Ebb and flow
UKHO to withdraw paper charts
There was dismay from UK sailors as the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced it would be stopping paper chart production by 2026. The “sunsetting” process will begin this year, starting with larger scale charts.
The plans affect the UKHO’s portfolio of Admiralty Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs) and Thematic Charts “in response to more marine, naval and leisure users primarily using digital products and services for navigation”.
The UKHO said its digital charts could be updated “in near real-time, greatly enhancing safety of life at sea (SOLAS)”.
“Today’s world is unrecognisable to the one that existed in 1795, when our organisation was founded. Back then, mariners navigated by the stars using a magnetic compass and surveying with a leaded line marked in fathoms. They could fix where they had been, but not where they were,” the UKHO said. “Withdrawing from paper chart production will allow us to increase our focus on advanced digital services that meet the needs of today’s seafarers.”
The RYA’s Richard Falk said: “It is important to highlight for those who wish to continue navigating using paper charts and more traditional navigational techniques, there are other providers of paper charts within the market. The RYA will continue to teach both traditional and electronic navigational techniques through its range of courses, although over time it is right to expect the weighting of emphasis to shift towards more digitally based techniques.”
Chart publisher Imray said they had no plans to withdraw paper charts: “Our focus is the leisure and small craft sector, which has different conditions and requirements to the UKHO’s primary commercial shipping market. There is still strong demand from leisure customers for paper charts.” See Tom Cunliffe’s column on page 40.
