A Mariner’s Basic Toolkit: Must-Have Charts for Safe Passage
The Hydrographic Division of the Royal Australian Navy produces different types of marine navigation charts sold through Boat Books.
Indispensable for mariners seeking to navigate the continent’s surrounding oceans, these charts are meticulously crafted to ensure reliable and accurate information for safe oceanic navigation.
Let’s explore some of the most crucial charts to have on hand before you set sail.
Standard Nautical Charts
These charts are designed to provide comprehensive coverage of Australian waters and areas of interest, including coastal areas, ports, harbours, and major shipping routes.
Various detailed information, such as depth, soundings, navigational aids, and coastal features, is recorded here. Importantly, they feature navigational aids to ensure safe passage along Australia’s coastline and surrounding waters.
Specialised Nautical Charts
These charts focus on particular areas of interest, such as offshore gas and oil fields, marine reserves, or other areas with unique navigational challenges. They provide additional information relevant to specific marine activities such as fishing, diving, or recreational boating.
Tidal and Current Charts
These charts depict tidal currents and heights, essential for planning navigation through sections of the ocean subject to significant tidal influence. They provide the timing, direction, and strength of tidal currents so that sailors can plan their routes to minimise the impact of tidal effects on their vessel.
Pilotage Charts
Specially designed to assist mariners in navigating complex waterways, pilotage charts mark ports, harbours, and narrow channels. They provide detailed information on anchorages, berthing facilities, and other features to ensure safe manoeuvring in busy or restricted waters.
Small Craft Charts
These charts are tailored for smaller vessels such as pleasure craft, fishing boats, or recreational boats. They provide simplified information to allow for straightforward navigation and focus primarily on the avoidance of basic hazards in shallow waters.
Chart Correction Publications
These publications contain corrections and updates to existing paper marine charts. Also known as Notices to Mariners, they include a range of chart corrections to ensure sailors have the latest information for navigation, maintaining the accuracy and currency of navigational charts.
As Australia’s largest specialist marine bookshop and accredited chart supplier, we stock over five thousand books and charts. Feel free to contact us with questions about any types of marine navigation charts.
