Boat Books Australia is an authorised distributor for the Australian Hydrographic Service (AusENC) and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (AVCS) Admiralty Vector Chart Service giving World Wide coverage of Official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC).

Australian Electronic Navigational Charts (AusENC)

AusENC are official vector Australian Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) published by the AHS, Australia’s national charting authority. They provide coverage of Australian and Papua New Guinea waters. They are authorised for use in IMO compliant Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and can also be used in compatible Electronic Chart Systems (ECS). ENC deliver additional functionality over paper or raster charts when used in an ECDIS or ECS. Benefits and functionality include:

Enabling vessels to navigate

Enabling vessels to navigate using real-time GPS positions displayed directly on the ENC.

Enabling the ECDIS

Enabling the ECDIS to respond to a safety depth contour based on vessel’s actual draft.

Look-ahead functions

Look-ahead functions which enable dangers or hazards to be identified automatically and warnings and alarms raised.

Recreational vessels

Recreational vessels to sail both inshore and offshore.

Vessels navigating in Australia

Vessels navigating in Australia on an IMO compliant ECDIS, to meet SOLAS Chapter V regulations covering the carriage of electronic charts and ECDIS. Further details at Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Commercial vessels 12 metres or more

Commercial vessels 12 metres or more in length and engaged in Australian domestic operations, to meet the National Standards for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) when used in IMO compliant ECDIS or NSCV compliant ECS. Further details at National Marine Safety Committee.

Provision of alerts and prompts

Provision of alerts and prompts for planned course alterations. The ability to customise the display and level of detail to suit the vessel, conditions and time of day.

Approximately 850 ENC are included in the AusENC service.

Choose from these products in our online shop:

For help choosing your pack, see the full product information at the Australian Hydrographic Service.

Electronic Charts and software explained, and fact sheets at the Australian Hydrographic Service.

How does it work?

To use the Official ENC Charts you need to have a compliant navigation system, which is “IHO-S63 compatible”. There are many systems available, the ones we recommend are listed below. These systems come with a Security Dongle and have a “IHO-S63 User Permit” number that is required when ordering any ENC’s.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office – Admiralty Vector Chart Service (UKHO AVCS)

The Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS) brings together Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) from national Hydrographic offices around the world and new ENC coverage produced by UKHO in co-operation with Foreign Governments to provide comprehensive, official, worldwide coverage.

Benefits of AVCS:

Always have the most up-to-date data

Delivery via email or CD

Get only what you need

Reduced costs

Greater operating efficiency

100% compliant

100% 'official' data

Flexible Licensing

The most comprehensive coverage available

Coverage increasing all the time

Updating automatic and free

Electronic Books

The IMO Bookshelf is the International Maritime Organisation’s e-reader software. E-reader files are available for all major titles. More information and full product range at the IMO Publications page.