Electronic charts, extra so than another current advancement, flawlessly constitute the manner boating and era have sailed facet via way of means of facet into the twenty first centuries. Not being problem to electric failure, paper charts are nonetheless extensively utilized by many sailors, however those virtual ocean partners are swiftly starting to increase or even update extra conventional strategies of mapping. For this access with inside the Sea Chest blog, we intention to provide you a primary round-up of digital nautical charts software program, their diverse providers and a few current tendencies that is probably really well worth your interest.

ELECTRONIC CHARTS – AN OVERVIEW

Week neat Used with both a pc or onboard pc, PDA (extra lately tablets) or a committed marine chart plotter, digital navigational charts offer virtual-primarily based totally navigation that – like their bulky paper counterparts – are a problem to the compliances of the International Mar time Organization (IMO). They offer a consistent role and navigational protection data whilst used alongside positive charting software programs and GPS receivers.

Electronic charts fall into separate groups: 

Raster and Vector.

Radar charts are essentially digital scans of the physical charts (usually the Admiralty charts from the UKHO). You can pan and zoom on those charts, however, you cannot get entry to extra than the existing quantity of detailing (to get the extra element on a positive area, you want to exchange the chart over). The word ‘raster’ refers to raster graphics, or bitmap; a dot matrix facts shape that creates photos the usage of a square grid of pixels. Typically Raster charts are furnished on a CD-ROM, and may be regarded the usage of proprietary software programs along with seaport Lite (extra at the character software program later).

Vector charts, additionally called ENC’s, are conceived completely as virtual charts. They pass past the easy supplied navigational data with several ‘layers’ of useful plotting gear and facts, together with depths, tidal streams, contours, and, relying on what software program you are the usage of, they may be connected dynamically to different databases to offer real real-time information e.g. weather, tidal streams. Systems the usage of ENC charts also can be programmed to provide caution of drawing close hazard with regards to the vessel’s role and movement. Vector Admiralty nautical charts additionally come on CD-ROM, however also are furnished on SD playing cards for committed marine plotters.

Admiralty UKHO 

In 2010, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) introduced they had be restructuring its Admiralty Leisure product variety, which unfortunately covered the alternatively beneficial RYA chart plotter; a exceptional creation to digital navigation. Worse, in 2012, in addition they found out they deliberate to withdraw their ARCS Skipper virtual navigation provider via way of means of round November 2013. However, their Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS) remains, providing you with their complete desire of charts in a miles extra accessible format. What’s critical to be aware is those are not really scanned paper copies; they may be taken at once from the digitized originals.

Imray

The choice of Imray virtual charts are in a manner a midway factor among raster and vector. Though they’re essentially digital versions of preferred Imray Charts posted for PC, however with included GPS plotter software program. The excessive-decision photos make use of the GPS to permit direction-making plans with waypoints, with chart notes, warnings and tidal diamonds displayed as textual content boxes. You can download corrections, and they may be to be had to shop for as chart packs overlaying diverse ocean regions round Britain.

C-Map

Jespersen’s C-MAP PC planner and big array of virtual charts will flip your humble pc into the precise navigational device. The PC planner comes with a USB C-Cad, or FP Card reader which functions a twin slot cartridge holder and may examine separate charts simultaneously. Their C-MAP vector charts in the meantime are primarily based totally, in part, on UKHO products, with extra data supplied via way of means of different public organizations and personal data publishers. C-MAP pioneered what’s nowadays called object-orientated Technology, and provides diverse presentation modes for the user’s requirements. C-MAP charts are to be had inside the MAX series and in advance NT+ charts.

Maxsea Software

Maxsea product the desire of plotter of Franck Commas, Michel Desjoyeaux, Ellen MacArthur and lots of different exceptional sailors, Massena’s variety may be very quite regarded. There has an exceptional compatibility variety with chart formats, with their preferred functions assisting raster charts like Admiralty ARCS, and vector maps from C-MAP. You can don’t forget formerly used waypoints and routes on destiny voyages, examine the display screen without difficulty at any time with Day/Dusk/Night Time show modes, and theirs is the best navigation software program to encompass all of the tides of the primary ports of the sector as a preferred feature.

Navionics Gold avionics Platinum

Image of Navionics Gold XL9 46XG English Channel, France – All Coasts In 1984, Navionics modified the manner humans navigate via way of means of introducing the marketplace to the sector’s first digital chart device. Now their variety of Seaport, Lite, and Lite+ software program programs integrate excessive fine charts with realistic navigation functionality. As properly as navigation software programs, they produce excessive fine digital vectored charts, known as live charts. The Navionics Gold charts come pre-programmed in Compact Flash, Multimedia Card, or SD card format, and layer vector facts over a raster experiment of paper charts. Their Platinum series, in the meantime, provide more advantageous functions together with 3-d view, Navionics boating.

You can view our complete variety of digital charts here. In the meantime, we would want to recognise approximately how digital charts serve you at sea. Which software program do you use? How frequently have you ever needed to upgrade? Do you pick pc, pill, or are paper charts nonetheless the fine device to have? Let us recognise with inside the comments, or through our Facebook page, Twitter or Google+.