Charts

• Chart Title : It indicates the name of the area covered by the chart, in the largest
letters. Also important regarding scale, projection, height, depth, caution etc are
provided under the title.
• Number of the Chart : The number is found at the following places on a chart : (a)
Right hand bottom corner
(b) Left hand top corner
(c) Reverse side at thumb label
Enables identification of any chart in the catalogue thus enabling one to quickly see the
area covered by a chart. It also enables one to stow a chart in the folio in a systematic
way & also pull out quickly whenever required for use. BA charts are not numbered
area wise. Thus charts BA 301 & BA 302 may not be for neighbouring geographical area
& in fact may be quite remote from each other. In the catalogue, against the chart
number, it is indicated whether a chart is in the International Chart Series, or whether
on ARCS or small Craft Edition of the chart is available.
 Charts
• Scale of the Chart. Is indicated under the main title.
• Large scale charts are used for anchoring, arrivals, departures etc. Additional details
are found on such charts. Certain details may be omitted from small & medium scale
charts.
• Medium scale charts are used in coastal navigation.
• Small scale charts may not show many details & may not provide adequate
information needed for safe navigation. Thus details regarding depth contours,
underwater dangers, characteristics of lights etc may be omitted from these charts. A
small scale chart however covers a large geographical area. Hence when navigating on
a medium scale chart both small scale & large scale chart may be used as reference
charts.
• Ports & harbours are usually surveyed on a scale between 1:12,500 & 1:5000.
Anchorage areas are surveyed on a scale of 1:25,000. A general coast survey for
navigational purpose is made on a scale 1:50,000 & more.
• Scale 1:20,000 at 20000’ N lat or 1/20,000 at 20000’N lat means 1 cm of chart in lat
200N actually represents 20,000 cm of length on earth surface at 200 N lat
 Natural scale of a chart
• The natural scale of a chart is the ratio, expressed as a fraction, between a unit
of length on the chart and the number of such units of the Earth’s surface
which it represents.
• If 1 cm on a chart represents 1 km on the Earth, the natural scale of the chart is
1/1,00,000
• If 1 cm on the chart represents one nautical mile the natural scale is 1/185200,
because there are 1852 metres in 1 nautical mile.
• On a Mercator chart, the scale will vary with latitude, so a reference is given
alongside the scale. Therefore any natural scale stated on the chart is valid for a
particular latitude only. This latitude will normally be somewhere near the
middle of the latitudes covered by the chart.
 Natural scale of a chart
• For any latitude 00, we define the natural scale as
• Natural scale = length of 1 mile on the chart (Both in same units)
Length of 1 mile on the Earth’s surface

But, 1 nautical mile is defined as 1’ of latitude so we get

Natural scale = length of 1’ of latitude in 00 latitude

Length of 1 nautical mile on Earth

Or in any latitude = length of 1’ of latitude x Sec Latitude

Length of 1 nautical mile on Earth
 Chart scale
• The scale of a chart refers to a measurement of area, and not distance.
• Chart covering a relatively large area is called a small scale chart, and a
• Chart covering a relatively small area is called a large scale chart
• Scales may vary from 1: 2000 for plans to 1: 14,000,000 for world charts
• Large scale chart.
• Small area is covered with a large amount of detail. E.g,1:10
• A chart that provides a lot of detail for a small area is a large scale chart.
• Small scale chart
• Large area is covered with a small amount of detail. E.g, 1:10,000,000
• A chart that covers a vast area and provides little details is a small scale chart
 Nautical Charts
• Nautical chart scales range from 1:2000 (sometime referred to as “berthing
scale”) or a berthing chart to 1:10,000,000 (Planning scale). Between these
extremes, charts can be collected into groups like these: Harbour, Approach,
Coastal, General and Overview.
• When comparing one scale to another, the larger scale chart is the one with a
smaller number following the colon. This may seem counterintuitive, but its
because the scale ratio is like a fraction. At 1:100,000 scale, the image is
1/1,00000 th the size of the area it represents. At 1:2000 scale chart is 1/2000 th
the size.
• Since 1/1,00000 th is smaller than 1/2000 th the second chart is at a larger scale
than the first.
•
 Chart folios
• Chart folios are the folders of charts used on board a ship in which charts are
kept in a systematic manner. Folio covers are made of canvas or other
appropriate material capable of holding charts. A list of charts within it and a
table of correction record is pasted outside of the folio cover. Chart folios are
used to maintain the list of charts in numerical order for ease of reference.
• A ship plying all over the world and having no fixed route may maintain
international folio system or standard folio system, maintained by the company
as per BA number, thus BA1 to BA 300 may be listed in folio 1 BA 301 to BA 600
may be listed in folio 2 and so on.
• SOLAS : All ships shall carry adequate and upto date charts, Sailing Directions,
List of Lights, Notice to Mariners, Tide Tables and all other Nautical
publications necessary for the intended voyage. (Chapter V Reg 20)
 Charts
• Date of Publication (DOP) : Is indicated outside the south border of the chart,
near the centre fold of the chart.
• DOP along with place and name of Hydrographer under whose authority the
chart is published. The entire hydrographic data, available for the area covered
by the chart is assembled & for the first time it is incorporated in the chart &
published. DOP is a date earlier to the date of New Edition & Date of Printing.
• When New Edition date is not found on chart, DOP is considered as New
Edition date.
• E.g,
• ____________________________________________________________
• Published at Taunton 19 th September 1978 under superintendence of
• Rear Admiral D.W. Haslam, Hydrographer of Navy
 Charts
• Date of Printing (DOPr). Is marked outside the north border towards the
eastern corner of the chart in case of Indian charts & on the reverse of the
chart at thumb label next to the chart number & title in case of a BA chart.
• It means that printout of the copy of chart was taken on this date. Small
corrections for the period between the date of New Edition & DOPr are
incorporated by chart publishers. The record of the corrections is found at
bottom left corner of the chart in the original print form.
• 46.78 on Indian chart, means the print out was taken on the 46 th day of the
year 1978.
• On BA chart, the same is indicated as ‘printed on 15.02.1978’ or Printed Feb
1978
 Charts
• Date of New Edition (N Ed). DON Ed is marked below the south border of the chart, to the
right of ‘Date of publication’
• When the chart is revised and modernized in style, an up-to-date edition is published. Note :
• (a) A chart is actually known by its new edition date as to whether it is valid or not.
• (b) Entries regarding the small corrections subsequent to the date of new edition may appear
at left hand corner, out side the south border of the chart. All the earlier corrections are
incorporated in the new edition.
• (c) The charts of the same number but having an earlier date of new edition stand cancelled.
• (d) A chart whose DOPr is same as date of of new edition, will not have printed entries of
small corrections.
• (e) If a chart is printed say two years after the date of new edition then record of small
corrections applicable to that chart for a period between DON Ed and DOPr is found on the
chart at the usual place, in printed form
• ______________________________________________________________________
DOP………………………..New Editions 21st May 1982, 5th April 1986
 Charts – Dates of survey & source data
• Dates of surveys & Source Data is found within the Source data diagram, which
is placed in some convenient part of the chart, not to obscure essential
navigational information.
• Different areas covered by the chart may have been surveyed :
• (a) By different surveying authorities,
• (b) At different times,
• (c) Using different methods, techniques,
• (d) On different scales
• The relevant details are indicated on the chart in the Source Data diagram. The
User may be guided by the above information as to the degree of reliability to
place on the chart while navigating on it. The User is also aware as to which
part of the chart area was surveyed more recently as compared to the other
areas. Most of the earlier surveys were mainly exploratory, trying to discover
new lands. Later surveys paid more attention to depths, used improved
instruments and techniques.
Charts – Dates of survey & source data
 Charts – Dates of survey & source data
• Prior to 1864 AD British survey ships were sailing ships. Thereafter the steam
replaced sails. Prior to 1935 lead & lines were the only means of obtaining
soundings. Later the echo sounders were introduced. Side Scan Sonar came
into general use in British survey ships in 1973.
• Earlier survey-ships assumed draft of 15 m and did not foresee the deep
drafted ships drawing up to 30 meters.
 To describe a particular copy of a chart
• To describe a chart to a third party it is important to identify the chart with its
correct status. Thus the following details must be indicated in given order :
• (a) The number of the chart
• (b) Title
• (c) Date of publication
• (d) Date of new edition
• (e) Number or date of the last small correction