General Navigation Publications in Paper Format

Introduction

General navigation publications in paper format bring together technical references that help navigators understand the principles of maritime navigation, nautical documentation, buoyage, meteorology, regulations, navigation instruments and the methods used to prepare and conduct a voyage.

Unlike sailing directions dedicated to a specific region or cruising guides focused on ports and stopovers, a general publication deals with a cross-disciplinary subject. Its content can therefore be used in the English Channel, the Mediterranean, the Bay of Biscay, the North Sea or during an ocean passage.

The General Navigation Publications in Paper Format category at Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop includes references from the SHOM – French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service, the Admiralty – United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, the Canadian Hydrographic Service and other specialist organisations. The catalogue includes publications covering chart symbols and abbreviations, hydrography, marine meteorology, COLREGs, maintenance of nautical documents and the use of electronic navigation data.

What are general navigation publications used for?

These publications provide a knowledge base that enables navigators to correctly understand and interpret the information used on board.

They can be consulted to:

• understand symbols and abbreviations used on nautical charts;

• learn international navigation rules;

• interpret maritime buoyage;

• study meteorological phenomena;

• understand the principles of hydrography;

• learn navigation methods;

• use navigation instruments correctly;

• understand procedures for updating nautical documents;

• interpret symbols used by electronic navigation systems.

This documentation is particularly important because a chart, electronic navigation system or weather report can only be used correctly when the navigator understands the conventions and methods behind the data.

Why choose a paper publication?

Paper retains an important role in an onboard nautical library.

It offers several advantages:

• immediate consultation without electrical power;

• use without a computer or tablet;

• permanent access to reference information;

• convenient consultation at the chart table;

• the possibility of making notes where appropriate;

• a backup solution in case of electronic failure;

• comfortable reading of technical tables, symbols and text.

For a navigator who primarily uses electronic navigation, a paper publication also provides a form of documentary redundancy.

This redundancy is particularly relevant on a sailing yacht or vessel undertaking long passages. A failure of a screen, chartplotter, computer or electrical supply should not prevent the crew from accessing the knowledge required for safe navigation.

Chart symbols, abbreviations and conventions

Understanding a nautical chart requires knowledge of the symbols, abbreviations and conventions used by the hydrographic office that produced it.

A general publication covering nautical chart symbols and abbreviations can help explain information relating to:

• depths;

• hazards;

• wrecks;

• rocks;

• navigational aids;

• lights;

• buoys;

• regulated areas;

• harbour installations;

• topographical information;

• nautical abbreviations.

SHOM publishes documentation covering symbols, abbreviations and terms used on French nautical charts. The Nautic Way catalogue also includes the SHOM 001-DNOA reference covering symbols and abbreviations appearing on French nautical charts.

This type of documentation is useful both for beginners and for experienced navigators who need to verify the exact meaning of a particular symbol.

Understanding hydrography and nautical documents

Hydrography provides the scientific foundation of marine cartography.

A general publication dealing with hydrography, nautical documents, their limitations and their proper use helps navigators understand how the information they use is surveyed, represented and interpreted.

This knowledge is important because a nautical chart is not an absolute or unchanging representation of the seabed. Survey methods, data quality, the age of the information and natural changes in the marine environment must all be considered.

Navigators therefore need to understand the limitations of the documents they use and maintain a critical approach to the information available.

This is particularly important in areas where seabed conditions can change or where hydrographic data may be relatively old.

International regulations and collision prevention

General publications also include documents covering the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, commonly known as the COLREGs.

These rules define the principles applying to encounters between vessels, crossing situations, overtaking, vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and many other specific situations.

Understanding navigation lights, day shapes and sound signals is also an essential part of these regulations.

This knowledge is universal and can be applied in areas as diverse as:

• the English Channel;

• the North Sea;

• the Bay of Biscay;

• the Mediterranean;

• the Strait of Gibraltar;

• the Caribbean;

• the Indian Ocean;

• the Pacific Ocean.

It becomes particularly important in areas with heavy traffic, such as the approaches to Le Havre, Rotterdam, Southampton, Marseille or Gibraltar.

Maritime signalling and buoyage

Maritime signalling is another essential subject covered by general publications.

Navigators need to distinguish lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, special and new danger marks, while also understanding their colours, shapes and light characteristics.

A general publication on maritime signalling helps explain the logic of the buoyage system rather than simply requiring navigators to memorise individual rules.

This knowledge can then be applied in very different environments.

In the English Channel, it is useful around Cherbourg, Dieppe, Le Havre or Calais. In Brittany, it can be applied around Brest, Ouessant, Lorient or Saint-Malo. In the Atlantic, it is useful for approaches to La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bayonne or La Coruña. In the Mediterranean, it applies around Marseille, Toulon, Ajaccio, Bastia, Barcelona or Genoa.

Charts published by SHOM, Admiralty, NV Charts and different national hydrographic offices use their own documentary conventions, making knowledge of symbols and representation systems particularly useful for international navigation.

Marine meteorology

Meteorology is an essential component of nautical decision-making.

A general publication on marine meteorology allows navigators to go beyond simply checking a forecast.

It can provide information about:

• general meteorology;

• tropical meteorology;

• low-pressure systems;

• high-pressure systems;

• fronts;

• winds;

• sea conditions;

• clouds;

• fog;

• sea ice;

• icebergs;

• icing;

• hazardous weather phenomena;

• meteorological observations made by ships;

• weather reports and messages transmitted to navigators.

SHOM's Météorologie Maritime 95 publication covers general and tropical meteorology, ice, sea conditions, clouds, meteorological information intended for navigators and the principal coded messages used in marine meteorology.

This knowledge is useful in the North Atlantic as well as in the Mediterranean and tropical regions.

A navigator sailing from the Canary Islands towards the Caribbean, for example, needs to understand trade winds and tropical phenomena. A crew crossing the Bay of Biscay must monitor Atlantic depressions and changes in sea conditions. In the western Mediterranean, understanding the Mistral and the effects of coastal relief can be particularly important.

Tides, currents and oceanographic phenomena

Some general publications also help explain coastal ocean tides and related phenomena.

Tides are primarily caused by astronomical factors, but their effects vary considerably according to coastline configuration, seabed characteristics and individual sea basins.

Understanding these mechanisms helps navigators interpret tidal times and heights, tidal coefficients, currents and changes in sea level.

This knowledge is particularly important in the English Channel, where tidal ranges can be considerable, as well as around ports such as Saint-Malo, Granville, Cherbourg, Brest and Le Havre.

It also remains useful in the Bay of Biscay, North Sea and many other coastal areas.

Navigation methods and instruments

General publications can also cover navigation methods and instruments.

They help explain the operation and limitations of different positioning and navigation systems:

• compasses;

• measuring instruments;

• electronic systems;

• GPS and GNSS;

• radar;

• navigation aids;

• coastal navigation methods;

• celestial navigation;

• integrated navigation systems.

This approach is particularly useful at a time when electronic navigation occupies an increasingly important position on board.

Navigators need to understand not only what equipment can do, but also its limitations and the consequences of incorrect or unreliable data.

Paper documentation and electronic navigation

The widespread use of chartplotters, GNSS systems, navigation applications and electronic data has not eliminated the importance of fundamental knowledge.

On the contrary, the more information is automated, the more important it becomes to understand its origin and meaning.

A general publication helps navigators interpret information displayed by an electronic system and identify possible inconsistencies.

Admiralty publications covering chart maintenance, paper chart symbols and ENC symbols used in ECDIS illustrate this complementarity between traditional documentation and electronic navigation. The Nautic Way paper catalogue includes references such as NP294 – How to Correct, NP5011 – Symbols and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Paper Charts and NP5012 – Guide to ENC Symbols used in ECDIS.

Who are these publications intended for?

General publications in paper format can be used by:

• beginner sailors;

• navigators preparing for maritime training;

• experienced recreational sailors;

• skippers;

• offshore navigators;

• sailing and motorboat crews;

• commercial fishermen;

• merchant seafarers;

• maritime schools and training centres;

• teachers and instructors.

For beginners, these books help progressively build a solid maritime knowledge base.

For experienced navigators, they serve as reference documentation for checking a rule, studying a subject in greater depth or finding a specific technical detail.

Documentation applicable to all seas

The main advantage of general publications is their broad geographical scope.

The principles they explain can be applied in:

• the English Channel;

• the North Sea;

• the Iroise Sea;

• the Bay of Biscay;

• the Mediterranean;

• the Adriatic;

• the Baltic Sea;

• the Caribbean;

• the Red Sea;

• the Indian Ocean;

• the North and South Atlantic;

• the Pacific Ocean.

The geographical documentation used alongside these principles naturally depends on the area. SHOM is a major reference for French waters; Admiralty covers numerous international areas; NV Charts provides coverage of several European regions and other cruising areas.

General publications therefore explain the principles, while hydrographic documents provide the information specific to the area being navigated.

The specific value of paper documentation on board

Paper also has an important educational value.

At the chart table, it allows navigators to take the time to read a chapter, compare several pieces of information, consult a table or find a definition without switching between different applications.

It can also be retained as a long-term reference in the onboard library.

For long passages, independence from electronic equipment provides an additional level of documentary resilience.

However, navigators should distinguish between publications containing relatively stable information and publications whose content must be kept up to date. The edition and any applicable corrections should always be checked before using a document for navigation.

A category that complements other nautical documentation

General publications do not replace documents specific to a particular voyage.

Instead, they provide a knowledge base that allows navigators to use other sources of information more effectively.

Depending on the voyage, a navigator may therefore combine:

• general publications;

• nautical charts;

• sailing directions;

• cruising guides;

• Lists of Lights;

• radio signal publications;

• tide tables;

• meteorological documentation;

• maritime regulations.

This complementarity is fundamental: a general publication explains the principles, while specific documents provide the data required for a particular route.

Conclusion

General Navigation Publications in Paper Format form an important reference category for developing the technical knowledge required for safe and informed navigation.

Chart symbols and abbreviations, hydrography, nautical documents, COLREGs, maritime signalling, meteorology, tides, navigation methods and instruments are all areas that help navigators better understand the maritime environment and the information available to them.

Their value extends far beyond a particular geographical area. The same principles can be applied in the English Channel, North Sea, Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean, Caribbean or during passages across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean or Pacific.

The paper format also retains an important role on board: it provides immediately accessible documentation independent of electronic equipment. Used alongside the charts and other nautical publications appropriate to the navigation area, it contributes to building a coherent, understandable and reliable navigation reference library.

FAQ – General Navigation Publications in Paper Format

What are general navigation publications used for?

They help develop the knowledge required for navigation, including regulations, buoyage, chart symbols, hydrography, meteorology, navigation methods, instruments and safety.

What is the difference between a general publication and sailing directions?

A general publication covers a cross-disciplinary subject applicable to different regions. Sailing directions describe a specific geographical area, including its coastline, hazards, ports, approaches and local navigation characteristics.

Why choose a general publication in paper format?

Paper can be consulted without a battery or electronic equipment. It also provides useful documentary redundancy on board.

Which SHOM general publications are available in paper format?

The Nautic Way catalogue includes paper references covering subjects such as chart symbols and abbreviations, hydrography, marine meteorology and certain voyage-planning guides. These should be distinguished from SHOM publications that are now distributed exclusively as PDFs.

Are general publications useful for learning navigation?

Yes. They help explain the technical and regulatory principles behind situations encountered at sea and can complement theoretical or practical training.

Is a book on nautical chart symbols useful when using GPS or a chartplotter?

Yes. Electronic navigation also uses conventions, symbols and hydrographic data that navigators need to understand. Admiralty publishes specific references covering both paper-chart symbols and ENC symbols used in ECDIS.

Are general publications useful for Mediterranean navigation?

Yes. Principles relating to buoyage, regulations, meteorology and navigation apply around Marseille, Toulon, Ajaccio, Bastia, Barcelona, Genoa, Naples and throughout the Adriatic.

Are they useful for navigation in the English Channel and North Sea?

Yes. They help navigators understand buoyage, navigation rules, weather phenomena and traffic conditions encountered around Le Havre, Cherbourg, Calais, Dunkirk, Southampton and Rotterdam.

Which general publication can be used to study marine meteorology?

SHOM publishes Météorologie Maritime 95, covering general and tropical meteorology, sea conditions, clouds, ice, meteorological information and observations made by ships.

Are general publications useful for an ocean passage?

Yes. They help develop knowledge of meteorology, navigation rules, navigation methods, instruments and oceanographic phenomena relevant to Atlantic, Indian Ocean or Pacific crossings.

What is the difference between a general publication and a nautical almanac?

A general publication primarily explains principles, methods or technical knowledge. An almanac contains more practical and periodically updated information, such as tides, currents, port information or certain regulatory data.

Should paper publications be kept on board when using electronic navigation systems?

Yes. They can provide valuable documentary redundancy. Their usefulness is particularly evident when an electrical or electronic failure temporarily makes certain digital tools unavailable.