Paper Nautical Instructions – Navigation Guides

Introduction

Paper nautical instructions are reference publications designed to complement nautical charts and provide navigators with detailed information needed to prepare a voyage. They describe coastlines, harbour approaches, channels, hazards, currents, anchorages, buoyage, local conditions and the specific characteristics of different maritime areas.

Unlike a nautical chart, which primarily represents the geography and hydrography of an area, a nautical instruction explains the environment in which the navigator operates. It can help identify how to approach a coastline, understand the main hazards, prepare an arrival in a port or anticipate the particular characteristics of a passage.

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop offers a selection of paper nautical instructions, Sailing Directions and hydrographic publications covering numerous seas and oceans. The category includes publications from the Admiralty – United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, as well as documents from other international hydrographic offices.

Paper remains particularly useful on board: it can be consulted without electrical power, annotated at the chart table and used as a documentary resource independent of electronic navigation systems.

What is a nautical instruction?

A nautical instruction, also known as Sailing Directions, Pilot or Coastal Pilot depending on the hydrographic office and geographical area, is a publication describing a maritime region from a navigation perspective.

It complements the information contained in a nautical chart.

A nautical instruction may provide information about:

• coastline configuration;

• prominent headlands, islands, islets and landmarks;

• navigation hazards and hydrographic features;

• shoals and reefs;

• channels and passages;

• currents and tidal phenomena;

• traffic separation schemes;

• harbour approaches;

• anchorages;

• ports and shelters;

• buoyage;

• local weather conditions;

• oceanographic characteristics;

• maritime regulations;

• services and facilities available in certain areas.

The objective is therefore to provide the navigator with a descriptive and operational understanding of the area being navigated.

Why choose a paper nautical instruction?

Paper offers specific advantages for navigation.

On board, a paper publication can be consulted immediately, without a computer, tablet or electrical power. It can remain open on the chart table while preparing a route and can be annotated with a pencil to mark important information.

It also provides complementary documentation in the event of a problem with electronic equipment.

Paper format is particularly relevant for:

• offshore navigation;

• long passages;

• international cruising;

• professional navigation;

• delivery voyages;

• preparation of harbour approaches;

• navigation in unfamiliar regions.

This does not mean that paper should systematically replace electronic cartography, but rather that it provides an independent and complementary documentary resource.

Admiralty Sailing Directions in paper format

The Admiralty Sailing Directions, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), are one of the main international collections of nautical instructions available in paper format.

The collection covers numerous maritime regions around the world and includes volumes covering Africa, Europe, the Atlantic, the Americas, Asia, the Pacific and polar regions.

Examples of available references include:

• NP021 – Bay of Bengal;

• NP022 – Bay of Biscay;

• NP023 – Bering Sea and Strait;

• NP024 – Black Sea and Sea of Azov Pilot;

• NP027 – Channel Pilot;

• NP028 – Dover Strait Pilot;

• several volumes covering African coasts;

• several publications covering South American coasts;

• publications concerning Asian and Pacific waters.

Admiralty Sailing Directions are also available electronically, but numerous volumes continue to exist in paper editions, allowing navigators to retain independent navigation documentation.

English Channel, Dover Strait and North Sea

The English Channel and North Sea are areas where nautical instructions are particularly useful.

Shipping traffic is heavy and navigators encounter numerous traffic separation schemes, channels, banks, shoals, tidal currents and regulated areas.

The Channel Pilot and Dover Strait Pilot published by Admiralty cover important areas for navigation between France and the United Kingdom.

The information can be used to prepare navigation around Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dieppe, Le Havre and Cherbourg, as well as towards Dover, Portsmouth, Southampton, Portland and Plymouth.

For navigation in this region, nautical instructions complement SHOM charts for French waters and Admiralty charts for British and international sectors.

Bay of Biscay and Atlantic Coast

The Bay of Biscay is another area where nautical instructions play an important role.

Navigation between Brittany, the French Atlantic coast, Spain and Portugal can involve very different environments: rocky coastlines, estuaries, banks, commercial ports, fishing areas and harbour approaches.

The navigator may need to prepare passages or approaches around Brest, Lorient, La Rochelle, Royan, Arcachon, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bilbao, Santander, La Coruña or Vigo.

Nautical instructions complement nautical charts from SHOM, Admiralty and, depending on the area, other national hydrographic offices.

The Admiralty NP022 – Bay of Biscay is a representative example of this international navigation documentation.

Mediterranean Sea and Gibraltar

The Mediterranean Sea is another major navigation area covered by international hydrographic publications.

A cruise may take the navigator from the French coast towards Spain, the Balearic Islands, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Croatia, Greece or Turkey.

Nautical instructions help prepare approaches to numerous ports including Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Palma, Barcelona, Genoa, Naples, Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, Corfu and Athens.

At the entrance to the Mediterranean, the Strait of Gibraltar is a strategic passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Information concerning currents, shipping traffic, traffic separation schemes and local navigation characteristics is particularly important.

Charts from SHOM, Admiralty, NV Charts and other hydrographic offices can complement this documentation depending on the area being navigated.

Atlantic, Africa and Ocean Passages

Paper nautical instructions are particularly valuable for navigators undertaking international passages.

A route between Europe and Africa may lead towards Madeira, the Canary Islands, Morocco, the Cape Verde Islands or the African coast.

Admiralty publications covering Africa provide documentation for different coastal regions and complement the charts used to prepare ocean routes.

For an Atlantic crossing towards the Caribbean, documentation may cover the approaches to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the Caribbean and ports such as Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre or Saint Martin.

In this context, nautical instructions do not replace ocean charts: they primarily provide detailed information about coastlines, approaches and ports of call.

Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Asia

Paper nautical instructions are also available for numerous areas of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Asia.

These publications are particularly useful for navigation from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal, followed by the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

Depending on the route, ports of call may include Port Said, Suez, Jeddah, Aden, Salalah, Colombo, Malé, Singapore or Jakarta.

Navigation conditions can vary significantly from one area to another. Nautical instructions help place the information shown on charts into its local context.

For international navigation in these regions, Admiralty publications are particularly important, together with charts from the various national hydrographic offices.

Pacific, Australia and Polar Regions

Paper documentation also covers major areas of the Pacific Ocean, Australia, North America and polar regions.

For a Pacific voyage, documentary requirements may cover very different areas, including New Zealand, the Coral Sea, the Tasman Sea, Polynesia and Asian waters.

Ports of call such as Auckland, Nouméa, Papeete, Suva or Sydney each require documentation appropriate to the area.

Navigators preparing voyages in high latitudes may also seek nautical instructions covering the Arctic, Alaska or subpolar regions.

These publications are particularly useful for understanding coastline characteristics, weather conditions, ice, approaches and navigation limitations specific to these regions.

How to use a paper nautical instruction

A nautical instruction is primarily used together with a nautical chart.

When preparing a route, the navigator can first identify areas presenting particular difficulties and then consult the relevant instruction to examine the information in greater detail.

An effective method is to:

• identify the exact geographical area;

• select the volume covering that area;

• study approaches and difficult passages;

• identify ports and shelters;

• examine information on currents and tides;

• identify traffic separation schemes;

• check specific regulations;

• compare the information with the nautical chart;

• check applicable corrections and updates.

The nautical instruction thus becomes a genuine route-planning tool, rather than simply an occasional reference book.

Paper nautical instruction and nautical chart

The chart and nautical instruction have complementary functions.

The chart primarily answers the question: where are the hazards, depths, buoys and hydrographic features?

The nautical instruction answers more specifically: what are the characteristics of this area and how should it be approached?

This distinction is essential.

For an arrival in Cherbourg, for example, the chart allows the navigator to identify depths, hazards, buoys and channels. The nautical instruction provides descriptive information that helps understand the approach and its surroundings.

The same principle applies to Brest, La Rochelle, Marseille, Ajaccio, Gibraltar or Rotterdam.

Official documents that need to be kept up to date

A nautical instruction is only useful if the information it contains remains applicable.

Navigation conditions change: a channel may be modified, a light or buoy moved, new regulations introduced, port facilities changed or a new hazard identified.

Admiralty publications are accompanied by correction mechanisms, including Admiralty Notices to Mariners. The UKHO provides these updates so that navigation publications can be maintained using the latest available safety information.

It is therefore essential to check the edition status and applicable corrections before navigation.

It is also important to distinguish between publishers and formats: current SHOM nautical instructions are distributed exclusively in digital form, whereas Admiralty Sailing Directions are available both in paper and electronic formats. This distinction is important when specifically looking for a paper nautical instruction.

Conclusion

Paper nautical instructions are reference documentation for navigators who require detailed information that is independent of electronic equipment.

They complement nautical charts by describing coastlines, hazards, currents, harbour approaches, anchorages, regulations and the specific characteristics of different navigation areas.

The paper collection available from Nautic Way includes numerous Admiralty Sailing Directions, with particularly extensive international coverage. It allows navigators to prepare passages in the English Channel, North Sea, Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and polar regions.

For French coasts, SHOM charts are a major cartographic reference; for international navigation, Admiralty, NV Charts and charts from the various national hydrographic offices can complement the documentation.

Paper format therefore remains highly relevant for route preparation, long passages, ocean crossings and harbour approaches, providing navigators with technical, structured information that can be consulted at any time.

FAQ – Paper Nautical Instructions

What is a paper nautical instruction?

A paper nautical instruction is a navigation publication describing a maritime area, its coastline, hazards, ports, approaches, currents, buoyage and specific nautical characteristics. It complements the information provided by nautical charts.

What is the difference between a nautical instruction and a cruising guide?

A nautical instruction is generally more technical and descriptive. It is published by a hydrographic office or specialist organisation and is intended to provide structured information about navigation conditions in a specific area. Cruising guides for recreational sailors may focus more on anchorages, ports and shore facilities.

Which nautical instructions are available in paper format?

The category includes numerous Admiralty Sailing Directions, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, as well as publications from other international hydrographic offices.

Are SHOM nautical instructions still available in paper format?

Current SHOM nautical instructions are distributed exclusively in digital PDF format. Paper is therefore no longer the current format for the SHOM nautical instruction collection.

What is the difference between SHOM and Admiralty nautical instructions?

SHOM is the French hydrographic reference and covers French coasts and several overseas territories. Admiralty, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, provides an extensive international collection of Sailing Directions, many of which are available in paper format.

Are paper nautical instructions useful for recreational sailors?

Yes. They can be particularly useful for recreational sailors undertaking demanding coastal passages, international cruises or offshore crossings, especially when navigating unfamiliar areas.

Can a paper nautical instruction be used with an electronic chart?

Yes. The two documents are complementary. The nautical instruction provides detailed textual information, while electronic charting provides the geographical and hydrographic representation of the area.

Does a paper nautical instruction replace a nautical chart?

No. It complements the nautical chart. The chart remains necessary for accurately identifying the position of hazards, depths, buoys, channels and other cartographic features.

Which nautical instructions should I use for the English Channel?

For the English Channel, Admiralty publications include the Channel Pilot and Dover Strait Pilot. They can be used with SHOM charts for French waters and Admiralty charts for British and international sectors.

Is there a paper nautical instruction for the Bay of Biscay?

Yes. Admiralty NP022 – Bay of Biscay covers this important navigation area between the European Atlantic coast and the French and Spanish coasts.

Which nautical instructions should I use for navigation in the Mediterranean?

The choice depends on the specific area. Publications cover different parts of the Mediterranean and should be used together with charts from SHOM, Admiralty, NV Charts and the relevant hydrographic offices.

Are paper nautical instructions useful for ocean crossings?

Yes. They are particularly useful for preparing coastal approaches, difficult passages and port calls. For an Atlantic or Indian Ocean crossing, they should be combined with chart coverage for the entire route.

How do I choose a paper nautical instruction?

First identify the exact navigation area, then check the volume covering that area, the language, edition, format and any applicable corrections.

Do paper nautical instructions need to be updated?

Yes. Nautical information can change. For Admiralty publications, corrections and updates are distributed notably through Admiralty Notices to Mariners. The applicable corrections should be checked for the edition being used.

Why keep a paper nautical instruction on board?

Paper provides a resource independent of electronic systems. It can be consulted without electrical power, used at the chart table, annotated and retained as reference documentation throughout a voyage.

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