UKHO backs down on paper chart withdrawal

dunedin

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UKHO has announced a delay to its plan to withdraw all paper charts by end 2026 - now extended by 4 years - UKHO to extend timetable for paper chart withdrawal

This sounds like a result for the concerns raised by the Royal Institute for Navigation (RIN), Cruising Association and RYA, amongst others.

Whilst electronic navigation is clearly the right strategic direction, paper charts still have an important role for many purposes, vessels and skippers. Particularly when there are, as far as I know, absolutely no electronic leisure charts available that don’t have a “not to be used for navigation” restriction.
Well done MCA as well, in pushing back on UKHO.

However will have to wait and see what this means in practice. UKHO has already withdrawn its Small Craft Folios, “replacing” with single sheet Print on Demand Small Craft Charts. Need to see how long these last has UKHO had previously stated that “Our larger-scale charts will likely be removed first as the locations they cover typically receive fewer individual vessel visits”,
 

lustyd

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This is good news. While I don't use them any more it's good to know they're available for those who do. Whether it's commercially viable or not who can say, the price may rise even further as demand drops.

In either case, we need to start seeing chart plotters without "not to be used for navigation" screens!
 

st599

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For coded small craft like training boats, the only option was a mini-ECDIS. A chartplotter wasn't enough. So needed auto chart updates, auto backups, ability to enter 3 point fixes and do those to be used as current position, hardware self test, vessel data recorder, certified hardware etc.

UKHO and MCA really need an affordable system in place for small commercial vessels, before they pull the one everyone uses.
 

dunedin

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For coded small craft like training boats, the only option was a mini-ECDIS. A chartplotter wasn't enough. So needed auto chart updates, auto backups, ability to enter 3 point fixes and do those to be used as current position, hardware self test, vessel data recorder, certified hardware etc.

UKHO and MCA really need an affordable system in place for small commercial vessels, before they pull the one everyone uses.
That is precisely the point argued strongly by RIN and the Cruising Association - and now the MCA seems to have acted to defer UKHO’s unilateral announcement without an alternative option.
I believe mini-ECDIS was a concept some time ago, but not aware of any (cost effective) solutions actually available for leisure craft.
Obviously large commercial ships use full fat ECDIS - but neither compact nor cheap.
 

lustyd

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ability to enter 3 point fixes
This is so low down my list of requirements. If the built in GPS is broken I'll enter the coordinates from one of the other 10 devices on board. In fact, most of those items seem like a waste of time for most of us.
 

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I was delighted to see the change, but they have already lost me as a customer as I'm not going to get lots of wee charts printed when I can use a much cheaper alternative. NV for the south coast and Imray for the rest.

I still think they should go down the OS route of being able to get a chart printed with a lat/long you select at its centre, @AntarcticPilot did explain why this is not currently possible.
 

dunedin

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I was delighted to see the change, but they have already lost me as a customer as I'm not going to get lots of wee charts printed when I can use a much cheaper alternative. NV for the south coast and Imray for the rest.

I still think they should go down the OS route of being able to get a chart printed with a lat/long you select at its centre, @AntarcticPilot did explain why this is not currently possible.
Agree to a degree, except Imray only do small scale 1:150,000 C Series for much of the UK whereas UKHO often have/had 1:25,000
 

st599

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This is so low down my list of requirements. If the built in GPS is broken I'll enter the coordinates from one of the other 10 devices on board. In fact, most of those items seem like a waste of time for most of us.
Waste of time or not, that's what's required on a coded boat.
 

zoidberg

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I'm pleased to read that. So much so, I may well go and grab me a handful of 'retail therapy' in the shape of..... cough, cough.... new charts I actually pay for!

Half of mine are B&W in fathoms. With cutesy little pen 'n ink landscapes along the margins. Anyone else remember them?
 

capnsensible

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That just shows the coding needs to change. The idea that a 3 point fix is necessary to make a boat seaworthy in 2023 is insane.
Don't forget that coded boats include training vessels where people are taught to use the compass in navigation for position fixing, clearance bearings in pilotage, etc etc. This is useful when preparing for example, pilotage plans so you can predict rather than simply seeing on the plotter where you went aground. :)

Also great for assessing risk of Collision amongst other things. For me, regular practice of manual techniques combined with the knowledge of how to use electronic navigational aids can only help to shape a good navigator.

Great too when you don't own a boat and sail other people's....such as cheap med charters!
 

zoidberg

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That just shows the coding needs to change. The idea that a 3 point fix is necessary to make a boat seaworthy in 2023 is insane.

I somehow suspect that our 'squiggly correspondent' fails to understand yet again.

It's not the boat that needs to understand the principles of safe navigation to be seaworthy - it's the irriot holding onto the wheel.
 

lustyd

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Don't forget that coded boats include training vessels where people are taught to use the compass in navigation for position fixing
Yes I get that people need to learn but that doesn’t mean every single boat needs the tools on board to use every outdated method of navigation. GPS has proven extremely reliable and is quite suitable as an alternative. If the coding required at least one method of position fixing that would be fine. I’d imagine the majority of coded boats are charters that anchor within 10 miles of home every day.
 

lustyd

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I somehow suspect that our 'squiggly correspondent' fails to understand yet again.

It's not the boat that needs to understand the principles of safe navigation to be seaworthy - it's the irriot holding onto the wheel.
Indeed, so why insist the boat have such specific equipment? It’s not unreasonable to suggest the coding is out of date, times move on.
If you can’t read Ogham that’s on you.
 

capnsensible

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Yes I get that people need to learn but that doesn’t mean every single boat needs the tools on board to use every outdated method of navigation. GPS has proven extremely reliable and is quite suitable as an alternative. If the coding required at least one method of position fixing that would be fine. I’d imagine the majority of coded boats are charters that anchor within 10 miles of home every day.
The whole schermuly changes when you you work in a commercial environment. Safety backups will always win an argument.

The code of practice for small commercial vessels is subject to intense scrutiny and I don't believe anything within it is decided upon lightly.

Expensive though......
 
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