart?

The Shom C is a traditional chart presented flat and generally rolled. The Shom L contains the same cartographic information as the corresponding C chart but is folded to A4 size.

What is a Shom G chart used for?

The Shom G is a seabed characteristics chart. It provides information about the distribution of sediments and complements standard nautical information. It is particularly intended for activities related to fishing and knowledge of the marine environment.

What is a Shom Z chart used for?

The Shom Z, or Zonex chart, contains an additional overlay indicating the boundaries and designation of exercise and firing areas used by maritime forces.

Is Shom Raster a paper nautical chart?

No. Shom Raster is a digital GeoTIFF chart. It corresponds to a georeferenced image of the printed nautical chart and can be used with certain compatible software.

Which chart should be chosen for an Atlantic crossing?

Charts should cover the entire route and take into account the different stages of navigation: departure, offshore crossing, approach to islands or coastlines, and arrival at a port.

Which chart should be used for a harbour approach?

A large-scale chart providing sufficient detail about the channel, depths, aids to navigation, hazards, harbour infrastructure and anchorages is generally required for a harbour approach.

Can several publishers be used for the same voyage?

Yes. International navigation may require several hydrographic offices or publishers when a route crosses different countries, territories or maritime areas.

Why is scale important on a nautical chart?

Scale determines the level of detail represented. A general chart covers a large area, whereas a coastal or harbour chart covers a smaller area with greater detail.

Which ports may be covered by these charts?

Depending on the area and publisher, charts may cover ports such as Brest, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Marseille, Toulon, Barcelona, Valletta, Athens, Suez, Aden, Muscat, Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, Papeete, Nouméa or Auckland.

Is a paper chart still useful with a GPS or chartplotter?

Yes. It provides an overall view of the sailing area and allows a route to be planned or checked independently of electronic equipment. It therefore complements digital cartography.