NOAA American Great Lakes Nautical Chart: Official Expertise for Navigation in North America

In the meticulous planning of any voyage, whether for cruising on Lake Ontario, fishing in the approaches to the Niagara River or exploring U.S. coastal waters, official navigation documentation is the foundation of safety. This page brings together the official nautical charts produced by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the leading U.S. authority for maritime and oceanographic navigation.

Choosing a chart suited to your intended use is essential when navigating the vast U.S. maritime domain. The resources offered by Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop specifically cover the American Great Lakes, from Lake Champlain to Lake of the Woods, as well as U.S. coastal waters.

What is this nautical chart used for?

The value of an official NOAA nautical chart lies in its ability to synthesise complex hydrographic data and turn your navigation medium into a strategic decision-making tool.

• Planning and safety: These charts provide detailed information on bathymetry, including water depths and seabed features, as well as coastlines and shores.

• Navigation assistance: They show essential aids to navigation such as buoys, lighthouses and beacons.

• Risk management: Mariners can find vital oceanographic information such as currents, tides and potential hazards, helping identify safe navigation areas.

• Exploration: They allow mariners to navigate many nautical miles and discover suitable anchorages.

Which type of navigator is this nautical chart recommended for?

Nautic Way provides solutions for all types of mariners, ensuring that each crew has the appropriate documentation for its regulatory and safety requirements.

• Leisure sailors and recreational boaters: Essential for safely preparing a voyage, whether for sailing or cruising.

• Fishermen: A key tool for identifying seabed features and navigating fishing areas safely.

• Professional mariners: NOAA charts are fully suited to the requirements of commercial navigation.

• Offshore sailors: Suitable for both coastal and offshore navigation.

Reading and understanding the chart

The effectiveness of NOAA charts is based on rigorous cartographic standards inherited from a long tradition that began in 1807 with the Office of Coast Survey.

• Available formats: Charts are supplied flat and rolled in a tube.

• Scales and coverage areas: The catalogue allows you to select the appropriate coverage area: coastal (73 products), nearshore (6 products) or offshore (6 products).

• Depth units: On traditional NOAA charts, depths are shown in fathoms. However, on new paper charts produced from ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart) data, depths are shown in metres.

• Visual content: The charts incorporate standardised symbols for aids to navigation and hazards.

Reliability, updates and safety

The reliability of hydrographic information is the first pillar of safety at sea.

• Continuous updates: These charts are regularly updated by NOAA to incorporate the latest hydrographic information.

• Technological transition: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the discontinuation of its traditional paper charts as of January 1, 2025.

• Replacement system: To compensate for this discontinuation, Nautic Way uses a system that replaces traditional paper charts with printed ENCs, providing equivalents of the former paper charts. These databases provide data updated in near real time.

• Printed to order: All charts are printed to order and incorporate the latest available updates. Due to their rapid obsolescence, they cannot be returned or exchanged.

Nautic Way expertise for mariners

Choosing Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop means relying on a recognised specialist in nautical charting and navigation publications:

• Specialist expertise: Nautic Way specialises in nautical charts and navigation books.

• Wide catalogue: With more than 25,000 references, we support mariners with all their navigation projects.

• Local expertise: Based in Challans (85300), at 9 rue Benjamin Rabier, our team serves leisure sailors and professional mariners with specialist knowledge.

• Certified quality: The charts supplied are official navigation documents designed to support safe and effective navigation.

FAQ

Which nautical chart should I choose for navigating the Great Lakes?
You can use our interactive chart tool to select precisely the charts corresponding to your navigation area, such as chart 14500, which covers the area from Lake Champlain to Lake of the Woods.

Is this chart sufficient on its own?
Although comprehensive, it is an essential navigation tool that should be used as part of your voyage planning, together with careful monitoring of navigation information and other nautical publications.

How often should a NOAA chart be replaced?
As NOAA discontinued traditional paper chart production in January 2025, it is essential to ensure that you have the latest charts printed from ENC data so that you benefit from the most recent corrections.

Can it be used with a GPS?
Yes. Modern paper charts are now produced from ENC vector chart data, the standard for electronic nautical charting, ensuring consistency between your paper and digital navigation systems.

What is the difference between a SHOM chart and a NOAA chart?
SHOM is the French hydrographic service, while NOAA is the U.S. organisation. Nautic Way offers charts from both publishers to meet navigation requirements within their respective areas of responsibility.