1

CHART WORK The navigational chart is a geographic representation of the earths navigational areas. It is represented on a plane surface Chart is constructed, so that it is suitable for special needs of a navigator. It shows the depth of water in soundings and contours, shoreline, navigational aids, and hazards. In India charts are published by Naval Hydrographic Department, Dehra Dun, after an extensive survey. Chart work is a practical side of navigation. Chart projection is a method of displace all or at part of surface of a sphere or spheroid. Various projections are used for constructing a chart; e.g.: Mercator Projections, Gnomonic stereo graphic, ortho graphic etc. The most common projection for nautical use is Mercator projection. For great circle chart, gnomonic projection used.

MERCATOR CHART. On Mercator chart Latitudes are drawn as straight lines parallel to each other and Longitudes are drawn as a straight line perpendicular to latitudes. These create a distortion in the topography. The meridinal parts account for this distortion and the picture on the chart is adjusted accordingly. The distortion is magnified in higher latitudes. Even though a great circle cant be drawn easily on the Mercator chart. All the great circle sailing is don as a series of rhomb lines, and these are plotted as straight lines. GNOMONIC CHART. In order to assist the navigator in finding the great circle track between two planes, Gnomonic stereo projection charts are constructed. So that, any straight line drown on them shall represent a great circle. They are formed by projecting the earth surface from earths center on to the tangent plane at any convenient point. They are though a Zenith projection. All the great circles appears as straight lines and the meridian will not be parellel, unless the tangent point is on the equator. Angles are also distorted except on the tangent point and therefore it is impossible to take the course and distance from a gnomonic chart. RELIABILITY OF CHART Charts are not perfect and have these on flows depending on the type of chart and projection used. In some plane seabed is unstable and hence, depth may change by a meter or more within few months of survey, coral reefs may also grow every year. Some times it may happen that dangerous navigational hazards may exist between the two lines of soundings on the chart.

There may be many pinnacle shaped obstructions of rock or coral in the open ocean, which rises suddenly and steeply from depth with 1000mts or more of water all around it; hence there cannot be any warning when approach such dangers. Great care should be taken while navigating in the vicinity of such dangers or sea mounted or other oceanic dangers. The survey has its own limitations and it is impossible to conducting survey on each and every inch of the ocean. Some times it may not give correct position of the dangers, there is extended and least depth over them. The reliability of the chart depends on survey date and areas covered by the chart. The heavily used routs are safe, and reliability surveying. Very important part to be remembered is that use always large-scale chart as possible. A small error plotting in large-scale chart means a few meters, where ever on a small-scale chart it may be few miles. Classification of chart. Navigational charts are classified in three category; 1. Ocean chart. 2. Costal chart. 3. Plan chart. 1. Ocean chart. These are small-scale charts covering large portions of earth. E.g. Indian Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, etc. These charts are mainly used for trans ocean voyages. They are unsuitable for costal navigation and plotting. The position with small time interval May be inaccurate. Natural scale of these charts rang from 1:6 Lacks to 1:140 Lacks. Only very important costal features are shown in these charts. 2. Costal chart. These are used for costal navigation and are medium scale charts. They are again subdivided bin to two types depending on the nature of scale. Charts with a scale ranging from 1:1.5Lacks to 1:6Lacks are called General costal chart and those with a scale ranging from 1:50000 to 1:1.5Lacks are called inshore costal chart. They show all the aids to navigation, important navigation marks and dangers. A navigator should be used largest scale chart available for that area. 3. Plan chart. Plan charts very large-scale charts of small areas such as ports and harbors. They are often called as harbors charts. Their scale ranges from 1:2500 to 1:50000Lacks. They contains all the information required when navigating in harbors and other enclosed waters. Every possible information of use to a navigator is shown in detail. A navigator can get his position with great accuracy and thus avoid dangers, which are more frequent in ports and harbors. 2

Different types of other charts. 1. Lattice chart. Decca, Consol, Loran, etc are deferent position fixing systems used as electronics navigational aids. Special types of charts are required to fix the position using this equipment. They are ordinary nautical charts on which the Lattice pattern of a particular electronic navigation system is printed or super impose on it. With the help of Lattice pattern the position of the ship can be found with reasonable accuracy. 2. Routing chart. These charts give important information for planning of passage across the oceans. These charts are published for every month of the year for each of the different ocean. Recommended ocean passages are printed on it. These charts give important information like current, wind, visibility, seawater temp: air temp: relative humidity, ice conditions, etc for that area. 3. Variation chart. This is a special type of chart, which gives isogonics lines. Isogonics lines are the lines joining places of the equal variation. Variation charts are more accurate than the variation shown in the chart because variation charts are a very few years. 4. Plotting charts/ sheets. These are blank sheets of charts in which latitudes are marked. The long: scale is not marked and can be found by plotting any long: for a particular lat: scale. E.g.: 0- 4o, 4o- 11o, etc. These can be used for plotting either the north or south of the equator. These are also used for plotting the position using celestial navigation. 5. Walls and Out line charts. These charts are informational charts. They are very small-scale charts. Such charts show the physical features and time zone of the world. Description of Chart. 1. 3 Title of the chart.

The title is printed in a convenient and conspicuous position without obstructing the navigational use of chart. Under the title, information like sounding units, such as depth in fathom or meters is provided. Under the title further details, such as natural scale, chart datum, tides, type of projection, bearing and cautions are given. 2. Natural scale. It is the relationship between chart and the part of earth it represent. It the ratio of a given distance on the earth, which it represent on the chart. Natural scale is printed under the title of the chart. E.g.: 1/12 means, a length of 1cm on the chart could represent a length of 12,000 cm of length on the earth. The numerator of the fraction is always one (unit) where as the denominator changes according the scale. For small scale chart the denominator large and vice versa.

3. Date of publication. The date of publication along with the name of hydrograph is printed at the center of the chart just out side of the margin A resent publication would be a more reliable chart because it was all the corrections incorporated up to date. 4. Date of printing. It is printed on the top right hand corner of a chart just out side the margin. It is shown as the no: of the day in the year. E.g. 227. 94 means the chart was printed on 227th day of 1994. 5. Small corrections. The charts are regularly up to date fore any change that may have occurs after publishing the chart. These corrections are issued through fortnightly edition of Notices to Mariners, published by Navel Hydrographic Office, Dehra Dun . 6. Large corrections. Major changes in the chart are termed as large corrections, whenever there is a large correction existing, change is corrected and a new edition of the chart is issued. 7. Plate dimensions. It is provided in the bottom right hand corner of the chart under the margin. E.g.: 1143 640 mm is the length and breadth of the plate from which the chart is printed. Plate dimensions do not includes chart borders. Chart datum. This is the level of water usually considered to be the depth at the Lowest Astronomical Tide-LAT. 4

8.

This is the depth below which the water rarely falls. All the depths shown on a chart are below this level and these depths are called the sounding. The unit of sounding is given under the title. The height of the tied is above the chart datum and hence the level of water is always more than chart datum. The chart datum provided under the title of the chart.

9. Soundings. Soundings mean the depth of water below the chart datum and are an important feature of the navigation chart. Sounding figures are scattered on the chart and the distance between the soundings are a measure of the extent of survey and it indicate the reliability of the chart. On all charts the position of the sounding is the center of the space occupied by the sounding figure. Some times during the survey the lead is covered to only a certain pre-determined depth if not bottom is detected such sounding is called No Bottom sounding. E.g.: 0/110 means no bottom landing at 110mts. 10. Depth contours There are lines joining places of equal depth and most charts have depth contours to indicate shallow areas as well as deep water. In the metric chart contour lines are given as continuous lines where as approximate contour lines are given in broken lines. 11. Nature of bottom. Under certain soundings nature of sea bottom is also indicated. soM soft Mud. bnSh brocken Shells. Co Corals. This indication is very useful when anchoring a ship. The nature of bottom becomes helpful in estimating the ships position, when worked along with the sounding. Heights. Generally all the hts are given in mts or feet above MHWS, this is also mentioned under the title. This is also measured above MHWS. In places where tide is negligible or nil it is measured above Mean Sea Level (MSL). 13.Drying height. 5

12.

The under lined figures on rocks banks which uncover during low tide expressed the height above the chart datum. E.g. 1.2/R. 14. Bearings. All the bearings are true bearings and are from seaward. 15. Sea mile. This is the length of one minute of latitude at a place and it is the unit of distance. 16. Leading lights. At the entrance or approaches to a harbour, two lights of different characteristics are erected, some distance apart. If a mariner is entering the harbour correctly and properly, he would see them in one line. It indicates that the ship lies on a line joining the two lights. Advantages of leading lights. Leading lights indicates the safe passage of the ship in a channel. Leading light helps in fixing the position of the ship. It helps a navigator to find the compass error by true transit bearing method. 17. Compass rose. This is the engraving of compass degrees on the chart in convenient position so as to help the navigator to draw the course, bearing or position line. The compass rows consist of two concentric circle. The outer circle is the true compass and inner is magnetic compass. The difference between true and magnetic north gives the variation of that place. The annual change of variation if any is also provided in the compass rose. NAUTICAL PUBLICATION. 1. Chart no: 5011. This is a nautical publication published by British Admiralty. It covers entire range of symbols and abbreviations that are used admiralty chart. Every navigating officer should be familiar with this publication. This publication is in the form of a book but it is primarily considered to be a chart and it covers fathom and metric chart. 2. Chart no: 5020. It is a nautical publication published by Navel Hydrographic Department, Dehra Dun by the Indian Hydrographer to the Govt: of India. It is similar to chart no: 5011 and covers all the symbols and abbreviations used in the chart published by Indian Hydrographer This publication is in the form of a book but it is primarily considered to be a chart. 3. Admiralty chart catalogue. It is issued annually by British Admiralty and Indian Hydrographic Department at Dehra Dun issues similar catalogue for our chart. 6

It covers entire range of nautical publications published by British Admiralty or Hydrographer to Govt: of India. Chart catalogue is a very essential aid to the navigator. By consulting it a navigator can make a list of all charts and publications that may be required to plan the passage. It gives the list of all nautical publication the date of printing and publication of all charts and nautical publications. Contents of chart catalogue; a). General instructions. b). List of chart agents. c). Numerical list of charts. d). Numerical list of other nautical publications. e). Chart index. f). Chart diagrams. g). Diagrams of coverage of other publications. 4. Sailing directions. It is generally known as Pilot Book and it is an essential aid to the navigator. It is published by British Admiralty. Indian Hydrographer also issues sailing directions for Indian waters- East cost pilot and West cost pilot. It provides a lot of information like type of costal line, hazards and dangers to navigation, currents and tidal streams, best anchorage, general descriptions of expected weather conditions based on meteorological history, normal pressure for that particular area type of buoy system used, facilities available in the ports of that area. It provides index of charts applicable for that particular area. It gives all possible information to the mariners so that he gets full knowledge of that particular area or port which he may not be familiar with. The whole world is covered in 75 volumes. A supplement is published in every 18 months incorporating any changes. A new edition is published in every 12 years. It is corrected up to date with the help of notices to mariners. The limit of each sailing direction is shown in the chart catalogue. While referring a sailing direction, care should be taken to consult the latest supplement also. The contents are, a). Caution to consult the latest supplement where they are issued. b). The latest notices to mariners in corporate in the book. c). A section dealing with local and national Govt: regulations that affected the mariners. d). Information concerning the area covered by the book and appropriate chart for that area. e). It also deals in detail the description of cost line, harbour, dangers, navigational aids, port facilities, communications, availability of fuel, stores, etc. 5. Admiralty List of Lights. Admiralty list of light and fog signals is termed as list of light. Each volume consists of a detailed list of all the lights, lighthouses and fog signals that exist within the geographical limit of that area. 7

chart.

They give more detailed information concerning the aid to navigation more than that of a There are 12 volumes covering the whole world and are listed in the chart catalogue A new edition is published every 18 months incorporating the change. It is corrected up to dated. The volume I is omitted to avoid confusion with L A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M.

6. Admiralty list of radio signals. These are published in 6volumes and each volume covers different parts of radio and electronic services available to the mariners. Vol:I Communication. Vol:II Navigational aids. Vol:III Meteorological services. Vol:IV - Meteorological abbreviation stations Vol:V Miscellaneous services. Vol:VI Port radio stations and pilot vessels. The admiralty list of radio signals are corrected with the help of notices to mariners. 7. Admiralty tide tables. Tide tables are used to calculate the time and height of tide whenever necessary. The Navel Hydrographic Department, Dehra Dun publishes Indian tide tables. Admiralty tide table has three parts or three volumes Vol: I - Europe and Mediterranean. Vol: II -Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Vol: III -Pacific Ocean. These volumes are published annually. We can fix the ht: of tide or time of tide for a particular area, by using this table. 8. Notices to Mariners. Navel Hydrographic Office, Dehra Dun, issues notices to mariners. Indian notices to mariners can be classified into two, namely; I. Fortnightly Edition. II. Annually Edition. The use of notices to mariners are as follows; a). To correct the chart up to date. b). To get marine information. c). To get radio navigational warnings. d). To correct the sailing directions. e). To correct the list of light. f). To correct the list of radio signals. Indian notices to mariners are published on 1st and 15th of every month. The contents of fortnightly edition; a). Index of chart affected. b). Permanent notices. c). Temporary and preliminary notices. d). Marine information. 8

e). Radio navigational warnings. f). Correction to sailing directions. g). Correction to list of light. h). Correction to list of radio signals. Annual edition. Annual edition is published on 1st January of every year. It contains consolidated information published till the end of previous year. Contents of annual edition/special edition; a). General notices. b). Availability of notices to mariners. c). Under keel clearness. d). Caution when approaching Indian ports. e). Weather bulletins issued to ships IMD-Indian Meteorological Department. f). List of storm signal stations. g). Distress and rescue at sea Ships& Aircrafts. h). Radio navigational warnings. i). Report of shoals obtained by echo sounding. j). Information about radar beacons. k). Development of off shore oil/gas fields. l). Traffic separation scheme. m). IALA maritime buoyage system. n). Former mine danger areas, swept roots and information regarding explosive picked out at sea. o). Notices to mariners- Explanation of terms. p). List of depot chart agents for sale of Indian charts and publications. q). Indian ships positioning and information reporting system-INSPIRES. r). Firing practice and firing exercise areas. s). Caution with regards to ship approaching squadrons etc. t). Information regarding the submarines. u). Long rang (HF) R/T services for Indian merchant ships. v). Submarine cables. w). Indian merchant ships use of radar at the time of emergency or war. x). DECCA navigator system. y). LORAN C system. z). International hydrographic organization. a1). National claims to maritime jurisdictions. b1). Satellite navigation system positioning. Note-with effect from 1st January 1994, the annual edition is published into two parts. They are; I. Special edition. II. Annual edition. The latest special edition is 1999.

10

Special edition. All the permanent notices shall be published in this edition. Any amendments or any addition to these notices shall be issued through notices to mariners, fortnightly edition. Mariners should retain this edition till it is canceled. Latest special edition in force in 1999. Annual edition. After 1994 annual edition contains only four items. they are; a). List of up to dated correction to the chart. b). Indian equivalent to British Admiralty chart. c). Unexploded changes. d). Text of temporary or preliminary notices.

How to correct a chart up to date. Refer the fortnightly edition of notices to mariners and sea the index of chart affected. If the no: of chart under reference is found in the index, there is a correction for our chart. And if our chart no: is not found in the index, there is no correction in this particular notices to mariners. If the chart no: is found in the index, not the notice no: given against it. See whether it is a temporary/permanent correction. Turn the pages and locate the correction, if it is a temporary correction mark it with a pencil, if it is a permanent correction mark it with the help of water proof violet ink. After the corrections make an entry in the bottom left hand corner with water proofing-notice no: and year. How to correct the chart while it is not corrected for a long time. Refer the latest annual notices to mariners and see the list of up to dated correction and verify from the chart. See annual notice will give all the notice no: affected, the chart till the publication. Compare this with the entries made on the bottom left hand corner of the chart and find how many corrections are not done. Get the corrections from the fortnightly edition and correct the chart up to date. For the current year, refer all the fortnightly edition and correct the chart and their after correct the chart up to date whenever a fortnightly editioncom-1st and 15th of every month. 9. 10 Ocean passages of the world. This gives various ocean passages all around the world. It provides various maps with recommended routs and also distance between the ports.

11

It also gives details of wind conditions, ocean currents, local time zones and ice hazards.

10. Guido to port entry. This book is very useful while entering the port. It is published in two volumes namely Vol: 1 and Vol: 2. Vol: 1- it gives information regarding the ports and its approaches. Vol: 2- it gives plans of important ports. 11. Admiralty distance table. It is published by British Admiralty. They give distance along the routs most frequently used by ships. They are reasonably accurate and provide the distance between the ports readily. 12. World port index. It gives the list of all the ports known in the world country wise. They also give brief details of conditions and facilities available in the port. It is published by U.S defense mapping agency. 13. ships routing. It is published by International Maritime Organization-IMO-and describes the routing system established all over the world. It gives the recommended routs such as traffic separation scheme, deep-water rout, etc. The range of light There are three types of ranges; I. Luminous range. It is the maximum distance at which a light can be seen under the existing visibility conditions. It takes no account of elevation of the light or height of the eye or curvature of the earth or other interference. It depends on power or intensity of light. II. Nominal range. It is the maximum distance at which the light can be seen in clear weather as defined by international visibility code i.e., Meteorological visibility of 10M. This range is listed in most Vol: of List of lights. III. Geographical range. It is the maximum distance at which the curvature of the earth permits the light to be seen from a particular height without considering the luminous intensity of the light. It depends only on the height of the lighthouse and height of the observer. If the light is powerful enough, we can see the light from that distance. Explanation of the lighthouse: E.g.: GP Fl (3) 15 sec 38m.25M(15). Group of flashing (white) three every 15 seconds. 11

12

Height of the lighthouse 38 meters above M.H.W.LS. Nominal range 25 miles. Geographical range 15 miles. Track. The path followed or to be followed between one position to another, this path may be that over the ground ground track- or through the water- water trackGround track. - Course made good over the ground. Water track. - Course allowing for leeway. Track angle. The direction for a track in digresses. Heading. The horizontal direction of the ships heading at a given movement. Course. The indented heading. Course to steer. The course related to the compass use by the helmsman. Set- It is the direction towards which current and/or tidal stream flows. Drift- The distance covered in a given time due to the movement of a current and/or tidal stream. Drift or drift angle-It is the angular difference between the water track and ground track. Leeway- The effect of wind in moving a vessel broadly to leeway. Leeway angle- The angular difference between the water track and ships heading. Sea position- The point at the termination of the water track. Dead reckoning (DR)- Maintain or predicting an approximate record of progress by projecting course and distance from a known position (symbol +). DR position- The position obtained by the DR distance run and distance covered derived from the log or engine revolution. Estimated position (EP)- A best or possible approximation of a present or future position based on course and distance since the last known position with estimation made for leeway, set and drift. True course- It is the angle between the true meridian and ship heading. Magnetic course- It is the angle between magnetic meridian and ship heading. Compass course- The course indicated by the magnetic compass influence by both variation and deviation Compass error- The combination of variation and deviation is compass error. To obtain the amount and name of the error, if variation and deviation are as same name, add and give the same name. If they are in different name subtract and give the large name. Bearing- It is the direction of one object from an observer or from another object.

12