How Are Nautical Charts Corrected On Board Ships?
Whenever a new area is to be added to a chart or it has to represent an area different from the previous chart, or the depth units shown on previous charts have to be changed or if the scale on which a previous chart was made has to be renewed, then Admiralty publishes a New Chart.
However if there are major changes in a chart or large amount of data is to be inserted for e.g. Insertion of a New Traffic Separation Scheme not present on the previously used chart, the Admiralty then publishes a New Edition of that chart replacing the existing one.
The Catalogue of Admiralty Charts and Publications is published every year with current and updated editions of charts, however, if during the year the Weekly Notices to Mariner indicate any new editions or new charts, they are to be inserted in the chart catalogue by the navigating officer.
An updated and corrected chart folio system comprises of Chart correction Log and Folio Index, Admiralty Chart catalogue, Admiralty Sailing Directions , Weekly Notices to Mariners , Annual Summary of Notices to Mariners,  Admiralty List of Lights , Admiralty List of Radio Signals , Admiralty Tide tables , Chart – 5011 Symbols and abbreviations to be used on charts. The following points to be considered in order to maintain updated chart folio onboard:
- The chart correction log should have details of all charts present onboard with index of corrections (temporary and preliminary also) mentioned against each chart number. All the charts and publications are to be corrected on weekly basis following instructions provided in weekly notices to mariners and the correction numbers to be entered in the same index mentioned above against chart numbers respectively, so that it can be used as a quick reference to check status of corrections for any chart
- There should be a designated chart supplier or service provided on a timely basis without delays to supply new charts and new editions applicable to the folios onboard. Other than that weekly Notice to mariners, Annual summary of Notices to Mariners, their supplements should be provided
- There should be equipment onboard and services to receive Navigational warnings, and Navtex warning
- Whenever a new chart or new edition is published, Weekly Notices to Mariner carry a notification of the same. On receiving a new edition or a new chart the chart correction log is to be updated with the relevant folio number against the chart number in the index and ‘NC’ or ‘NE’ to be inserted adjacent to the chart number in the correction index. The chart to be verified for any pending temporary and preliminary corrections and navigational warnings
- On receiving a chart or a notification through weekly notices to mariners which replaces a previous chart , insert in the chart correction log ‘replaced by’ or ‘cancelled by’ against the mentioned chart. The folio number to be inserted on the replacement chart received.
The Admiralty Chart Catalogue ( NP 131),Weekly Notices to Mariners , Cumulative Notices to Mariners and Annual summary of Admiralty Notices to mariners are important sources of keeping a Chart folio system updated and corrected. For guidance on correcting charts Admiralty has published – How to Correct Charts the Admiralty Way which describes various forms of corrections applied to charts and upkeep of folios. The importance of keeping charts updated can be understood from the below incident.
Real life incident: Due to negligence of a navigating officer a vessel was not allowed to enter a port for 2 days. After 2 days special permission was granted by USCG to the vessel upon request by the agents. The vessel did not have the latest edition of approach charts for the Port of Baltimore. The new edition had been published 4 weeks ago and vessel had received notification of the same. The USCG during their annual inspection pointed the error and the vessel was fined and allowed to berth after two days only when agents procured the new edition. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
It is therefore important that during correcting charts the navigating officer has to exercise due diligence and care.                                                                             Â
Real Life Incident: Near Batu Berhanti Light in Singapore Straits a wreck is marked by 4 cardinal buoys surrounding it. During chart corrections the notice read as ‘Insert Isolated Danger Mark’ adjacent to the light. The duty officer misread it as ‘Delete’ and instead of inserting deleted the mark. The courses were laid from that area and while transit it was observed that the vessel passed very closed to the Isolated Danger Marks which were wrongly indicated on the chart.
Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction
About Author
Abhishek Bhanawat is a chief officer who has worked on various types of tankers. He specializes in Crude Oil and Product Tankers. He is highly passionate about his work and loves to sail.
Latest Marine Navigation Articles You Would Like:
Subscribe To Our Newsletters
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.
Web Stories
i am having difficulties in understanding synoptic reports of weather. pls i am in need of assistance. thank
i’m newly 3rd mate. pls heip me can u pls. tell me how to check life boat & scba set ,weekly bridge euipment test, sart & epirb test correctly,how to do chart correction.
thanks
U will be very glad if u can give detailed procedure to how to do passage planning. I am new 3rd officer n finding very difficult. Plz sir explain in tht how we can use alrs vol in passage planning too .thank u
Plz help wiyj some passage plannjng tips…i mailed u before also. I am new thurd officer n second officer is not helping. I know all abt apem i just want step by step procedure n hiw to use alrs !!
@ Chandan:
Check this article- https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/understanding-the-principles-of-passage-planning/
i am having difficulties in understanding synoptic reports of weather. pls i am in need of assistance. thank
HOW LONG CAN A CHART BE USED BEFORE CORRECTION AND REPLACEMENT ON BOARD?
Thank you very much. It’s very useful.
Am difficulty in correcting chart
Good day! I have a question regarding record keeping of chart corrections. Does a computer based chart management system replace NP133A? I mean officially. Is there any requirement to keep 133A in any case?
Thank you!
If T & P not corrected for last 10 years then what the process to update and which publication used?
Check current edition of chart, this is done by using chart catalogue.If u don’t have current edition then no need for corrections,request for new chart but if u have current edition then start updating by last to latest.This can be done by referring Annual notices to mariner part 1 section 2 for T & P corrections for the 10 yrs