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Nautical Chart Contents (not a full list)

For images of real charts see here Eastern Solent   and Central Solent

You need to recognise and understand most of these.  The RYA Training Almanac has one page with common chart symbols. There are many more which you can look up in Admiralty Chart NP5011, which is actually a 75 page book.   Use the pictorial index on the inside back cover to locate the correct pages. NP 5011 also has much more information on conventions, buoyage, abbreviations, lights and tides. A copy of NP5011 is essential on any boat.

Chart Contents
Chart description
Title
Scale
Projection eg Mercator, Gnomic.
Date of Issue and dates of corrections (bottom left corner)
Geographic Datum (eg Ordnance Survey, WGS 84, ED50)
Chart dimensions
Latitude and Longitude scales
Chart limits Latitude & Longitude (top right and bottom left)

Chart datum for depths
Depths below chart datum
Contours
Heights above MHWS - Mean High Water Spring tide - for lights
Vertical clearances above Highest Astronomical Tide eg for bridges and overhead cables
Compass Rose and Magnetic Variation with annual change

Navigational mark system and Direction of Buoyage - the large magenta arrows on the chart indicates the direction.
In Europe the direction is IALA 'A' - Port Hand marks on the left in the direction of buoyage, Starboard Hand marks on the right. (Usually when entering ports or rivers and going up tide.

Lighthouses - see Nav lights
Fog signals
Lights
Navigation marks
Racons (radar beacons)
Wrecks
Rocks
Overfalls and tide rips

Tidal Diamonds and tables

Tide heights at selected points

Anchorages and foul ground

Submarine cables, pipelines, outfalls
Bridges, overhead cables and heights

Traffic Separation Zones (shipping lanes)

Offshore installations
Prohibited areas
Fisheries and fish farms
Oyster beds

Naval Exercise Areas, Gunnery and Submarine areas
Conspicuous landmarks - Churches, pylons, water towers, etc
Seabed type – sand (S), mud (M), shell (sh), clay (Cy), pebbles (P) rock (R), etc
Facilities - marinas, water, fuel, engineer, cranes, harbourmaster

Posted 8th March 2011