Keeping Charts Up to Date
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Step by step instructions on updating - Leisure
Editions; Leisure
Folios; Tough Charts
"As an officer and a navigator I have ever looked with horror on
neglect and indolence, and have never yet crossed the seas without
that foresight which is necessary to the well doing of the voyage…"
In these few words Captain Bligh described the essential nature of
good seamanship. Proper care of charts is part
of that necessary foresight, and in particular keeping your charts
up to date according to the latest Notices to Mariners.
Why Update Your Charts?
“Rocks don’t move!” is something that is often said by many leisure mariners. True, they have a tendency to remain
firmly in situ. However changes in buoyage and lights, new wrecks,
temporary obstructions or depth changes in rivers and estuaries
are examples of updates to charts that are critical to safe navigation.
What Do I Need?
The essentials are: a pen with a very fine point (preferably magenta
in colour so that it shows up clearly), a copy of Chart 5011 - Symbols
and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Charts and internet access to www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk
and the free of charge Admiralty Leisure Notices to Mariners website. To apply a textual update to a Tough Chart you will require a permanent pen with a fine nib.
What Are Notices To Mariners?
A Notice to Mariners (NM) is an update or alteration to a chart.
Every year the UKHO issues over 5,000 NMs which allow mariners
to update their charts to the latest safety-critical information.
Leisure NMs are issued on a weekly basis via the new NM website at www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk.
Above is an example of a typical Notice. The title
in bold denotes the NM number, the geographical area or country,
a more specific region or port and the nature of the correction. The second line contains the source of the information.
Beneath the title and source is the text of the correction, with clear
instructions on the update. In this case, amendments to depths.
Colour Blocks
Notices may also be issued as colour blocks where a lot of changes
are to be applied. These are simply cut out and glued on the chart
at the coordinates specified. It is important to remember to cut
off the enclosing black line around the outer limits of the area
of the block. A permanent glue stick is ideal for attaching the
block since it allows some movement and readjustment immediately
after placement. If you have a Tough Chart and require a waterproof block, please email helpdesk@ukho.gov.uk or telephone 01823 723366.
Applying the Notice to
Mariners
1. Determine if the Notice
is applicable to your chart and your vessel.
· You may decide
that it isn’t relevant to your vessel. For example, changes to a very
deep sounding or a new cable in very deep water are not necessarily
of interest to the leisure mariner.
2. Apply The Correction
· When replacing
a symbol, find the symbol to be replaced on the chart. Then, as close
as possible and not over any other information, draw the new symbol
(check Chart 5011). Link the new symbol to the required position
with a curved line. Finally draw two diagonal lines through the
old symbol to show that it no longer applies.
NB. Always insert new information before you delete any information.
· When inserting
a new symbol, place it on the exact position given in the NM. If
there isn’t room follow the process above for a ‘replacement
symbol' (see below).
· You can find detailed
instructions and examples of how to apply corrections to charts
in the UKHO’s publication NP294 - How to Correct your Charts the Admiralty Way.
3. Document The Corrections
Applied
· Check your work
and then, in the bottom left-hand corner of the chart, make a note
of the number and year of the NM. Only do this once you have applied
the correction and not before.
· If you decide
that a correction does not apply to your vessel, making a note of
the correction number on the chart will save re-checking at a later
date.
4. Using www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk
to update your Leisure Charts
Updating
Admiralty Leisure Editions
Leisure Editions are folded copies of Standard Navigational Charts
(SNCs), printed on high wet strength paper. The complete range is printed in time for the start of each calendar year,
each copy being up to date to the last edition of the SNC. The last
correction applied to the chart is listed in the bottom left-hand
corner.
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1 |
Go to the Admiralty Leisure website www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk.
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2 |
Using the left
mouse button, click on "Notices to Mariners" from the left hand menu.
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3 |
Using the left mouse button,
click on "Admiralty Leisure Edition NMs".
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4 |
Click on Leisure Edition number/title. This will provide all the notices since the last New Edition.
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5 |
To exit the View NM screen,
click on Close Window at the top right hand corner of the pop-up
window.
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6 |
For successful printing
of Colour Blocks, the minimum specification of printer is a
good quality Ink Jet/Laser printer with 300 dpi resolution
or greater. To print, click on the usual print icon in Adobe
Acrobat.
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Troubleshooting
· When
printing using Adobe Reader up to version 4.0, ensure that the ‘Fit to Page’ icon
in the Adobe Acrobat print menu is switched off.
With Adobe version 5.0, from the print menu, deselect ‘Shrink Oversized Pages to
Page Size’ and ‘Expand Small Pages to Paper Size’ then click OK.
With Adobe versions 6.0 and 7.0, in the Page Scaling Menu, within the print menu,
choose ‘None’ then click OK.
· Certain types of Ink Jet
printer require setting to 'Dithered Screening' not 'Pattern Screening'.
· Printed colour copies
should be compared with the colour image on screen to ensure that all the colours
have reproduced correctly. Printer property resolution and ink density may need to
be adjusted to obtain the best results.
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Updating
Admiralty Leisure Folios
Leisure Folios are a collection of A2 size chartlets,
packaged in a waterproof wallet and giving detailed coverage of popular
cruising areas. Each Folio of charts can be compiled from as many
as 10 Standard Navigational Charts (SNCs). These are listed in the bottom
left-hand corner of each chartlet.
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1 |
Go to the Admiralty Leisure website www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk.
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2 |
Using the left
mouse button, click on "Notices to Mariners" from the left hand menu.
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3 |
Using the left mouse button,
click on the last option "Admiralty Leisure Folio NMs".
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4 |
Click on the folio number/title. This will provide all the notices since the last New Edition.
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5 |
It is good practice
to update the list of corrections on your chart as you apply
them.
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6 |
To exit the View NM screen,
click on Close Window at the top right-hand corner of the pop-up
window.
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7 |
For successful printing
of Colour Blocks, the minimum specification of printer is a
good quality Ink Jet/Laser printer with 300 dpi resolution
or greater. To print, click on the usual print icon in Adobe
Acrobat.
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Troubleshooting
·
When printing using Adobe Reader up to version 4.0, ensure that the ‘Fit to
Page’ icon in the Adobe Acrobat print menu is switched off.
With Adobe version 5.0, from the print menu, deselect ‘Shrink Oversized
Pages to Page Size’ and ‘Expand Small Pages to Paper Size’ then
click OK.
With Adobe versions 6.0 and 7.0, in the Page Scaling Menu, within the print menu,
choose ‘None’ then click OK.
· Certain types of Ink Jet printer require setting
to 'Dithered Screening' not 'Pattern Screening'.
· Printed colour copies should be compared with
the colour image on screen to ensure that all the colours
have reproduced correctly. Printer property resolution and
ink density may need to be adjusted to obtain the best results.
· You may have to trim the block to fit the folio
sheet.
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Updating Admiralty Leisure Tough Charts
Tough Charts are A3 spiral bound books of waterproof charts designed for use in wet or open boats.
1 |
Go to the Admiralty Leisure website www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk.
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2 |
Using the left
mouse button, click on "Notices to Mariners" from the left hand menu.
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Select ‘Admiralty Leisure Tough Chart NMs’.
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4 |
Select the relevant Tough Chart title from the list. This will provide all the notices since the last New Edition.
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It is good practice to maintain a list of the updates applied to your chart as you apply them.
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To exit the ‘View NM’ screen, close the Window at the top right hand corner.
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If a colour block is shown in the list of Tough Chart updates, you can e-mail helpdesk@ukho.gov.uk or telephone 01823 723 366, stating your requirement and we will send a waterproof, adhesive block to you free of charge.
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For full details of international correction techniques and symbols,
please consult NP294 How to Correct your Charts the Admiralty Way.
Notice
It is strongly recommended that leisure mariners use the latest
leisure chart available.
Please note NMs are applicable only to the editions which are current and not to past editions. |
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