How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Preface
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... Bligh Gavin Kennedy Duckwortb 1978, p131. Captain Bligh, quoted above, has caught the essential nature of good seamanship in those few words. A Difficult man, but whatever his faults, he is acknowledged to have been a superb navigator who contributed to the pioneering work of the expeditions led by the incomparable Captain Cook. The modem Admiralty chart is a direct link to these astonishingly competent men and innumerable others who have patiently measured the Earth for us over the last two hundred years. Proper care of charts is part of that foresight which is necessary to the well doing of the voyage.. and is, in some small way, an act of homage to those pioneers.
.

Today, the ships navigator is the final, and possibly the weakest, link in the chain of the production of the chart. The care and attention which is lavished on each chart continues until it leaves the Chart Agent after which all depends upon the competence of the end-user. Properly used and understood the Chart Correction System should ensure that each expensive chart on board is as good as those ashore ready for purchase. Experience has taught me this cannot be taken for granted and some years ago I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of H.86 Notes on Chart Correction for Admiralty Chart Agents the ancestor of this publication. This proved to be, an excellent tool for the education of my navigators, the only fault being that it was not in general circulation.

Mr R G Templeman, Supply and Production Planning, Chart Correcting, has now revised the original H.86 for a wider market and I welcome How to Correct Your Charts the Admiralty Way as a significant aid to safety in helping to ensure that our charts are as correct as they can be. For as long as paper charts are produced and used this valuable guide should accompany each chart outfit. Cook and Bligh may well have approved.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Contents
Preface List of contents Introduction Chapter 1 Equipment: Tools Equipment: Publications Chapter 2 Notices to Mariners (1): Information available from the Weekly Edition of Admiralty Notices to Mariners Section I Geographical Index Index Pages Section II New Admiralty Charts and Publications New Editions of Admiralty Charts and Publications Additions to the ARCS Series Admiralty Charts to be published Admiralty Publications to be published Revised publication dates Admiralty Charts and Publications permanently withdrawn Revised UK Recommended Retail Prices (RRP(UK)) Admiralty Chart Agent Information Erratum Corrections Temporary and Preliminary ANMs Section II A Australian and New Zealand NMs Section III Navigational Warnings NAVAREA Warnings Section IV Corrections to Admiralty Sailing Directions (ASDs) Page

2 3

5 5

5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7

7 8

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Section V Corrections to Admiralty List of Lights and Fog signals (ALLs) Notes or Blocks Hydrographic Note (H102) Hydrographic Note for Port Information (H102a) Section VI Corrections to Admiralty List of Radio Signals (ALRS) Chapter 3 Notices to Mariners (2): Corrections Chapter 4 How to correct your charts Final Notes

Page 9 9 9 9

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How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Introduction
There are no chart of any part of the world so accurate and no directions so perfect as not to furnish frequent occasion for revision and amendment. The above quotation is taken from the title page of the Nautical Magazine published in 1832. The degree of reliance to be placed on a chart must depend upon the character and completeness of the original survey material and on the completeness of reports of subsequent changes. The chart must never be taken for granted. (Admiralty Manual of Navigation 1987). These quotations are saying the same thing. These important statements are reminders that you can rely on Admiralty charts ONLY if they are corrected up to date. This document does not attempt to teach navigation. It is assumed that you are able to plot from the text of an Admiralty Notice to Mariners and that you know how to position a correction accurately. The purpose of this document is to set out simply and clearly the essential points of good chart correcting practices. For the purpose of demonstrating chart correcting techniques, charts used in the following examples are shown in black; only the correction is highlighted in violet.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Chapter 1
Equipment: Tools It is recommended that you must have the proper tools before you begin to correct your charts. The following items are recommended and can be bought from any good stationer who sells brand names such as Staedtler, Standardgraph, Rotring and Linex. 1. Pens You need two pens with different sizes of nib, eg. 0.15mm and 0.25mm. Use a 0.15mm nib to insert information and a 0.25mm nib to delete. It is necessary to follow the instructions accompanying the pen of your choice so that you can keep it clean and in working order. The colour should be violet so that you can see your corrections clearly. Also, they can be seen by Port State, Flag State, Class and Insurance surveyor inspection teams. HB. This is a good pencil for inserting Admiralty Notices to Mariners (ANMs) into your Chart Correction Log and Folio Index NP 13 3A (see subparagraph 12). Also it can be used for chart work but mariners may prefer a softer pencil such as a 2B. 7H. Ths is a hard pencil with a sharp point for pin-pointing positions when using either a parallel rule and dividers or a Chart Correction Overlay (more commonly referred to as a Tracing). A Tracing is a useful tool for positioning a correction quickly. Tracings can be obtained through appointed Admiralty Chart Agents. 4. Eraser This should be soft and used only for rubbing out pencil marks/tracks on charts or ANMs recorded in the NP 13 3A. This is to be used when sticking Block corrections and Notes/Cautions onto charts. There are many types of adhesive on the market but the product known as Positionable Mounting Adhesive Rolls, a 3M product under the brand name Scotchrs, is strongly recommended. As there is no distortion to the chart or the block, you will find that you can obtain a perfect fit; and it is permanent. a. Roller b. Stepping Both are perfectly suitable for the purpose of chart correction. Bow dividers are more sensitive for accurate positioning.

2. Ink

3. Pencils

5. Adhesive

6. Parallel rule There are two types:

7. Dividers

8. Compasses... with a pen attachment, is an essential piece of equipment for corrections where you have to draw large circles or sectors, for example. Position the point gently to avoid piercing the chart.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

9.

Hacksaw blade A useful tool which you can use to draw a cable. The blade must have 14 teeth to 1 inch (2.5cm). Be careful to use the blade so that your pen will flow over the teeth. Straight edge A steel straight edge, preferably 1 metre in length, is a useful tool for finding a position on a chart. It is a slower process than using a parallel ruler and dividers but there is less room for error. Template... with various sizes of holes, should be used for drawing radar stations, radio beacons, small circular limits, etc..

10.

11.

Equipment: Publications 12. NP 133A This publication may be purchased from any appointed Admiralty Chart Agent. It lists every chart numerically and is used to record corrections (by their ANM number) against any chart affected. When the ANMs are received (see Chapter 2: Notices to Mariners (1) below) you should identify those charts which are affected by an ANM and record the ANM number against the chart number in the NP 13 3A. You can correct your charts later and cross the appropriate ANMs through in pencil as you complete them. By entering the ANMs in pencil, all ANM entries can be erased when a New Edition of the chart is received which will supersede all previous corrections. Only the date of the New Edition/New Chart should be entered in ink as a permanent record. The following is an extract from a correctly completed version of NP 133A
Folio in which included 89 3061 11 3062 95 3063 95 3064 96 3065 96 3066 1987 Dec 4 (NE) 1995 - 75 1976 Jul 16 (NE) 1997 473 - 2606 1995 Jan 6 (NE) 1997 27 473 997 1193 1423-1773 2606 - 2607 1993 Jul 23 (NE) 1996 - 3295 1990 Dec 21 (NE) 1997 135 2137 - 2658 Notices to Mariners affecting chart 1987 OCT 2 (NE) 1988 2146 1991 - 2397

Chart No.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

96 3067

1989 Oct 27 (NE) 1996 301 1997 - 1422

12. NP 133A (Cont.) If you only have a few charts aboard, you may prefer to use a lined jotter or note book with a list of the chart numbers in numerical order. Merchant Marine officers may prefer to use a card index system based on folio content. A sophisticated computer program can be adapted to accommodate this information. You can use Admiralty Digital Notices to Mariners (ADNM) (see Annex), or the outfit management services of an International Admiralty Chart Agent (IACA). Whichever system is used, it is vital that an up-to-date record is maintained of all corrections affecting all charts held. Without such a record it is very easy to lose track of where you are up to in the correcting process. If this happens, the process will become chaotic and you are likely to miss several notices. 13.NP 234 This is the Cumulative List of Admiralty Notices to Mariners which is published with the Weekly ANM twice a year: The first is published in January and includes all ANM numbers published during the previous two years. The July edition includes all the ANM numbers published during the previous two and a half years. It also contains the latest edition dates for all charts in the British Admiralty series. It is a very useful tool for checking the accuracy of your record of corrections. It is the only source of information when you are setting up an ANM record system for the first time.

14.Chart 5011 This is a booklet entitled Symbols and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Charts but it is still known and recognised by its old chart number. It explains every symbol used on Admiralty charts and should be used as a guide during the correcting process. NB. 5011 is a correctable publication and should be updated from ANMs when necessary.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Chapter 2
Notices to Mariners (1): Information available from the Weekly Edition of Admiralty Notices to Mariners.

On the front cover there is reference to Copyright, H102 (Hydrographic Notes), The Mariners Handbook (NP 100) and important Fax/Telex numbers. Section I It is strongly recommended that you read thoroughly the EXPLANATORY NOTES and comments on THE USE OF CHARTS AND ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS. Geographical Index. This index gives you a quick reference to those pages dealing with corrections to charts in a particular geographical area. Index Pages. On receipt of the Weekly Edition you should look at the Index of Charts affected by the Admiralty Notices to Mariners (ANMs) and compare it with your stock record to identify those charts to be corrected. The appropriate ANM number(s) should be inserted against the affected chart in your NP 13 3A or other record as explained in Chapter 1. All ANMs are in numerical order but a glance at the Index of Notices on the previous page will identify the appropriate page number for a particular ANM. Some International/Admiralty Chart Agents (IACAs/ACAs) can supply lists of correction numbers tailored to your charts aboard. Section II The beginning of this section contains information regarding the publication and availability of New Charts (NCs) and Publications and New Editions (NEs) of existing charts and publications. It is important to monitor this information in case you should be left with an out-of-date edition of a chart which has been superseded by a new version. When you receive a NC/NE, you must destroy the old superseded copies immediately. It is dangerous to use an out-of-date edition of a chart. New Admiralty Charts and Publications. This paragraph contains a list of New Charts and Publications published in the last week. They are available from Admiralty Chart Agents. New Editions of Admiralty Charts and Publications. This is a list of New Editions of existing charts and publications which have been published during the previous week. They are available from Admiralty Chart Agents.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Additions to the ARCS Series. This list comprises those charts most recently adopted into the Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS). Admiralty Charts to be published A list of charts to be published as New Charts or New Editions of existing charts on a certain date in the future. They will be available from Admiralty Chart Agents on this date. Admiralty Publications to be published This is a list of New Admiralty publications and New Editions of existing publications to be published on a certain date in the future, and which will be available from Admiralty Chart Agents on this date. Revised publication dates. This paragraph revises the publication date of a chart or publication which has been announced in previous weeks. A reason for any delay is given. Admiralty Charts and Publications permanently withdrawn. As a result of the publication of a New Chart or New Publication, certain other charts or publications of the same geographical area may be cancelled and withdrawn. It is important that you destroy the cancelled copies as soon as you receive the new copy. From time to time there will be a paragraph entitled Revised UK Recommended Retail Prices (RRP(UK)). It will advise you of the latest revised price of Admiralty Charts and Publications and the date this will take effect. Finally, when it is necessary, there will be an announcement under the heading Admiralty Chart Agent Information to show the appointment of new Admiralty Chart Agents, the termination of appointments and any changes in the address or contact details. In addition to information provided on Hydrographic Publications, every quarter e.g. the end of March, June, September, December, an ANM is published which lists the current editions of: (1) (2) (3) (4) Admiralty Sailing Directions and their latest Supplements; Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals; Admiralty List of Radio Signals; Admiralty Tidal Publications.

This information is also contained in the Cumulative List of Admiralty Notices to Mariners (NP 234), which is published every six months. Erratum. Occasionally, at the end of section II, corrections to textual errors which have occurred in earlier Weekly editions of Admiralty Notices to Mariners will appear.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Corrections. The first correction of the Weekly edition refers to miscellaneous chart corrections which normally arise because of the publication of a New Chart or New Edition. For example, the legend See Chart... may have to be inserted on a chart covering the same area as a new chart now covers or deleted because the chart referred to has been withdrawn. Alternatively, chart limits may need to be inserted or altered on Metric charts. See Chapter 3: Notices to Mariners (2) for a more detailed description of ANMs. The remaining ANMs appear in numerical order and geographical order as listed in Section I of your ANM. They will include an edited version of selected Australian (AUS) and New Zealand (NZ) Notices to Mariners. A full listing of all AUS/NZ NMs can be found in Section IIA. Temporary and Preliminary ANMs. These are shown by (T) or (P) after the ANM number but see the explanatory notes inside the cover of the Weekly edition. Temporary Notices may be issued to warn of temporary changes in aids to navigation or to warn you of hazards of a temporary nature eg. a naval exercise, exploratory drilling, dredging, etc.. Preliminary Notices may contain the latest information about a new development eg. harbour works, or a bridge under construction. These may provide you with 1) advanced notice of changes about to take place, 2) an outline of changes found in an examination of a new survey or 3) a foreign chart which will later be promulgated by block correction or urgent New Edition. These notices are placed at the end of this section and printed only on one side of the page so that you can cut them out and paste them in your notebook for ready reference. The information contained in Ts and Ps is important navigational information which should be inserted onto your charts in pencil and the number of the ANM inserted against the affected chart number in your records. Once a month a list is published which contains all Ts and Ps in force. Section II A Since the publication of Weekly Edition 9 dated 6th March 1993, it has been the practice to edit the texts of Australian and New Zealand NMs and publish them as British Admiralty NMs. However, for those who require to know the full details for all Australian and New Zealand NMs, there is an unabridged version of these produced in this Section. Section III Navigational Warnings. See the note at the start of this section of the Weekly Edition. More details regarding this information can be found in the Annual Notices number 13 and the Admiralty List of Radio Signals Volume 3. Annual Notice number 13 reads as follows.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

World-Wide Navigational Warning Service World Meteorological Organization Section I, World-Wide Navigational Warning Service. The World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS), established through the joint efforts of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is a co-ordinated global service for the promulgation of navigational hazard warnings by radio. A document giving guidance and information on the Service is available free from the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB), B.P 345 Monte Carlo, Monaco. Navigational warnings are designed to give the mariner early, information of important incidents which may constitute a danger to navigation. Many navigational warnings are of a temporary nature, but others remain in force for several weeks and may be succeeded by Notices to Mariners (NM). Navigational warnings are of three types: NAVAREA warnings, Coastal warnings and Local warnings. The language used in both NAVAREA and Coastal warnings is invariably English, although warnings may be transmitted in one or more of the official languages of the United Nations.

NAVAREA Warnings For the purpose of the WWNWS the world is divided into 16 geographical sea areas termed NAVAREAS and identified by Roman numerals. The authority charged with collating and issuing long-range navigational warnings to cover the whole of an area is called the Navarea Coordinator. The limits, Navarea Co-ordinator and transmitting stations of each NAVAREA are given in the Admiralty List of Radio Signals Volume 3 (ALRS 3), where times, frequencies and other relevant information will be found. The type of information which might be contained in NAVAREA warnings includes failure of and changes to major navigational aids, newly discovered wrecks or natural hazards in or near main shipping lanes and areas where Search And Rescue (SAR), anti-pollution operations, cable-laying or other underwater activities are taking place. NAVAREA warnings will normally be sufficient for a vessel passing through main shipping lanes clear of the coast. Transmissions are arranged such that there is at least one broadcast during each normal radio watch in any 24 hours (six broadcasts per day) over terrestrial radio (VHF, MF, and HF). However as shipping converts to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Service (GMDSS), this information is shifting to VHF for Local warnings, NAVTEX for Coastal warnings and SafetyNET for NAVARLA warnings. The GMDSS is due to become fully operational on 1 February 1999. Details of these services are given in ALRS Volumes 3 and 5. The information in these transmissions is repeated with varying frequency as time passes until either the danger has ceased or the information has been adequately promulgated elsewhere.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

You are reminded that these warnings are of urgent navigational importance when you are sailing in the geographical areas affected by them. Section IV Corrections to Admiralty Sailing Directions (SDs). These publications help you to understand the information on the chart so it is important to record any changes to the text. If a Supplement for any SD has been published you should correct the Supplement using this information. It is printed on one side of the page so that you can cut it out and stick it in the appropriate place. At the end of each calendar month a list is published of all Corrections to Admiralty Sailing Directions which are in force. Corrections to Admiralty List of Lights and Fog signals (LLs). Each week there are changes affecting the volumes of LLs. These changes are reflected in the chart corrections. It is important to have the complete details of a light or fog signal which may not be shown on the chart if that chart is not the largest scale of the area. This information is printed on one side of the page so that you can cut it out and stick it in. the affected volume. Between Sections V and VI you will find Notes or Blocks associated with the corrections listed in Section II. There is also a copy of a Hydrographic Note (H 102) and a Hydrographic Note for Port Information (H l02a) for your use if you find any information of navigational importance which is not already on your chart. Section VI Corrections to Admiralty List of Radio Signals (ALRS). Equally important is the information contained in these volumes. The weekly list of alterations will supply up to date information and you must correct your volumes of ALRS accordingly.

Section V

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Chapter 3
Notices to Mariners (2): Corrections The text of an ANM always follows the same format:
a c b

1868 Delete

NORTH AMERICA, West Coast - California -Humboldt Bay - North Spit - Radiobeacon radiobeacon, RC (charts 2531, 4801, & 4806, radiobeacon, RC, at light) (a) 40 o 46.11N, 124o 13'.22W (b) 40 o 45' 45"., 124o 13' 06"W

d e

Chart[Last correction ]. - 3095 (plan, Humboldt Bay) (a) [ New Edition 12/12/96 ] - 3121 (b) [914/97 ] - 2531 (a) [ 914/97 ] - 2530 (a) [ 1187/97 ] - 4801 (INT 801) (a) [ 4236/96 ] - 4806 (a) [ 298/96 ] Admiralty List of RAdio Signals Vol. 2, 1997: 3606 (20/97) U.S. Notice 19/18622/97

a.

The ANM number in the current year which should be recorded at the bottom left hand corner of the chart after you have corrected the chart. The title of the correction includes the geographical area or country, a more specific region or port, and the nature of the correction. The text of the correction comes next. Be careful when noting positions. Latitude and longitude can be shown in minutes ( ) and seconds ( ) OR minutes and decimal minutes depending on the chart graduation. The above example shows both. The charts affected include basic and latticed versions. You will note that not all charts are affected by the entire ANM; the parts of the ANM which do apply to a particular chart are shown in rounded brackets ( ) The square brackets [ ] contain the previous correction number or New Edition/Publication date for that chart. The following points should be noted: (1) Charts are listed according to scale with the largest scale first. (2) If the information contained in the square brackets does not agree with the information on your chart, you are missing one or more NMs or you are using an old edition. You should always insert the missing NMs onto the chart before correcting the chart for the latest ANM. NB. Tracings should always be filed by chart number. That way all the relevant information for any particular chart is kept together and, if that chart is cancelled or replaced by a New Edition/New Chart, all the old tracings relating to that chart can be destroyed.

b.

c.

d.

e.

When the correction affects a light and/or radio signal, the relevant Admiralty List of Lights and/or Admiralty List of Radio Signals volume and the appropriate number will be shown. The source of the information and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) reference in brackets. 10

f.

How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Chapter 4
How to correct your charts The principles, practices and conventions of chart correction are illustrated by the following examples. Though reference is made to the tracing in the examples given, always refer to the Admiralty Notice to Mariners which is the source document. By reading the ANM whilst looking at the chart in question you will avoid the risk of deleting information which otherwise could have been used to complement the new information being inserted. Always insert information before you delete any information. It should be noted that a tracing is only a guide to illustrate the correction and to pin-point a position. It should NOT be copied faithfully onto a chart as many of the symbols are printers symbols used to instruct the printer or the chart plate maker. The following examples will point out mistakes which can be made if the information you are inserting on the chart is copied from a tracing. A tracing is a tool only to be used to position a correction accurately and quickly. There is not an example of a Block correction. You are expected to stick it as well as you can onto the affected chart. It is important to remember to cut off the enclosing black line around the limits of the area of the block before sticking it onto the chart. On Admiralty charts there is at least 3mm inside the line with no new information on it. See recommended method in Chapter 1 sub paragraph 5. When you are correcting your charts you may be distracted. This will interrupt your concentration. You must take steps to prevent such interruptions causing you to make mistakes on your charts. The following procedure will help you avoid making mistakes: 1. Using the information in the ANM (in conjunction with the tracing if you have it) apply the correction to the chart. 2. Check what you have done. 3. When you are satisfied that you have correctly followed the instructions of the ANM (and only then) write the ANM number in the bottom left hand corner of the chart as a record of the completed correction. It is dangerous to apply the correction number in the bottom left hand corner of the chart before you have corrected the chart. Now you can cross through the ANM number adjacent to the chart in your NP 133A or similar record.

For further advice you should ask your Admiralty Chart Agent.

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How to correct your charts the Admiralty way (NP 294)

Final Notes
The examples shown in this booklet are by no means exhaustive but are thought to be sufficient to illustrate the principles involved. When you are correcting your charts you should try to achieve the very highest standards of draughtsmanship in keeping with those inherent in the Admiralty Chart so that you can read the information clearly.

Above all:

positions must be exact depths and symbols must be clear legends and descriptions must be readable

Remember, you may have to read and understand corrections under a dim red light in the teeth of a force 10 storm. Your life and others could depend upon it. It is important that the task of chart correcting is taken seriously and that the highest standards are maintained.

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