Shom C Nautical Charts – Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Arabian Sea

Introduction

Shom C nautical charts covering the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, as well as the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, cover a vast maritime area connecting the Mediterranean Sea, East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean and Asia. This region is one of the world's major strategic maritime areas, crossed by international shipping routes and characterised by numerous straits, channels, port areas, offshore installations and navigation zones where traffic can be particularly dense.

A Shom C nautical chart is a paper chart supplied flat and generally rolled in a tube, designed in particular for passage planning, coastal and offshore navigation and the general analysis of a maritime area. In this region, chart coverage may concern very different environments: the Suez Canal and its approaches, the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

The Shom C catalogue currently referenced for this region includes charts covering areas such as the Gulf of Tadjoura, the Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb, the coast of Yemen and the port of Djibouti.

A major maritime area between Europe, Africa and Asia

This vast region forms a continuous maritime route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

It includes in particular:

• the Gulf of Suez;

• the Red Sea;

• the Bab el-Mandeb Strait;

• the Gulf of Aden;

• the Arabian Sea;

• the Gulf of Oman;

• the Persian Gulf.

These areas are connected by essential maritime passages. The Suez Canal provides a link between the Mediterranean and Red Sea, while Bab el-Mandeb forms the passage between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

For international navigation, this geographical continuity often requires a route to be prepared using several charts at different scales. A general chart provides an overall view of the route, while larger-scale charts are required for coastal approaches, ports, straits and areas presenting particular navigational hazards.

Gulf of Suez and Red Sea

The Gulf of Suez forms the northern end of the Red Sea. It is directly associated with the Suez Canal and its approaches.

Major ports and port areas include:

• Port Said;

• Suez;

• Ain Sokhna;

• Safaga;

• Jeddah;

• Yanbu.

The Red Sea is bordered by Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Its relatively narrow geography, reefs, shoals and numerous port installations make the choice of chart scale particularly important.

Navigation may also involve anchorages, approach channels, offshore installations and coastal areas where bathymetry can change rapidly.

For navigation between the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb, several charts may therefore be required in order to maintain suitable coverage for each stage of the voyage.

Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Bab el-Mandeb is an essential maritime passage between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

This area includes the coasts of Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea, as well as several islands and maritime passages.

Shom C charts currently referenced for this area include:

• 6987C, western part of the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb;

• 7519C, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Tadjoura;

• 7847C, Seba Islands and entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait;

• 7546C, Port of Djibouti;

• 7547C, approaches to Djibouti;

• 4792C, anchorages in the Gulf of Tadjoura.

The different scales illustrate the need to distinguish between general passage planning and detailed navigation close to coasts, ports and islands.

Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea

The Gulf of Aden extends between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. It forms the transition between Bab el-Mandeb and the Arabian Sea.

Major ports and port areas associated with this region include:

• Aden;

• Djibouti;

• Berbera;

• Mukalla;

• Salalah;

• Duqm.

The coast of Yemen contains numerous areas requiring appropriate chart coverage, particularly around ports and approaches.

The Shom C 7518C chart covers, in particular, the area from Al Hudaydah to Al Mukha, while charts 6987C and 7519C cover the western part of the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb.

The Arabian Sea naturally extends this region towards the Indian Ocean. It forms a vast offshore navigation area connecting the Arabian Peninsula with India, Pakistan and the major maritime routes of Asia.

Gulf of Oman

The Gulf of Oman connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz and forms a transition zone between the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

Major ports associated with this region include:

• Muscat;

• Sohar;

• Duqm;

• Khasab;

• Bandar Abbas.

Navigation in this region may involve offshore routes, harbour approaches, offshore areas and passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Scale selection is essential: a general chart can be used for passage planning, while a more detailed chart is required when approaching a port or navigating through a restricted passage.

Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf forms the north-western end of this maritime region.

It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran.

Major ports and port areas include:

• Jebel Ali;

• Abu Dhabi;

• Doha;

• Hamad;

• Dammam;

• Ras Tanura;

• Kuwait;

• Shuwaikh;

• Basra;

• Bandar Abbas.

The Persian Gulf contains numerous port and industrial areas as well as offshore infrastructure. Nautical charting must therefore allow navigators to identify channels, shoals, hazards, installations and regulated areas required for passage planning.

The Strait of Hormuz is also a particularly important passage between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

Information shown on a Shom C chart

Like other Shom C nautical charts, charts covering this region provide the cartographic information required for navigation.

Depending on the area and scale, they may show:

• soundings and depths;

• depth contours;

• shoals;

• rocks and reefs;

• wrecks;

• buoys and navigation marks;

• lights and their characteristics;

• channels;

• ports;

• anchorages;

• landmarks;

• regulated areas;

• maritime installations;

• traffic separation schemes;

• certain information relating to currents and navigation.

In this region, bathymetry, isolated dangers, channels and harbour approaches are particularly important.

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

Chart type	Support	Presentation	Main characteristic	Main use
Shom C	Paper	Flat, generally rolled in a tube	Standard nautical chart	Offshore, coastal navigation and passage planning
Shom L	Paper	Folded to A4	Easier to handle and store	Coastal navigation and onboard use
Shom G	Paper	Folded to A4	Information on seabed characteristics	Fishing, seabed studies and professional applications
Shom Z	Paper	Flat, generally rolled	Overlay showing exercise and firing areas	Navigation in or near regulated areas
Shom Raster	Digital	Digital file	Digital reproduction of a Shom C chart	Use with certain navigation and mapping software

Shom C charts are particularly suitable for passage planning and navigation using a flat or rolled paper chart. Shom L charts follow the same principle of paper nautical charting but are supplied folded, making them easier to store and handle onboard.

Shom G charts provide additional information about seabed characteristics and sediment distribution. They may be of particular interest to professional fishermen and certain applications involving seabed studies.

Shom Z charts include a specific overlay showing exercise and firing areas used by maritime forces. The corresponding information should be supplemented by Notices to Mariners.

A Shom Raster chart is a digital reproduction of a Shom C nautical chart intended for use with certain navigation and mapping software.

Choosing the appropriate chart scale

The choice of scale depends directly on the intended navigation.

For a long offshore passage between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, an offshore chart provides an overall view of the route.

For coastal navigation, a larger scale becomes necessary.

For a harbour approach or passage through a strait, a detailed chart is generally essential.

The main categories can therefore be distinguished as follows:

• general charts for planning long-distance routes;

• offshore charts for passages away from the coast;

• coastal charts for navigation close to shore;

• detailed coastal charts for complex areas;

• approach charts for ports and channels;

• large-scale charts for restricted passages.

One chart therefore generally cannot provide adequate coverage for every stage of an international voyage between Suez, Bab el-Mandeb, the Gulf of Aden, Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Preparing for navigation in this region

Passage planning should combine up-to-date charting with all the nautical information required for the voyage.

Depending on the route, it may be useful to consult:

• nautical charts at different scales;

• nautical publications;

• atlases;

• navigation manuals;

• tide and current information;

• weather information;

• Notices to Mariners;

• regulatory information applicable to the ports and waters being transited.

In such a vast region, planning must also distinguish between offshore navigation and coastal or harbour approaches.

Conclusion

Shom C nautical charts covering the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, as well as the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, cover a particularly vast and complex maritime area.

From the Suez Canal to Bab el-Mandeb, from the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea, and then from the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf, these waters contain major international shipping routes, important ports, strategic straits, offshore areas and numerous sectors requiring accurate nautical charting.

The Shom C chart is particularly suitable for route planning and paper navigation. The appropriate chart reference and scale must nevertheless be selected according to the planned route and the required level of detail.

For an international voyage, several complementary charts may be required to provide suitable coverage for the different stages of the journey, from offshore passage planning to coastal and harbour approaches.

FAQ – Shom C Nautical Charts for the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Arabian Sea

What area is covered by the Shom C Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Arabian Sea category?

This category includes Shom C charts covering the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf.

Which ports are covered by these Shom C nautical charts?

Depending on the chart and geographical area, major ports include Port Said, Suez, Jeddah, Yanbu, Aden, Djibouti, Salalah, Duqm, Muscat, Sohar, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Basra and Bandar Abbas.

Which Shom C charts cover Bab el-Mandeb?

The catalogue includes, in particular, chart 6987C for the western part of the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb, chart 7519C for Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Tadjoura, and chart 7847C for the Seba Islands and entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Which Shom C chart should be used for the Gulf of Aden?

The choice depends on the specific section of the Gulf of Aden and the required scale. References 6987C, 7518C and 7519C cover different areas of this region.

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

A Shom C is a paper chart supplied flat and generally rolled in a tube. A Shom L is a paper chart folded to A4 size. Their physical presentation differs, resulting in different practical uses onboard.

What is a Shom G chart used for?

A Shom G is a sedimentological chart. In addition to the relevant cartographic information, it provides indications about seabed characteristics and the distribution of different types of sediment.

What is a Shom Z chart used for?

A Shom Z, or Zonex chart, includes an overlay showing the limits and designation of exercise and firing areas used by maritime forces. Notices to Mariners should be consulted for additional information.

What is a Shom Raster chart?

A Shom Raster chart is a digital reproduction of a Shom C nautical chart intended for use with certain mapping and navigation software. It provides the chart information in a digital environment.

Is one Shom chart enough for a voyage from Suez to the Persian Gulf?

Generally not. A route of this length crosses several geographical areas and normally requires several charts, with scales adapted to offshore navigation, coastal navigation and harbour approaches.

Why is scale important in this region?

Charting requirements are very different between an offshore passage in the Arabian Sea and an approach to Djibouti, Salalah, Muscat, Jebel Ali or another port. A large-scale chart provides more detail over a smaller geographical area.

What complementary documents should be used with a Shom C chart?

Depending on the voyage, the chart can be supplemented with nautical publications, atlases, navigation manuals, weather information, tide and current data, Notices to Mariners and the regulatory information applicable to the voyage.

Are Shom C charts for this region suitable for professional navigation?

Shom nautical charts are used for different types of navigation and may be relevant to both professional navigation and leisure sailing. The choice of chart, scale and complementary documents must always be adapted to the vessel, route and applicable regulatory requirements.