Paper charts - the end is nigh in US

[MoodySabre]

NOAA Kicks Off Transition Exclusively to Electronic Navigation Charts – gCaptain

How long before we follow? The UKHO have a long tradition and I expect they will hang on to it for a long time yet.

 

[Daydream believer]

I could not imagine not having a chart to look at. I have 2 chart plotters, but hate both as a passage planning tool

 

[Gary Fox]

What a ridulous plan, charts are the last thing they should be cutting to save a few bucks.
Hopefully, US sailors will be able to get an equivalent of our Imray paper charts?

 

[dunedin]

Paper charts are not needed for commercial ships, which use special approved chart plotter systems (ECDIS) with approved electronic charts - with at least two independent systems if not using paper.

However, AFAIK there are no formally approved leisure chart plotters or approved electronic leisure charts. Most have a ridiculous prompt “not to be used for navigation”.
So whilst MCA and UKHO didn’t seem to be bothered by this, it is difficult to see how the UK government (via MCA) could be SOLAS compliant if paper charts were dropped entirely without an approved alternative.

 

[LadyInBed]

it is difficult to see how the UK government (via MCA) could be SOLAS compliant if paper charts were dropped entirely without an approved alternative

A printer attachment on the chart plotter? ?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

The issue for us is the level of quality control that needs to be in place for the digital chart. I don’t think it is an issue to replicate but it costs money. It is likely inevitable that our charts will go the same way.

 

[dunedin]

A printer attachment on the chart plotter? ?

Tee hee. But the issue is not the need for paper for SOLAS compliance. it is the act that there are no (as far as I can tell) officially approved electronic leisure charts for the UK.

 

[MADRIGAL]

The Canadian Hydrographic Service has licensed chandlers to print CHS paper charts on demand. Does the UKHO do this? New editions of paper charts continue to be issued when new official electronic charts are created. Since leisure and inshore fishing craft do not carry the ECDIS equipment necessary to use official electronic charts, the demand for paper charts persists. The information on paper charts is much more detailed than what I have on my Garmin plotter, and it doesn’t disappear when I step back to get a broader view. Furthermore, corrections are published regularly for official charts by Notices to Mariners, giving me something to do during the long winter months when the boat is on the hard under two feet of snow.

 

[Beelzebub]

I can't imagine not having paper charts on board. As someone who used to make a living out of the supply and service of marine electronics, I always stressed to the customer that the ability to go back to first principles was vital.

It sometimes took an inordinate amount of effort to persuade people to fit a conventional magnetic steering compass, let alone get them to keep a hand bearing compass on board.

 

[lustyd]

The Canadian Hydrographic Service has licensed chandlers to print CHS paper charts on demand. Does the UKHO do this?

Yes, and they're surprisingly cheap. I got a chart (gnomonic Atlantic North) for xmas and it was about £13 on proper paper and same quality as usual. There are several outlets for this service and I think you can pretty much get whatever chart you want printed.