Digital Nautical Instructions: Expert Navigation Guides

Essential nautical documentation in digital format

A digital nautical instruction complements the information provided by nautical charts by describing in detail coastlines, ports, approaches, hazards, currents, buoyage and the local characteristics of a navigation area. It provides textual and descriptive information that even detailed cartography cannot always represent.

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop offers a selection of digital nautical instructions published notably by the Shom – Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine and the Admiralty – United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. The category covers numerous maritime regions in France and internationally, including Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific and polar regions. The digital category currently includes 92 references.

The digital format is particularly well suited to modern navigation: rapid document searches, convenient consultation on a computer or compatible device, reduced documentary volume on board, and practical access to several volumes during offshore navigation.

What is a digital nautical instruction?

A nautical instruction, often called Sailing Directions or Pilot in international publications, provides a detailed description of a maritime area.

It can provide information about:

• coastline configuration;

• prominent headlands, islands, rocks and landmarks;

• navigation hazards;

• channels and passages;

• currents and tidal phenomena;

• buoyage and navigational aids;

• harbour approaches;

• anchorages;

• regulated areas;

• traffic separation schemes;

• local weather conditions;

• port facilities;

• communication services and useful information for calls at port.

A nautical instruction therefore does not replace a nautical chart. Instead, it helps the navigator read and interpret the environment represented by the chart.

For example, when preparing an approach to a port, the chart shows depths, hazards, buoys and channels, while the nautical instruction provides descriptive information about the coastline, bearings, approaches, local conditions and precautions to be taken.

Digital format: rapid access to information

One of the main advantages of a digital PDF nautical instruction is the speed with which information can be consulted.

During passage planning, the navigator can search directly for a port name, geographical area, headland, lighthouse or other specific term. Full-text search makes it possible to quickly locate information within a document that may contain several hundred pages.

Digital format is particularly suitable when the navigator needs to consult several regions during the same voyage.

It makes it possible to:

• store several nautical instructions on a computer;

• reduce the volume and weight of documentation carried on board;

• quickly locate information;

• prepare a route before departure;

• consult information relating to a port of call;

• retain structured documentation for several navigation areas.

Some digital publications also contain photographs, plans, coastal views or other elements designed to facilitate identification of an area. This is notably the case for certain Admiralty and Shom publications available in the category.

Shom digital nautical instructions

The Shom provides digital nautical instructions covering the main French maritime coasts as well as several overseas territories and foreign areas.

French publications cover in particular:

• the English Channel;

• the Atlantic coast;

• the Mediterranean;

• Corsica;

• overseas territories;

• certain foreign areas.

Publications covering the French coast can, for example, be used to prepare navigation between the Belgian border and Cap de La Hague, between Cap de La Hague and Pointe de Penmarc’h, or between Île d’Yeu and the Spanish border.

In the Mediterranean, publications cover the French coast, Corsica and various international areas. Shom also provides nautical instructions covering certain overseas regions and foreign waters.

A representative example is the nautical instruction covering the French coast from Île d’Yeu to the Spanish border, bringing together several hundred pages of technical information, plans and photographs.

Digital format is particularly important for Shom nautical instructions because these publications are supplied exclusively in digital PDF format.

Admiralty digital nautical instructions

The Admiralty Sailing Directions form one of the world's major international collections of nautical instructions.

Digital publications, identified in particular by the eNP designation, cover numerous regions around the world. Examples include volumes devoted to Africa, Japan, the Baltic Sea, Scotland, the English Channel and many other maritime areas.

Admiralty Sailing Directions are intended both for professional navigation and for navigators preparing international routes. They complement Admiralty nautical charts by providing detailed descriptions of hazards, buoyage, weather conditions, port facilities, regulations and approach procedures.

Their extensive international coverage is particularly valuable for vessels undertaking passages or navigation in several countries.

English Channel, North Sea and Northern Europe

The English Channel, Dover Strait and North Sea are areas where detailed nautical documentation is particularly useful.

Heavy maritime traffic, tidal currents, banks, shoals, traffic separation schemes and numerous ports make a good understanding of the local environment essential.

Nautical instructions can assist with passage planning around:

• Dunkirk;

• Calais;

• Boulogne-sur-Mer;

• Dieppe;

• Le Havre;

• Cherbourg;

• Dover;

• Portsmouth;

• Southampton;

• Rotterdam.

In these areas, information from the Shom, Admiralty and other national hydrographic offices complements one another depending on the area concerned.

Atlantic and Bay of Biscay

The Bay of Biscay is another area where nautical instructions are particularly useful.

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

Nautical instructions can help prepare navigation around:

• Brest;

• Lorient;

• La Rochelle;

• Royan;

• Arcachon;

• Bayonne;

• Saint-Jean-de-Luz;

• Bilbao;

• Santander;

• La Coruña;

• Vigo.

Shom, Admiralty and other national hydrographic-office charts provide the cartographic basis, while the nautical instruction gives a more detailed description of the area.

Mediterranean and Strait of Gibraltar

The Mediterranean Sea also presents a wide variety of navigation conditions.

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

Nautical instructions can assist with approaches to ports such as:

• Marseille;

• Toulon;

• Nice;

• Ajaccio;

• Bastia;

• Bonifacio;

• Palma;

• Barcelona;

• Genoa;

• Naples;

• Venice;

• Split;

• Dubrovnik;

• Corfu;

• Athens.

The Strait of Gibraltar, between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, is also a strategic area. Currents, commercial traffic, traffic separation schemes and local conditions make thorough documentary preparation particularly important.

Depending on the area covered, Shom, Admiralty and NV Charts can provide complementary chart coverage alongside the relevant nautical instructions.

Africa, Indian Ocean and Red Sea

Digital nautical instructions become particularly important during international voyages.

A route to Africa may lead towards Morocco, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and then the African coast. A voyage towards the Indian Ocean may subsequently pass through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Admiralty publications cover numerous African and Asian areas, while Shom also provides certain nautical instructions for foreign regions. For example, some Shom references cover North Africa, the Levant, the Caribbean, the Pacific and New Caledonia.

Nautical instructions can therefore accompany navigation towards ports such as:

• Las Palmas;

• Mindelo;

• Port Said;

• Suez;

• Jeddah;

• Aden;

• Salalah;

• Colombo;

• Malé;

• Singapore.

Pacific and remote regions

Digital documentation is particularly practical for navigators undertaking long passages or ocean crossings.

It allows several publications covering Polynesia, the South Pacific, Australia, New Caledonia, Japan or polar regions to be kept on a single storage medium.

Routes may include destinations such as:

• Nouméa;

• Papeete;

• Auckland;

• Suva;

• Sydney;

• the islands of Polynesia;

• the western Pacific archipelagos.

For these voyages, documentation should be selected according to the actual route and complemented by the appropriate chart data.

Digital nautical instruction and passage planning

The most effective approach is to integrate the nautical instruction into an overall passage-planning method.

Before departure, the navigator can:

1. define the navigation area;

2. identify the volumes corresponding to the route;

3. study harbour approaches and difficult passages;

4. identify hazards and local characteristics;

5. check information concerning currents and tides;

6. examine rules and regulated areas;

7. compare the information with the charts;

8. check the edition and available updates.

This method is particularly useful for complex coastal navigation, deliveries, ocean crossings and international voyages.

Updates and information reliability

A nautical instruction should be regarded as technical documentation that may evolve over time.

Navigation conditions can change: channels may be modified, buoyage may change, new regulations may be introduced, port works may alter local conditions or infrastructure may evolve.

Digital format facilitates the management of such changes. For Shom publications, certain licences provide access to updated versions for a defined period; Shom indicates, for example, a 12-month download and update period for certain digital nautical instructions.

It is therefore important to check, for each reference, its edition, validity period and the update arrangements applicable to the publication.

Conclusion

Digital nautical instructions are essential complementary technical documentation for preparing maritime navigation.

They provide detailed information about coastlines, ports, hazards, currents, buoyage, regulations and local characteristics that a nautical chart cannot always represent in sufficient detail.

The Shom provides particularly important coverage of French coasts, the Mediterranean and several overseas territories, while the Admiralty offers extensive international coverage through its digital Sailing Directions.

For coastal sailors as well as professional mariners, skippers, delivery crews and offshore navigators, digital format offers several advantages: rapid searching, low storage requirements, convenient consultation and the ability to centralise numerous volumes.

A digital nautical instruction does not replace charting: it complements it. Together, these two types of documentation provide a much more precise understanding of the navigation area and help prepare routes, landfalls and port approaches in a more systematic way.

FAQ – Digital Nautical Instructions

What is a digital nautical instruction?

It is a digital navigation publication describing a maritime area, its coastlines, ports, hazards, currents, buoyage, approaches and local characteristics. It complements the information provided by nautical charts.

What is the difference between a nautical instruction and a nautical chart?

A nautical chart primarily represents geographical and hydrographic data. A nautical instruction provides a detailed textual description of the maritime environment and explains the characteristics of coastlines, ports and navigation areas.

Is digital format suitable for offshore navigation?

Yes. It allows several volumes to be stored without the bulk and weight of paper books. It is particularly practical for long passages and voyages involving numerous ports of call.

Are Shom digital nautical instructions available as PDF files?

Yes. Current Shom nautical instructions are supplied exclusively in digital PDF format.

What is the difference between Shom and Admiralty nautical instructions?

Shom is the French hydrographic service and covers, in particular, French coasts and several overseas territories. Admiralty, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, provides an international collection of Sailing Directions covering numerous regions worldwide.

Can a digital nautical instruction be consulted offline?

Once the digital document has been downloaded and is available on the device being used, it can generally be consulted without an Internet connection. Exact conditions depend on the product's distribution method and licence.

Does a digital nautical instruction replace a nautical chart?

No. It is complementary documentation. A nautical chart remains necessary to determine the precise location of depths, hazards, navigational aids and other cartographic information.

Which areas are covered by digital nautical instructions?

The collection covers, among others, the English Channel, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, Africa, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Asia, Pacific Ocean and certain polar regions.

Are digital nautical instructions useful for recreational sailing?

Yes. They are useful for preparing coastal passages, crossings, harbour approaches or calls at ports in unfamiliar areas. They are also widely used in professional navigation.

What can be found in a digital Admiralty Sailing Direction?

Depending on the area and volume, information may include hazards, buoyage, weather, pilotage procedures, regulations, port facilities and approaches.

How do I choose the right digital nautical instruction?

Start by identifying the exact navigation area and checking the volume covering it. Then check the language, publisher, edition, validity period and update arrangements.

Do digital nautical instructions need to be updated?

Yes. Nautical information can change. New editions and the corrections or updates provided by the publisher should therefore be taken into account.

Can a digital nautical instruction be used with electronic navigation?

Yes, as complementary documentation. It can be consulted alongside an electronic charting system, navigation software or other onboard documentation, subject to the product's conditions of use.

Why use a digital nautical instruction alongside nautical charts?

Because it provides descriptive and operational information that is difficult to represent solely on a chart: coastline characteristics, approaches, local hazards, currents, buoyage, ports, regulations and specific navigation conditions.