Psssst, Wanna Buy Some Cheap Charts?

[Baddox]

From http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/industry-news/ukho-warns-against-counterfeit-nautical-charts

"The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has issued a warning over counterfeit nautical charts and publications and has produced a simple guide to help the maritime industry to identify genuine Admiralty products.

The warning comes as the UKHO has seen an increase in the number of counterfeit versions of its Admiralty charts and publications in circulation. In a bid to reduce the safety risk for vessels, crews and cargoes, the UKHO has produced a simple guide to help users and inspectors to distinguish official charts from fake ones. "

 

[lustyd]

From http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/industry-news/ukho-warns-against-counterfeit-nautical-charts

Why would there be a safety risk? Presumably the charts would be copies of proper charts so they will be the same as real ones.

I'm not condoning copyright theft, but this is nearly as daft as those anti piracy videos at the beginning of a DVD that they make you sit though while pirates copy everything but the warning and never see them.

 

[Baddox]

I agree that on principle, I’d avoid them and think you’re right about the safety aspect, it’s possibly just the publishers trying to protect their intellectual property. If the copies are good reproductions of up-to-date charts then they may be OK. It depends as well on the quality of the ink and paper, will they be durable enough to withstand a little damp and rubbed-out pencil lines?

I wonder if they were sold at almost full price, would people even be suspicious of them.

 

[prv]

Why would there be a safety risk? Presumably the charts would be copies of proper charts so they will be the same as real ones.

I guess if you're Mr Dodgy Chart Seller, you'll quickly realise that it's a lot easier to get the new edition up for sale by just changing the date and reprinting your copy of the old one. So buyers could be using out of date charts while thinking they have the new editions. Not a massive risk in practice though.

Pete

 

[lustyd]

I don't know any leisure sailors who replace their charts when a new version comes out anyway but I guess there must be some.

From another perspective, if these people are copying and selling the leisure charts they may be the only source once the stocks are gone

 

[Woodlouse]

I think as Prv has said it's the fact that these charts are unlikely to be up to date. Not really a problem round our coasts where nothing really changes and most yachtsmen go about with out dated charts anyway but at least then you know how old the data is.

More of an issue with the merchant navy who I believe are required by law to keep their charts fully up to date.