NGA Arctic Ocean Nautical Chart

The Arctic Ocean is one of the world’s northernmost and most challenging maritime regions. It extends around the North Pole and includes the Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea, as well as the Bering Strait, Greenland and the Arctic archipelagos.

An NGA nautical chart of the Arctic Ocean provides a cartographic reference for planning navigation in these polar regions. Charts produced by the NGA – National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency cover extensive international areas and are available at different scales, from ocean charts to coastal and approach charts.

Arctic charting requires particular attention. Long distances, sea ice, weather conditions, isolation and seasonal variations mean that charts should be complemented by up-to-date nautical and meteorological information.

Nautic Way specialises in nautical charts and maritime documentation, with a selection of NGA nautical charts covering different Arctic regions.

What is an NGA nautical chart of the Arctic Ocean used for?

An NGA Arctic nautical chart is primarily a tool for voyage planning and navigation. It provides a geographical representation of a vast region and helps navigators study a route before and during a voyage.

Depending on the scale and area covered, a chart may show:

• coastlines and archipelagos;

• islands and maritime passages;

• soundings and depths;

• shoals and hazards;

• charted rocks and wrecks;

• channels and navigable passages;

• ports and maritime facilities;

• aids to navigation where represented;

• special areas and certain regulatory features.

The usefulness of an NGA chart therefore depends directly on its scale.

An ocean chart provides an overall view of the Arctic and can be used to plan a long-distance passage.

An offshore chart allows a more detailed study of a route well away from the coast.

A coastal chart becomes necessary as navigation approaches a coastline, archipelago or specific passage.

For a harbour approach or restricted area, a larger-scale chart may be required.

The main NGA charts for the Arctic

The NGA Arctic Ocean Nautical Chart category at Nautic Way includes several references covering different parts of the polar region. The selection includes ocean, offshore and coastal charts.

The range includes, in particular:

• NGA 00080 – The Arctic Regions: a very small-scale chart providing an overall view of the Arctic regions;

• NGA 00800 – From Kara Sea to Bering Strait: covering a vast part of the Arctic;

• NGA 00803 – Bering Strait to Greenland: covering the area from the Bering Strait to Greenland;

• NGA 00804 – Greenland to Kara Sea: covering the area from Greenland to the Kara Sea;

• NGA 38341 – Uummannaq (Dundas), Harbor and Approaches: a detailed coastal chart of Uummannaq harbour and its approaches in Greenland;

• NGA 38342 – Parker Snow Bugt to Kap Abernathy;

• NGA 38343 – North Star Bugt Anchorage;

• NGA 43000 – Lofoten to Spitsbergen: covering the region between the Lofoten Islands and Spitsbergen.

This range of scales is important: a chart covering a vast Arctic region cannot provide the same level of detail as a harbour approach chart.

NGA nautical charts of Greenland and the Arctic regions

Greenland occupies a strategic position in Arctic navigation. Its coastline has a complex geography characterised by numerous fjords, islands, bays and glaciated areas.

NGA 00804 – Greenland to Kara Sea provides a very small-scale overview of a vast area extending from Greenland towards the Kara Sea. Its main purpose is general planning and route preparation over long distances.

At a much larger scale, NGA 38341 covers Uummannaq harbour and its approaches at a scale of 1:50,000. It therefore serves a very different cartographic purpose from an ocean chart.

Navigators should always check the geographical coverage and scale before selecting an NGA nautical chart of Greenland.

Kara Sea, Northern Sea Route and Bering Strait

The Arctic includes several major maritime passages.

The Kara Sea is one of the western sectors of the Northern Sea Route. Further east, the Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea and Chukchi Sea lead towards the Bering Strait, which connects the Arctic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.

Reference NGA 00800 – From Kara Sea to Bering Strait provides an overview of much of this region at a scale suitable for regional planning.

The Bering Strait is a strategic passage between Alaska and Russia. It also represents a transition zone between the Arctic and Pacific environments.

For navigation in this region, the general chart should be complemented by more detailed charts when the route approaches coastlines or restricted passages.

Lofoten, Norwegian Sea and Spitsbergen

The region between the Lofoten Islands, the Norwegian Sea and Spitsbergen (Svalbard) is another important area when planning voyages towards the Arctic.

NGA 43000 – Lofoten to Spitsbergen covers this region and can be used to study routes between northern Norway and the Svalbard archipelago.

This area represents a gradual transition between northern European navigation conditions and the specific challenges associated with high latitudes.

Specific challenges of navigation in the Arctic Ocean

Navigating in the Arctic is not simply a matter of using a nautical chart at high latitude. Environmental conditions must be taken into account at every stage of voyage planning.

Sea ice

Sea ice is one of the main challenges. Its concentration, movement and extent can vary according to the season, wind, currents and temperatures.

A nautical chart shows geographical and hydrographic information represented on the chart, but it does not provide real-time information about current ice conditions.

Current ice information should therefore be consulted alongside the chart.

Icebergs and ice-related hazards

In certain areas, particularly around Greenland and Svalbard, icebergs and other forms of drifting ice can represent a significant hazard.

Navigation requires particularly careful watchkeeping and cautious interpretation of the information available.

Arctic weather

Winds, depressions, fog, very low temperatures, visibility and sea conditions can change rapidly.

Arctic route planning should therefore combine charting, weather information and sea-ice data.

Isolation

Some Arctic areas are located far from ports and infrastructure. Assistance may be limited.

Documentary preparation, route selection and redundancy of navigation methods therefore become particularly important.

What types of navigation use NGA Arctic charts?

NGA Arctic nautical charts may be useful for a variety of projects.

Offshore navigation

They can be used to plan high-latitude passages and determine the main stages of a voyage.

Long-distance cruising and expeditions

Navigators undertaking expeditions to Greenland, Svalbard or other Arctic regions may use several levels of charting as they progress.

Commercial navigation

Shipowners, crews and professional mariners may use NGA charts to study international routes and maintain consistent cartographic coverage over long distances.

Scientific navigation

Oceanographic, scientific and expedition vessels operating in polar regions also require charting appropriate to their operational area.

Maritime training

Arctic charts can also be useful educational resources for studying large-scale charting, projections, route planning and the particular challenges of high-latitude navigation.

NGA paper charts and digital charting

The NGA paper nautical chart remains useful for voyage planning.

It can be used to:

• obtain an overall view of the region;

• plan a route;

• plot a position;

• compare different route options;

• provide an independent reference from electronic navigation equipment.

The charts offered in Nautic Way’s Arctic category include paper charts supplied flat and rolled in a tube.

For digital charting, it is important to carefully check the current status of NGA products, their format and their compatibility with the navigation system being used.

NGA Sailing Directions for the Arctic

A nautical chart is only one part of the documentation required for polar navigation.

NGA also publishes Pub. 180 – Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) Arctic Ocean. The version currently listed by NGA is the 14th edition, published in 2026.

This publication complements the charting with information about the region, particularly for voyage planning and the analysis of its geographical and maritime environment.

For an Arctic expedition, it is therefore appropriate to consider together:

• ocean charts;

• offshore charts;

• coastal charts;

• approach charts;

• Sailing Directions;

• weather information;

• sea-ice data;

• other nautical publications appropriate to the route.

Reliability, corrections and voyage planning

Before using an NGA nautical chart of the Arctic Ocean, the navigator should check its edition, geographical coverage and available correction information.

Particular attention should be paid to:

• the chart edition;

• available corrections and Notices to Mariners;

• scale;

• the date of the information;

• sea-ice data;

• weather conditions;

• compatibility with other documents being used.

Polar voyage planning therefore relies on the combination of several sources rather than on a single chart.

Nautic Way expertise

Nautic Way specialises in nautical charts and maritime documentation.

The Maritime Bookshop offers more than 20,000 references, including a selection of international nautical charts such as:

• NGA charts;

• SHOM charts;

• Admiralty charts;

• Imray charts;

• NV Charts;

• international nautical charts;

• ocean and offshore charts;

• coastal charts;

• Sailing Directions;

• nautical atlases and guides;

• navigation books and manuals;

• tide tables.

The NGA Arctic Ocean Nautical Chart category includes references covering Greenland, Svalbard, the Kara Sea, the Bering Strait and the main regions of the Arctic.

Conclusion

An NGA Arctic Ocean nautical chart is an important tool for planning navigation in one of the most remote and complex regions on the planet.

The different scales available address very different needs, from an overall ocean view and offshore route planning to coastal navigation and harbour approaches.

NGA references covering Greenland, Svalbard, the Kara Sea, the Bering Strait and the Arctic regions make it possible to build charting documentation suited to the area and intended route.

In these polar environments, charts should nevertheless be combined with Sailing Directions, weather information and up-to-date sea-ice data.

Nautic Way supports navigators in finding NGA nautical charts and international maritime documentation for long-distance cruising, offshore navigation, polar expeditions and professional projects.

FAQ – NGA Arctic Ocean Nautical Chart

Which NGA nautical chart should I choose for the Arctic Ocean?

The choice depends on the area and required scale. Charts 00080, 00800, 00803 and 00804 provide broad coverage of different parts of the Arctic regions, while references such as 38341, 38342 and 38343 cover more specific coastal areas.

Which NGA chart should I choose for Greenland?

NGA 00804 – Greenland to Kara Sea covers a vast region extending from Greenland to the Kara Sea. For a specific coastal area, a larger-scale chart may be required, such as NGA 38341 for Uummannaq and its approaches.

Is there an NGA chart of the Bering Strait?

Yes. The Arctic coverage includes references covering the Bering Strait and Bering Sea, as well as broader charts incorporating the Bering Strait.

Which NGA chart covers Svalbard?

NGA 43000 – Lofoten to Spitsbergen covers the region between the Lofoten Islands and Spitsbergen and is a useful reference for planning navigation in this area.

Which NGA chart covers the Kara Sea?

NGA 00800 – From Kara Sea to Bering Strait covers a large part of the Arctic between the Kara Sea and the Bering Strait.

Is an NGA chart sufficient for navigation in the Arctic?

No. It should be complemented by Sailing Directions, weather information, sea-ice data and other documentation appropriate to the planned route.

Which NGA publication complements Arctic charts?

Pub. 180 – Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) Arctic Ocean complements the charting. NGA currently lists its 14th edition, published in 2026.

Are NGA Arctic charts available in paper format?

Yes. Nautic Way’s selection includes NGA paper charts, including charts printed to order and supplied flat before being rolled in a tube.

What is the difference between an ocean chart and a coastal chart?

An ocean chart covers a very large area and is primarily used for general planning and long-distance passages. A coastal chart uses a larger scale to provide more detail near coastlines, islands, ports and passages.

Why use an NGA nautical chart for polar navigation?

NGA charts provide international cartographic coverage for planning routes across regions where several geographical areas and hydrographic sources may be involved. They should be selected according to the area, scale and intended use.