NGA National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Nautical Chart

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop offers a specialised selection of documentation produced by the NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency), essential for modern navigation. These technical resources cover the world's oceans and coastlines, including open oceans, tropical regions, remote archipelagos, strategic straits, polar regions and major international shipping routes. Choosing the right chart for your navigation is essential for safety when planning routes, manoeuvres and operations, whether in coastal or offshore waters.

What is this nautical chart used for?

NGA nautical charts represent a global professional standard used by commercial shipping, fishing fleets and long-distance sailors.

• Route planning and safety: They provide precise support for safe navigation by combining geospatial data with essential maritime safety information.

• Comprehensive representation: They provide reliable information on soundings, seabed characteristics, channels, port infrastructure, isolated dangers and wrecks.

• Navigation outside Europe: They are particularly valuable for vessels navigating areas where coverage from other hydrographic authorities may be limited.

• Strategic overview: Unlike digital systems, a paper chart provides a robust overall view, making it particularly useful for route planning and strategic navigation.

Which type of navigator is this chart recommended for?

The NGA catalogue available from Nautic Way includes 468 products, serving a wide range of maritime users.

• Long-distance leisure sailors: Particularly suitable for crews undertaking round-the-world voyages or ocean passages.

• Coastal and offshore fishermen: They facilitate the identification of fishing areas and the planning of fishing operations through detailed representations of maritime boundaries and regulated areas.

• Shipowners and professional mariners: Used to support the vessel's charting documentation requirements and anticipate sensitive areas along international routes.

• Navigation schools and training centres: They provide a comprehensive teaching resource through the use of standardised symbols, allowing students to practise chart plotting and navigation calculations.

Reading and understanding the chart

NGA charts are produced in a high-quality professional format suitable for use on chart tables.

• Various scales: The selection includes 109 coastal charts, 87 nearshore charts, 153 offshore charts and 25 oceanic charts.

• Standardised symbols: They comply with International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) INT chart conventions, providing familiar chart symbology for navigators trained to international standards.

• Detailed hydrographic data: Each chart includes soundings, expressed in metres or fathoms, light sectors, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries and military areas.

• Delivery format: Charts are generally supplied flat and rolled in a tube.

Reliability, updates and safety

The reliability of NGA charts is based on geospatial and hydrographic information from multiple sources.

• Updates: These charts benefit from frequent corrections through Notices to Mariners.

• Availability: Nautic Way is committed to supplying the latest available edition, ensuring that the documentation is ready for use upon receipt.

• Electronic safety backup: Despite the widespread use of GPS and ECDIS, an NGA paper chart remains an essential onboard backup in the event of electronic system failure.

Nautic Way expertise for mariners

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop is a recognised specialist in nautical charts and navigation books. Based in Challans (85300), France, at 9 rue Benjamin Rabier, the company assists professional mariners and leisure sailors in preparing their navigation documentation. As a specialist in the field, Nautic Way organises its catalogue by geographical area and chart series numbers, making it easier for demanding navigators to identify the appropriate chart.

FAQ

Which NGA nautical chart should I choose for navigation in a specific area?
The catalogue is organised by geographical areas, such as the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic, and by chart series numbers. An interactive chart tool is available on the Nautic Way website to make selection easier.

Is an NGA chart sufficient on its own for navigation?
Although comprehensive, it is often an essential complement to national charts and should be used as part of a complete navigation system, together with sailing directions and light lists.

How often should an NGA chart be replaced?
It is essential to use the latest available edition. Nautic Way systematically supplies the most recent available version to ensure that the chart incorporates the latest available corrections.

Can NGA charts be used with GPS?
Yes. Position data can be manually plotted on these charts using geographical reference information and standardised chart symbols.

What is the difference between an NGA chart and a SHOM chart?
While SHOM primarily focuses on French waters and certain areas of national interest, the NGA provides extensive international coverage, including remote regions and areas where coverage from other hydrographic authorities may be limited.