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Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms
U.S. Chart No. 1 provides thorough information about nautical chart symbols. It is available for free online, and the Library has paper copies.
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U.S. Chart No. 1U.S. Chart No. 1 describes the symbols, abbreviations, and terms used on nautical charts. It is produced by NOAA and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The symbols for paper charts and their analogous digital products, such as NOAA raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC®) are shown, as well as the symbols used to portray NOAA electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC®) data on Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). Paper copies of U.S. Chart No.1 may be purchased from a NOAA certified printer.
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U.S. Chart No. 1: Symbols, abbreviations and terms used on paper and electronic navigational charts
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Call Number: GA359 .U65 2019Publication Date: 2019The symbols for paper charts, including charts output by the NOAA Custom Chart application, are shown, as well as the symbols used to portray NOAA electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC®) data on Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
NOAA US Chart Catalogs
NOAA provides easy access to its 1,000-plus U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts. Each chart has the most recent Notice to Mariners corrections.
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NOAA Interactive Chart LocatorLocate NOAA paper or electronic charts, or coast pilots, by place name, chart, or latitude / longitude.
Atlas of Pilot Charts
Pilot Charts depict averages in prevailing winds and currents, air and sea temperatures, wave heights, ice limits, visibility, barometric pressure, and weather conditions at different times of the year. The information used to compile these averages was obtained from oceanographic and meteorologic observations over many decades during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
The Atlas of Pilot Charts set is comprised of five volumes, each covering a specific geographic region. Each volume is an atlas of twelve pilot charts, each depicting the observed conditions for a particular month of any given year.
The charts are intended to aid the navigator in selecting the fastest and safest routes with regards to the expected weather and ocean conditions. The charts are not intended to be used for navigation.
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Atlas of Pilot ChartsThe Atlas of Pilot Charts is available for free download at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's Maritime Safety Information website.
Unites States Coast Pilots
The United States Coast Pilot® consists of a series of nautical books that cover a variety of information important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters and the Great Lakes. Issued in multiple volumes, they contain supplemental information that is difficult to portray on a nautical chart.
Topics in the Coast Pilot include channel descriptions, anchorages, bridge and cable clearances, currents, tide and water levels, prominent features, pilotage, towage, weather, ice conditions, wharf descriptions, dangers, routes, traffic separation schemes, small-craft facilities, and Federal regulations applicable to navigation.
NGA Global Chart Catalogs
The Digital Nautical Chart (DNC) is produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and is a vector-based digital product containing maritime significant features essential for safe marine navigation. DNC, for areas in which the US is the prime charting authority, is unclassified. All other areas are limited distribution.
DNC provides global marine navigation information between 84 North latitude and 81 South latitude and supports a variety of Geographic Information System applications.