LESSON 3: NAUTICAL
PUBLICATIONS
Lesson 3: Nautical
Publications
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AGENDA:
– Navigator’s Reference Library
– Chart/Publication Correction System
– Plotting Equipment
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Applicable reading: Hobbs, pp. 42-52, 57-78.
Coast Pilots
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Provide supplemental information about
navigation in U.S. coastal waters.
Information includes:
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topographical features
navigation aids
normal local weather conditions
recommended tracks
pilot information
descriptions of ports and harbors
Sailing Directions
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Provide supplemental information about
navigation in foreign coastal waters.
Information provided is similar to that
found in Coast Pilots.
Divided into different volumes
– 8 volumes are Planning Guides for ocean
basin transits
– 35 are Enroute Directions for piloting in
coastal waters.
Fleet Guides
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Provide information for use by U.S. Navy
ships, including:
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Command information (e.g. SOPA)
Navigation information (e.g. prevailing tides/currents)
Logistics (e.g. fuel/water)
Port operations (e.g. Comms facilities etc.)
Repair facilities
Fleet Guides exist for ports frequently visited
by the U.S. Navy in both the U.S. and foreign
countries.
Light List
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Lists aids to navigation in U.S. waters,
including:
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lighted aids to navigation
unlighted buoys
daybeacons
fog signals
radiobeacons
Loran-C coverage
List of Lights
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Describes aids to navigation found in
foreign waters and selected U.S. coastal
regions.
Similar to Light List but does not contain
information on unlighted navigation aids.
Distances Between Ports (Pub 151)
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Lists great circle distances among the
most frequently traveled sea routes
throughout the world.
Hazard and Depth Symbology
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Symbols are also used to
denote specific hazards to
navigation, such as partially
submerged wrecks, etc.
Chart Number 1 is the
reference for all chart
symbology.
Pilot Charts
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Name is misleading- they really cover
major ocean basins and not piloting
(coastal) waters.
Provide meteorological, hydrographic,
and navigational information for a
particular ocean area.
Extremely valuable in voyage planning.
Pilot Chart of
PACNORWEST
NIMA Catalogue of Maps,
Charts, and Related Products
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Illustrated catalog of maps, charts,
publications, and other related products
produced by NIMA.
Contains serialized drawings of the world
which allow the navigator to locate charts
and Sailing Directions that cover areas of
interest.
Published as an eleven volume set.
Step #1 Identify the
Coastal Region/Subregion
Example: The navigator is planning to visit
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Step #2 Locate the
Small-scale Coastal Chart
Step #3 Locate the
Large-scale Approach Charts
NOS Nautical Chart
Catalogue
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Set of drawings, very similar to those
found in the DMA catalog.
Cover U.S. waters
Chart and Publication
Correction System
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Corrections to charts and
publications are disseminated
via Notice to Mariners and
Local Notice to Mariners.
– Notice to Mariners - issued by
NIMA and contain changes
relating to oceanic and coastal
areas worldwide.
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Navigators are not required to
immediately enter changes on
every chart/publication.
Plotting Equipment
DIVIDERS
COMPASS / DIVIDER
Plotting Equipment
BEAM COMPASS
Plotting Equipment
PARALLEL RULERS
Plotting Equipment
ROLLING
PLOTTERS /
PARALLEL
PLOTTER
PMP ARM
Nautical Slide Rule
If two of
three
quantities are
know, you
can solve for
the third.
REVIEW
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What book would I look in to find:
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Information on a port such as Repair facilities
and command information?
A lighted navaid in US waters?
A lighted navaid in foreign waters?
Chart corrections?
Chart symbology?
The distance traveled from Norfolk to Ingleside
Texas?
What 3 pieces of information can you find on a
nautical slide rule?
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