NGA Atlantic Ocean Nautical Chart

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the world’s major maritime areas. It connects Europe, Africa, North America, South America, the Caribbean and the polar regions. Its major ocean routes cross very different environments, including the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, European and American coastlines, and African shores.

An NGA nautical chart of the Atlantic Ocean can be used to plan and analyse long-distance navigation. Produced by the NGA – National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, these charts cover numerous Atlantic sectors at different scales, from ocean planning charts to coastal and approach charts.

The NGA Atlantic Ocean Nautical Chart category at Nautic Way includes a broad selection of charts covering the Atlantic and its main navigation areas. It includes ocean, offshore, littoral and coastal charts.

Nautic Way specialises in nautical charting and maritime documentation, for leisure sailing, long-distance cruising, offshore navigation, professional mariners and maritime training institutions.

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

An NGA Atlantic nautical chart is primarily a tool for voyage planning and geographical representation.

Depending on its area and scale, it can be used to study:

• coastlines and archipelagos;

• islands and island groups;

• soundings and depths;

• shoals and hazards;

• charted rocks and wrecks;

• channels and passages;

• ports and maritime facilities;

• aids to navigation where represented;

• certain regulated or restricted areas;

• major shipping routes and navigation areas.

The correct chart scale is essential.

An ocean chart is designed to provide a very broad view of a region and to plan an ocean crossing.

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

A littoral or coastal chart provides more detail when the vessel approaches a coastline, archipelago or passage.

Finally, a larger-scale chart may be required for certain harbour approaches or restricted areas.

The choice of an NGA nautical chart for the Atlantic Ocean should therefore be based on the intended route, geographical area and level of detail required.

NGA nautical charts covering the Atlantic Ocean

The Nautic Way Atlantic selection currently includes more than 100 NGA references, covering numerous navigation areas throughout the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas. Products are organised by geographical area and scale.

Among the important references are:

• NGA 00120 – North Atlantic Ocean, Southern Sheet;

• NGA 00121 – North Atlantic Ocean, Northern Sheet;

• NGA 00124 – North Atlantic Ocean, Southwestern Sheet;

• NGA 00125 – North Atlantic Ocean, Southeastern Sheet;

• NGA 00126 – North Atlantic Ocean, Northeastern Part;

• NGA 14003 – Cape Race to Cape Henry;

• NGA 14018 – The Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the Adjacent Coast;

• NGA 14024 – Islands of Newfoundland.

These references illustrate the diversity of NGA coverage: some charts are designed for ocean planning, while others cover much more specific coastal areas.

NGA nautical chart of the North Atlantic

The North Atlantic is one of the world's major international navigation areas. It connects Western Europe and North America and carries extensive commercial shipping routes as well as numerous offshore voyages.

References NGA 00120 and NGA 00121 provide broad-scale coverage of the North Atlantic, while references 00124, 00125 and 00126 cover different sectors of this ocean area.

An NGA North Atlantic nautical chart can be used to plan:

• a Europe–North America crossing;

• a transatlantic sailing passage;

• a yacht delivery voyage;

• a long-distance cruise;

• an ocean route;

• a professional voyage.

For an actual voyage, general planning charts should naturally be supplemented with larger-scale charts as the route approaches coastlines or ports.

North-West Atlantic: Newfoundland, Grand Banks and Canada

The North-West Atlantic has characteristics that differ significantly from those of the European Atlantic.

The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are an important maritime and fishing area. Reference NGA 14018 – The Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the Adjacent Coast covers this region.

NGA 14024 – Islands of Newfoundland focuses on Newfoundland, while NGA 14003 – Cape Race to Cape Henry covers an important section of the North American coastline.

For a voyage between Europe, the Azores, Newfoundland and the east coast of the United States, several references may therefore be required depending on the different stages of the route.

South Atlantic and African coastlines

NGA Atlantic coverage is not limited to the North Atlantic.

NGA nautical charts also cover numerous areas of the South Atlantic and the African coastline. Depending on the route, they can be used to plan navigation between Europe and Africa, an Atlantic crossing towards South America or a circumnavigation.

The principle remains the same: use a small-scale chart for an overall view of the crossing, then complement the documentation with larger-scale charts as the vessel approaches coastlines and ports.

This organisation by scale is particularly important for offshore navigation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico

The Atlantic also includes heavily navigated areas such as the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

These regions feature a wide variety of geographical environments: archipelagos, straits, passages between islands, reef areas, major ports and shipping routes.

Some NGA charts in the Atlantic category therefore cover areas of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. NGA 00124, for example, covers the south-western North Atlantic and extends towards the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

For a sailor planning an Atlantic crossing towards the Caribbean, charting should therefore be organised according to the different stages of the voyage: ocean crossing, island approaches, inter-island navigation and harbour approaches.

What types of navigation use NGA Atlantic charts?

NGA nautical charts of the Atlantic Ocean can be used for many different purposes.

Long-distance cruising and circumnavigation

For sailors undertaking an Atlantic crossing or a circumnavigation, NGA charts provide international coverage across many navigation areas.

Offshore navigation

They are particularly useful for planning major ocean routes and navigation far from the coast.

Transatlantic sailing

An NGA nautical chart for crossing the Atlantic can provide a useful planning reference, particularly for passages between Europe and the Caribbean or between Europe and North America.

Professional navigation

Professional mariners, crews, shipowners and those responsible for nautical documentation may use these charts to analyse international routes and prepare voyages.

Sailing schools and training centres

NGA charts are also useful for teaching navigation, including chart scales, route plotting, position fixing and the analysis of large maritime areas.

Specific features of navigation in the Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean is vast and presents very different navigation conditions depending on latitude and season.

Weather

North Atlantic depressions, fronts, gales and swell must be considered when planning a passage.

In tropical regions, trade winds, convective systems and tropical cyclones can also have a major influence on route selection.

Currents

Ocean currents play an important role in passage planning. Their effects should be studied alongside the charting.

Long distances

An Atlantic crossing may involve several thousand nautical miles. Planning should therefore clearly distinguish the ocean passage, coastal approaches and possible stopovers.

The chart provides a geographical reference; it should be combined with the meteorological, oceanographic and nautical information required for the voyage.

NGA paper charts and electronic navigation

The NGA paper nautical chart remains useful for planning an ocean voyage.

It can be used to:

• visualise an entire passage;

• plan a route;

• plot a position;

• analyse alternative routes;

• provide an independent reference from electronic equipment;

• maintain an overall view of the voyage.

NGA charts offered by Nautic Way are supplied in paper format, flat and rolled in a tube. Some are printed to order.

Electronic navigation does not therefore eliminate the usefulness of paper charting for planning and documentary redundancy.

NGA chart scales and chart types

A common question is: which NGA nautical chart should I choose for the Atlantic?

Several uses should be distinguished:

• Ocean chart: planning an ocean crossing and obtaining an overall view;

• Offshore chart: offshore navigation and more detailed route analysis;

• Littoral chart: navigation close to the coast;

• Coastal chart: greater detail for a specific area;

• Approach chart: planning an arrival at a port or specific area.

For example, NGA 00124 is an ocean planning chart at a scale of 1:5,281,950, illustrating the considerable difference between a transatlantic planning chart and a coastal chart.

Updates and nautical information

Before using an NGA Atlantic nautical chart, it is important to check its edition, available corrections and recent nautical information.

Navigators should take into account:

• the chart edition;

• Notices to Mariners;

• applicable corrections;

• chart scale;

• weather information;

• current information;

• complementary nautical publications;

• compatibility of the charting with other documents being used.

Charting documentation should always be appropriate to the actual route being planned.

Nautic Way expertise

Nautic Way specialises in nautical charts and maritime documentation.

The Maritime Bookshop offers more than 20,000 references, including:

• NGA nautical charts;

• SHOM charts;

• Admiralty charts;

• Imray charts;

• NV Charts;

• international nautical charts;

• ocean charts;

• offshore charts;

• coastal charts;

• Sailing Directions;

• nautical atlases and guides;

• navigation books and manuals;

• tide tables.

The NGA Atlantic Ocean Nautical Chart category provides particularly broad coverage, with references for the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, American coastlines, African coastlines, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the main ocean routes.

Conclusion

An NGA Atlantic Ocean nautical chart is an important tool for planning navigation across one of the planet's largest maritime areas.

The different scales available meet complementary needs: planning a transatlantic crossing, offshore navigation, coastal approaches, navigation around Newfoundland, the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico.

References NGA 00120, 00121, 00124, 00125, 00126, 14003, 14018 and 14024 illustrate the diversity of coverage available for the Atlantic.

For an Atlantic crossing, charting should be combined with weather information, current data and nautical publications appropriate to each stage of the voyage.

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

FAQ – NGA Atlantic Ocean Nautical Chart

Which NGA nautical chart should I choose for crossing the Atlantic?

For an ocean crossing, an ocean planning chart covering the entire route or the majority of it should be selected, then supplemented with larger-scale charts for coastal approaches and stopovers.

Which NGA chart covers the North Atlantic?

Several references cover the North Atlantic, including NGA 00120 – North Atlantic Ocean, Southern Sheet and NGA 00121 – North Atlantic Ocean, Northern Sheet. References 00124, 00125 and 00126 also cover different sectors of the North Atlantic.

What is NGA 00121?

NGA 00121 – North Atlantic Ocean (Northern Sheet) is an ocean planning chart covering the northern part of the Atlantic. It is particularly suitable for studying major ocean routes.

What is NGA 00124?

NGA 00124 – North Atlantic Ocean (Southwestern Sheet) covers the south-western sector of the North Atlantic and extends towards the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. It is a small-scale ocean planning chart.

Which NGA chart should I use for a Europe–Caribbean crossing?

The passage should be planned at ocean scale and then supplemented with charts appropriate for approaches to the Caribbean and the different coastal areas along the route. The exact choice depends on the departure port, destination and route selected.

Are there NGA charts for Newfoundland?

Yes. The coverage includes NGA 14018 – The Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the Adjacent Coast and NGA 14024 – Islands of Newfoundland.

Which NGA chart covers the Grand Banks of Newfoundland?

Reference NGA 14018 – The Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the Adjacent Coast covers the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and adjacent coastlines.

Do NGA charts cover the Caribbean?

Yes. The Atlantic category also includes references covering the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, in addition to charts covering the major ocean areas.

Is an NGA chart sufficient for crossing the Atlantic?

No. It is one part of the navigation documentation. An Atlantic crossing should also take into account weather information, currents, nautical publications and larger-scale charts required for coastal approaches.

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

An ocean chart covers a very large area and is primarily used for planning major routes. A coastal chart covers a smaller area at a larger scale and provides more detail for navigation close to the coast.

Why use an NGA nautical chart for a transatlantic passage?

NGA charts provide consistent cartographic coverage across extensive international maritime areas. They are particularly useful for planning major ocean routes, transatlantic passages and offshore navigation.