Shom L Nautical Chart – Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart: paper cartography for navigation

The Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart is a folded paper nautical chart designed for planning and conducting navigation across a vast maritime area including the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and, depending on the reference, sections of the North Atlantic connecting Europe with the Caribbean. Published by Shom, the French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service, it provides cartographic information for studying routes, coastlines, islands, navigation hazards, ports, channels, passes and navigation areas.

The key feature of the Shom L chart is its folded format. It is presented in A4 format for storage and transport, then unfolds into a large chart measuring approximately 84 × 119 cm, corresponding to A0 size. This format provides a substantial cartographic surface while keeping the document relatively compact when stored on board.

The Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico range includes references covering the France–Caribbean route, Martinique, Fort-de-France Bay, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and the Saintes Channel. It therefore meets very different navigation requirements, from preparing an Atlantic crossing to coastal navigation in the French West Indies.

Cartography adapted to a very large maritime area

The Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico form a particularly large and diverse maritime environment. They include extensive continental coastlines, numerous islands, archipelagos, straits, coral reefs, shoals, passes and busy port areas.

Cartographic requirements therefore vary considerably depending on the type of navigation.

A passage between the Caribbean and Europe requires a chart suitable for offshore navigation. Navigation between Martinique and Guadeloupe requires more detailed information about the coastlines and islands. An approach to Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, Le Marin or another port requires a chart at a scale appropriate to the port environment.

The Shom L nautical chart can therefore be used at different levels of navigation depending on its specific reference and scale.

Caribbean Sea: Martinique, Guadeloupe and the French West Indies

The French West Indies represent an important part of this area.

In Martinique, navigators may be concerned with Fort-de-France, Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Saint-Pierre and the various anchorages around the island. The Shom L range includes references covering the southern and northern parts of Martinique. A specific chart also covers Fort-de-France Bay.

In Guadeloupe, the areas around Pointe-à-Pitre, Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes have different geographical configurations. Shom L reference 6948L covers the area from Pointe-à-Pitre to Marie-Galante and the Saintes Channel.

For navigators, these geographical differences are important. A general chart of the Caribbean does not necessarily replace a more detailed chart intended for coastal or harbour approaches.

Martinique: cartography for coastal navigation

Martinique is a particularly popular navigation area in the Caribbean.

The island's terrain, numerous bays, headlands, anchorages and port facilities require careful interpretation of the nautical chart.

Fort-de-France is a major port centre. Le Marin is also an important reference point for cruising and navigation in the Lesser Antilles. The southern coast of Martinique includes Sainte-Anne, Le Diamant and areas near the Saint Lucia Channel.

Shom L charts covering Martinique allow these different areas to be placed within their maritime environment and can be used to prepare coastal navigation while taking into account soundings, hazards, aids to navigation and other cartographic information represented on the chart.

Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and the Saintes Channel

Guadeloupe has a particularly interesting configuration for navigation between islands.

The area around Pointe-à-Pitre is connected to numerous navigation areas around Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes.

The Saintes Channel is an area where identifying coastlines, islands, passes and charted hazards is particularly important.

A Shom L nautical chart appropriate to this area can be used to prepare navigation between the different islands and study approaches to ports and anchorages.

The ports of Pointe-à-Pitre, Basse-Terre, Grand-Bourg on Marie-Galante and Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes may serve as reference points depending on the planned navigation.

France–Caribbean route and Atlantic crossing

The range also includes Shom L reference 6561L, covering the North Atlantic on the France–Caribbean route, also associated with the Route du Rhum.

This chart is intended for a very different scale from that of a chart covering Fort-de-France Bay. Its scale of 1:7,620,000 corresponds to an ocean-scale representation covering a very large maritime area.

It can therefore form part of the general preparation of a crossing between Europe and the Caribbean.

For a transatlantic passage, cartography should be organised according to the different stages of the voyage: departure from the European coast, offshore navigation, approach to the Caribbean and then coastal and harbour navigation.

Ports such as La Rochelle, Bayonne, Lisbon, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Mindelo, Fort-de-France or Pointe-à-Pitre may serve as reference points depending on the chosen route.

Gulf of Mexico: a complementary navigation area

The Gulf of Mexico is a large semi-enclosed sea bordered by the United States, Mexico and Cuba.

It includes very different maritime environments, from major commercial ports to coastal areas, offshore installations and island regions.

Important ports and maritime areas include Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, Key West, Veracruz and Tampico. Caribbean routes may also involve Cuba, the Bahamas, Florida and the various archipelagos of the region.

The required cartography depends strongly on the route and area concerned. A small-scale chart is suitable for an overall view of the basin, whereas a larger-scale chart becomes necessary for harbour approaches and coastal navigation.

Information shown on a Shom L nautical chart

Depending on its geographical area and scale, a Shom L nautical chart can contain a wide range of navigation information:

• soundings and depths;

• depth contours;

• seabed characteristics where indicated;

• reefs;

• rocks;

• shoals;

• wrecks;

• lights;

• buoys;

• aids to navigation;

• landmarks;

• channels;

• passes;

• ports;

• harbour facilities;

• anchorages;

• regulated areas;

• navigation hazards;

• coastal infrastructure;

• information required for route planning.

Together, these elements allow the navigator to understand the maritime configuration of the represented area and prepare a route appropriate to the vessel and the planned voyage.

The importance of scale in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

Scale is an essential factor when choosing a nautical chart.

A small-scale chart represents a very large area. It can be used to prepare an Atlantic crossing or obtain an overall view of the Caribbean, the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico.

A larger-scale chart represents a more limited area with greater detail. It is better suited to coastal navigation, harbour approaches, channels, passes and anchorages.

It is therefore important to distinguish between an ocean passage chart, a coastal chart and a harbour approach chart. For a complete voyage between Europe and the Caribbean, several charts at different scales may be required.

Differences between Shom C, L, G, Z and Raster charts

The Shom L chart differs from the Shom C mainly in its presentation. The L version is folded to A4 size, whereas the C version is generally supplied rolled. For the same cartographic reference, the L format therefore offers compact storage while retaining a large surface when unfolded.

The Shom G chart has a different function, providing specialised information about seabed characteristics.

The Shom Z chart concerns exercise and firing areas.

The Raster chart is a digital version of the nautical chart. Shom's digital catalogue distinguishes between georeferenced digital images of nautical charts and RasterMarine products. Georeferenced digital chart images are digital conversions of the corresponding printed nautical charts, while RasterMarine consists of digital images derived from nautical charts.

Shom L or Shom C for navigation in the Caribbean?

The choice between a Shom L and a Shom C mainly depends on how the chart will be used.

The Shom C, generally supplied rolled, is suitable for use on a chart table where a large document can remain fully unfolded.

The Shom L is folded and therefore easier to transport and organise on board. It can be particularly practical for navigators who need to carry several charts corresponding to different stages of a cruise.

For a Caribbean voyage, being able to organise several folded charts can make cartographic documentation easier to manage: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, the Lesser Antilles, the transatlantic route or areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

The choice should nevertheless begin with the geographical coverage and scale required for navigation.

Preparing navigation in the Caribbean with a Shom L chart

The nautical chart can be used at several stages of voyage preparation.

It can be used to:

• define an overall route;

• identify islands and archipelagos;

• locate departure and destination ports;

• study coastal approaches;

• identify charted hazards;

• prepare passages between islands;

• study anchorages;

• organise the charts required for each stage;

• complement information provided by electronic navigation systems.

In the Caribbean, this approach is particularly relevant because of the proximity of numerous islands and the diversity of maritime environments.

A voyage between Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Antigua or Saint Martin may therefore require several levels of cartographic coverage.

Cartography adapted to different types of navigation

The Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart can be used for different types of navigation:

• offshore navigation;

• Atlantic crossings;

• inter-island navigation;

• coastal navigation;

• cruising in the West Indies;

• preparation of routes towards Martinique;

• navigation around Guadeloupe;

• approach to Fort-de-France;

• navigation around Pointe-à-Pitre;

• study of the Saintes Channel;

• route planning in the Gulf of Mexico;

• harbour approach planning.

The diversity of available scales makes it possible to address very different navigation requirements, provided that the reference corresponding precisely to the navigated area is selected.

Choosing a Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart

Before selecting a chart, several criteria should be checked:

• chart number;

• title;

• geographical area;

• scale;

• ports covered;

• islands and archipelagos represented;

• passages or channels concerned;

• type of navigation;

• level of detail required;

• edition and update status.

This verification is particularly important in such a large area. A chart of the France–Caribbean route does not meet the same requirements as a chart of Fort-de-France Bay or the Pointe-à-Pitre–Marie-Galante area.

Conclusion

The Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart provides paper cartography suitable for a wide range of navigation, from transatlantic crossings to coastal and inter-island navigation in the Caribbean.

The range includes references covering the France–Caribbean route, Martinique, Fort-de-France Bay, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and the Saintes Channel. These references make it possible to distinguish between the requirements of ocean navigation and those of more detailed coastal navigation.

The Shom L format offers a practical advantage: folded, the chart is easy to store and transport; unfolded, it provides a large cartographic surface. It can therefore support route planning, approach studies and navigation in the different areas covered.

For navigation in the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico, the choice of chart should always be based on the geographical area, scale, type of navigation and level of detail required.

FAQ – Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart

What is a Shom L Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico nautical chart?

It is a folded Shom paper nautical chart covering, depending on the reference, part of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic routes connecting Europe with the Caribbean.

What is the format of a Shom L chart?

It is folded to A4 size and generally unfolds to a surface close to A0 size, approximately 84 × 119 cm.

Which Caribbean areas are covered by Shom L charts?

The range includes Martinique, Fort-de-France Bay, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, the Saintes Channel and Atlantic areas along the France–Caribbean route.

Is there a Shom L chart of Martinique?

Yes. The range includes references covering the northern and southern parts of Martinique, as well as Fort-de-France Bay.

Is there a Shom L chart of Guadeloupe?

Yes. One reference covers the area from Pointe-à-Pitre to Marie-Galante and the Saintes Channel.

Which Shom L chart should be used to prepare a France–Caribbean crossing?

The reference should be selected according to the route and scale required. The range includes a North Atlantic chart covering the France–Caribbean route, with a scale suitable for an ocean-scale representation.

Which ports are associated with this navigation area?

Depending on the routes, relevant ports and port areas may include Fort-de-France, Le Marin, Pointe-à-Pitre, Basse-Terre, Terre-de-Haut and Grand-Bourg, as well as Gulf of Mexico ports such as Houston, New Orleans, Tampa or Veracruz.

What is the difference between a Shom C and a Shom L chart?

The main difference is the format. The Shom C is generally rolled, whereas the Shom L is folded to A4 size. For the same reference, the two formats correspond to the same cartographic coverage.

What is a Shom G chart used for?

The Shom G chart provides specialised information about the nature and distribution of seabed sediments. It meets different requirements from those of a conventional navigation chart.

What is a Shom Z chart used for?

The Shom Z chart concerns exercise and firing areas and identifies areas associated with these activities.

What is a Shom Raster nautical chart?

It is a digital nautical chart in the form of a georeferenced image. Shom's digital nautical chart catalogue includes georeferenced digital images derived from corresponding printed nautical charts, as well as RasterMarine digital products.

Why is scale important in the Caribbean?

The Caribbean Sea contains numerous islands, reefs, passes, channels and ports. A small-scale chart can be used to plan an overall route, whereas a larger-scale chart is required to study a specific coastal area or harbour approach in greater detail.

Can a Shom L chart be used for an Atlantic crossing?

Yes, when the reference has the appropriate geographical coverage and scale for ocean navigation. For a complete crossing, several charts may be required to progressively cover the transition from offshore navigation to coastal and harbour approaches.

Why use a Shom L paper chart alongside an electronic navigation system?

A paper chart provides a broad geographical view independent of the screen. It can complement electronic systems and facilitate preparation of the different stages of navigation in a maritime area as extensive as the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.