Imray Guide Updates: Keeping Nautical Documentation Up to Date

Imray guide updates are essential for maintaining reliable nautical documentation adapted to actual sailing conditions. A nautical guide describes ports, anchorages, channels, approaches, passages, currents, tides, lights, navigation aids and local characteristics of a particular sailing area. However, this information can change after an edition has been published: a channel may be modified, a light may change, a marina may evolve, new navigation marks may be installed, port works may take place, an anchorage may become regulated or available services may change.

Imray publishes annual supplements for most of its pilot guides. These supplements make it possible to incorporate corrections and new information without necessarily waiting for a completely new edition. Imray also states that information provided by sailors is taken into account after verification, alongside official sources such as Notices to Mariners.

Updating an Imray guide is therefore an important part of navigation planning, particularly when an itinerary includes complex harbour approaches, regulated anchorages, areas subject to strong currents or busy passages.

Why Update an Imray Guide?

A nautical guide is not a static document. Conditions in a sailing area can change between two editions.

An Imray update may concern:

• a newly developed port;

• a modified channel;

• changes to navigation marks;

• changes to a light or its characteristics;

• modifications to an anchorage;

• new local regulations;

• VHF coordinates or frequencies;

• port works;

• new or removed infrastructure;

• information concerning currents or access;

• changes to available services.

These corrections are particularly important when a guide is used to prepare a night approach, a passage between islands or an entrance to a harbour subject to particular weather or hydrodynamic conditions.

Updating a guide therefore does more than make it a “more recent” publication: it helps bring the documentation carried on board closer to the reality encountered at sea.

What Is an Imray Guide Supplement?

An Imray supplement is a document designed to complement an existing edition of a navigation guide.

Imray states that it publishes annual updates, or supplements, for most of its pilot guides. The supplements are associated with a specific edition and bring together corrections and new information available since its publication.

A supplement can therefore be used when a sailor still has a recent edition of a guide but certain information needs to be updated.

This principle is particularly useful for pilot books whose service life may extend beyond a single sailing season.

What Is the Difference Between a New Edition and an Update?

A new edition corresponds to a comprehensive editorial revision of the guide. It may include a significant number of changes, a new content structure, additional information or a general update of the sailing area.

An update or supplement is issued between editions to provide changes that have become necessary.

It is therefore important to distinguish between:

• the guide edition;

• the printing date;

• the associated supplement;

• any subsequent corrections.

When preparing navigation, sailors should check these different elements rather than considering only the year printed on the cover.

Imray Guide Updates for the English Channel

The English Channel is an area where up-to-date nautical documentation is particularly important.

Between Brittany, the French coast, the Channel Islands and southern England, sailors encounter strong currents, large tidal ranges, numerous shoals and heavy maritime traffic.

An Imray guide covering this area can be used to prepare stopovers in Cherbourg, Saint-Malo, Granville, Dieppe, Le Havre, Portsmouth or the islands of Jersey and Guernsey.

A change to a navigation mark, channel or light can have a direct impact on the preparation of an approach. Supplements make it possible to take such developments into account without necessarily waiting for a completely new edition.

The Imray guide should naturally be used with appropriate charting, particularly Shom publications for French waters and Admiralty publications for British areas.

Imray Updates for Brittany and the Atlantic Coast

The Brittany and Atlantic coasts also present highly varied navigation conditions.

Sailors may encounter tidal currents, reefs, islands, narrow channels and numerous anchorages. Up-to-date information about a port or anchorage can therefore be important.

Imray guides can support navigation towards Brest, Roscoff, Morlaix, Concarneau, Lorient, Belle-Île, La Rochelle and other ports along the Atlantic coast, depending on the publication used.

For these sailing areas, information from an Imray supplement can be cross-checked with Shom charting data as well as Admiralty or NV Charts publications where applicable.

Imray Guide Updates in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is a vast sailing area in which Imray guides cover numerous regions.

Information relating to ports, anchorages, access and infrastructure can change relatively quickly during a sailing season. Supplements are therefore particularly useful for sailors who keep their guide for several years.

In the western Mediterranean, information may concern stopovers in Marseille, Toulon, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona or Cagliari.

In the eastern Mediterranean, sailors may plan routes towards Corfu, Athens, the Cyclades, Dubrovnik, Split, Bodrum, Marmaris or Limassol, depending on the area covered.

Charts from Shom, Admiralty, Imray or NV Charts can complement guide information according to the sailing area and charting system being used.

Why Are Updates Important for Anchorages?

Anchorages are among the particularly sensitive types of information found in cruising guides.

An area that was accessible several years ago may become subject to new regulations. An anchorage may also be modified, restricted or prohibited. Port facilities and services for recreational sailors can likewise change.

In the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Greece or the Caribbean, anchorage regulations and harbour access conditions can be an important part of cruise planning.

An update therefore makes it possible to identify changes reported since the previous edition was published.

Imray Updates, Lights and Navigation Aids

The characteristics of lights are another element requiring particular attention.

A light may change its rhythm, colour, range or characteristics. A navigation aid may also be moved, replaced or removed.

Imray supplements can include such corrections when they have been identified and verified. Update documents may also indicate that certain characteristics should be checked against the relevant official publications.

This complementarity is important: an Imray guide provides practical pilotage information, while official hydrographic publications remain essential for navigation and verification of navigation aids.

How to Use an Imray Update

A supplement should be used methodically.

Before navigation, it is advisable to:

• identify the exact edition of the guide;

• check its publication date;

• locate the corresponding supplement;

• review all applicable corrections;

• incorporate changes into the guide where necessary;

• check information concerning ports and anchorages;

• verify any changes to navigation marks;

• complement this information with current official publications.

Imray supplements can contain corrections based on official sources as well as observations submitted by sailors. Imray states that this information is checked before being incorporated into its updates.

Updating a Printed Imray Guide

Printed format remains particularly practical for navigation.

Sailors can keep the guide on board and directly consult information relating to a particular area. When a supplement is available, corrections can be incorporated into the publication according to the instructions provided.

This method makes it possible to maintain a clear record of changes made to the guide.

It is particularly relevant for sailors who still use printed documentation as part of their planning process, even when day-to-day navigation relies on a chartplotter, navigation software or electronic charting.

Updating Digital Imray Guides

Imray digital content also follows the editorial cycles of the corresponding publications. Imray states that its PDF books are updated according to the same publication and edition cycle as printed books.

The Explore with Imray platform also provides content derived from the Imray pilot book and cruising guide library in a digital, location-based format. The information comes from guides that have undergone editorial work and verification.

Digital documentation therefore provides another approach, particularly useful when quickly searching for information about a specific area or port.

Useful Updates Around the World

The need to keep guides updated does not only apply to European coastlines.

Imray publications cover very different areas: the North Sea, English Channel, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Caribbean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and certain Pacific regions.

A sailor preparing a long-distance cruise may therefore successively use guides covering Lisbon, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Polynesia or the Indian Ocean.

On long-distance voyages, keeping documentation updated becomes particularly important because information concerning ports, anchorages and local conditions can change between departure and arrival in a new region.

Imray Guide Updates and Cruise Planning

Good preparation means incorporating the checking of updates into the overall navigation-planning process.

Before departure, sailors can establish a list of required documentation:

• nautical charts appropriate to each sailing area;

• the relevant Imray guide or pilot book;

• any available Imray supplement;

• sailing directions;

• tide and current information;

• lists of lights and navigation aids;

• weather information;

• recent port information.

This organization helps prevent an important change from being discovered only when approaching a port or anchorage.

When Should You Check an Imray Update?

It is particularly advisable to check updates:

• before an important cruise;

• before an ocean passage;

• before sailing in an unfamiliar area;

• when the guide is several seasons old;

• before a complex harbour approach;

• when a local change has been reported;

• before sailing in a heavily regulated area;

• before an extended period of international cruising.

Imray recommends regularly checking its update information and supplements to keep publications as current and relevant as possible.

How Can You Tell Whether an Imray Guide Is Up to Date?

To determine the update status of a guide, several pieces of information should be checked:

• exact title;

• edition number;

• edition year;

• printing date, where indicated;

• availability of a supplement;

• date of the latest supplement;

• any corrections published after that supplement.

It is therefore not sufficient simply to search for an “Imray Guide 2026” or “Imray Guide 2025.” Two guides with different publication dates may also have different update cycles depending on the individual publication.

Imray regularly publishes new editions. For example, new editions of the Adriatic Pilot and several British cruising guides have been announced for 2026.

Conclusion

Imray guide updates are an essential part of serious nautical documentation. A navigation guide provides valuable information about ports, anchorages, channels, approaches, passages, currents, tides and navigation aids, but this information should be kept as close as possible to current real-world conditions.

Imray's annual supplements make it possible to incorporate corrections and new information into many existing editions. They can concern the English Channel and Brittany as well as the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean or other major sailing areas.

For sailors, best practice is to consider the guide, its edition and any applicable supplements as a single body of documentation. Used together with nautical charts from Shom, Admiralty, NV Charts or other hydrographic publications appropriate to the sailing area, they help sailors plan routes, approaches, anchorages and stopovers more accurately.

Up-to-date nautical documentation does not replace good seamanship or consultation of the latest official information, but it provides an essential foundation for planning coastal navigation, cruises and passages.

FAQ – Imray Guide Updates

What is an Imray guide update?

An Imray guide update is a set of corrections and new information used to update an existing edition of a navigation guide. It may concern ports, anchorages, channels, navigation marks, lights, services and local regulations.

What is an Imray supplement?

An Imray supplement is a document that complements a specific edition of a guide. Imray publishes annual supplements for most of its pilot guides to incorporate available corrections and new information.

How often are Imray guides updated?

Imray states that it publishes annual updates for most of its pilot guides. The frequency of complete new editions can vary depending on the individual publication and sailing area.

Does an Imray supplement replace a new edition?

No. A supplement complements an existing edition. When a new edition is published, it becomes a new editorial reference and may incorporate a much larger set of changes.

How do I know which Imray supplement to use?

Check the exact title of the guide, its edition number and date. The supplement should correspond to that edition or explicitly indicate which editions it applies to.

Why should an Imray guide be updated?

Ports, anchorages, channels, lights, navigation marks, infrastructure and regulations can change. An update makes it possible to take account of changes known since the guide was published.

Do Imray updates cover ports and anchorages?

Yes. Supplements may include changes concerning ports, marinas, anchorages, approaches, passages and local infrastructure.

Do Imray updates cover lights and navigation marks?

Yes. Corrections can concern navigation aids and their characteristics. For navigation safety information, these should be cross-checked with the relevant official hydrographic publications.

Can an old Imray guide be used with its supplement?

Yes, when the supplement is specifically intended for that edition. However, it is important to check that the edition of the guide corresponds to the available supplement.

Are digital Imray guides also updated?

Yes. Imray states that PDF books follow the same publication and edition cycle as printed books. Digital content available through Explore with Imray also incorporates information from the guides and their updates.

Can sailors report a change to Imray?

Yes. Imray accepts observations and information concerning changes or corrections. Information received is reviewed before it may be incorporated into correction notices or future editions.

Are Imray updates useful for the Mediterranean?

Yes. They can be particularly useful in areas with numerous ports, anchorages and local regulations, including Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands, Italy, the Adriatic, Greece and Turkey.

Are Imray updates useful for the English Channel?

Yes. Strong tides, currents, shoals, channels and heavy maritime traffic make up-to-date documentation particularly important.

Which nautical charts should be used with an updated Imray guide?

Depending on the sailing area, an Imray guide can be used with charts from Shom, Admiralty, NV Charts or other relevant hydrographic offices. The guide and chart provide complementary information.

Does an Imray update guarantee that all information is current?

No. A supplement brings together known and verified corrections as of its publication date. It does not replace Notices to Mariners, official hydrographic information or the latest regulatory and safety information.

Should I check Imray updates before every cruise?

Yes. This is good practice, particularly before an important cruise, passage, navigation in an unfamiliar area or complex harbour approach. Checking the edition and any available supplements should be part of navigation preparation.