CONTENTS

Selection of Symbols

IA
IB
IC
ID
IE
IF
IG
IH
II
IJ
IK
IL
IM
IN
IO
IP
IQ
IR
IS
IT
IU
IV
IW
IX

Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes

Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass
Natural Features
Cultural Features
Landmarks
Ports
Topographic Terms
Tides, Currents
Depths
Nature of the Seabed
Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions
Offshore Installations
Tracks, Routes
Areas, Limits
Hydrographic Terms
Lights
Buoys, Beacons
Fog Signals
Radar, Radio, Electronic Position-Fixing Systems
Services
Small Craft Facilties
Index of Abbreviations: Principal Foreign Terms, Principal English Terms
International Abbreviations
Index to Symbols and Abbreviations

Chart 5011 1 NT 1

Edition 2 - December 1998

SYMBOLS and ABBREVIATIONS

used on Admiralty Charts
CONTENTS
System of Correction
cover

inside

Introduction and Schematic Layout

GENERAL
IA Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes
4

IB Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass

TOPOGRAPHY
9
12
14
16
19

IC

Natural Features

ID

Cultural Features

IE

Landmarks b

IF

Ports

IG

Topographic Terms

HYDROGRAPHY
22
25
27
30
33
35
38

IH

Tides, Currents

II

Depths

IJ

Nature of the Seabed

IK

Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions

IL

Offshore Installations

IM Tracks, Routes
IN

Areas, Limits

I0

Hydrographic Terms

41

AIDS AND SERVICES

43
49
55
56
58
60

IP

Lights

IQ

Buoys,Beacons

IR

Fog Signals

IS

Radar, Radio, Electronic Position-Fixing Systems

IT

Services

IU

Small Craft Facilities

ALPHABETICAL INDEXES
IV Index of Abbreviations:
Princioal Foreign Terms
Principal English Terms

66
69

IW

International Abbreviations

IX

Index

62

71

INTRODUCTION
General
c

Chart 5011 (INT 1) provides a reference to the many symbols and abbreviations found on British Admiralty and international
charts. Symbols not shown in Chart 5011 (INT 1) may be used on adopted or co-produced British Admiraltycharts and will
be shown in a glossary on the relevant charts.

Layout

This edition of Chart 5011 (INT 1) is based on the 'Chart Specifiations of the IHO (International Hydrographic
Organization)" adopted in 1982. Previous editions of 5011 followed a formaer IHO Standard List, a system still used by some
Hydrographic Offices: the letter assigned to each major group of symbols in this edition has been prefixed I to avoid
confusion during the transitional period .

Schematic Layout of Chart 5011 (INT 1)

Tracks, Routes IM

Section.
Section designation: The letter 'T'means International.
Sub-section.
Cross-reference to terms in other sections.
Column 1: Numbering following the Intemational "Chart Specifications of the 1HO". A letter in this column, eg a, indicates a
natioral symbol for which there is no International equivalent.
Column 2: International (INT) symbol used on Admiralty charts.
Column 3: Term in the English language.
Column 4: Other symbol or abbreviation used on Admiralty charts, if different from Column 2. The mark
representation is obsolescent.
Column 5: Numbering following the "Chart Specifications of the 1HO"..
Numbering following the superseded IHO" Standard List of Symbols and Abbreviations"

indicates that this

of no relevance to
chart users

The mark # in Columns 2, 3 and 4 indicates that this syrnbcrl will only be found on charts adopted into the Admiralty chart series.

Metric Charts
And
Fathoms Charts

Metric units are introduced on Admiralty charts as they are modernised (except for charts of the waters around" United
States of America, where fathoms or feet continue to be used). Metric charts can be distinguished from fathoms chars oy
their use of buff tint for land areas and the prominent marginal legends DEPTHS IN METRES.

Chart Datum

On metric charts, the reference level for soundings is given under the chart title. On fathoms charts, the reference level for
soundings may be given under the title; if not, it can be deduced from the tidal information panel.

Depths

The units used are given under the title of the chart. The position of a sounding is the centre of the area covered by the
figures.

On metric charts, depths from 0.1 m to 20.9m are generally expressed in metres and decimetres. Where source
information is sufficiently precise, depths from 21 m to 31 m may be given in half-metres. All other depths are shown in whole
metres.
On fathom charts, depths are generally expressed in fathoms and feet where less than 11 fms, and in fathoms elsewhere. Where
source information is sufficiently precise, depths between 11 and 15 fms may be given in fathoms and feet. Older charts may show
fractions of fathoms in shallow water, and a few large-scale charts show all depths in feet.
On adopted or co-produced charts these ranges may vary.
Drying heights

Underlined figures on rocks and banks which uncover indicate heights above chart datum. They are given in metres and decimetres or
in feet as appropriate.

Heights

Heights, including overhead clearances, are given in metres or in feet above Mean High Water Springs, Mean Higher High
Water or Mean Sea Level; details are given in the Explanatory Notes under the chart title. The position of a height is normally
that of the dot alongside it, thus .79. Parentheses are used when the figure expressing height is set apart from the object (eg
when showing the height of a small islet).

Bearings

Bearings are given from seaward and refer to the true compass.

Sea Miles
and Cables

A sea mile is the length of one minute of latitude locally, and is the principal means of expressing distance on Admiralty
charts. A cable is one-tenth of a sea mile.

Names

Names on Admiralty charts are spelt in accordance with the principles and systems approved by the Permanent Committ e
on Geographical Names for British Official Use.
A second name may be given in parentheses in the following circumstances:
a. if the retention of a superseded rendering will facilitate cross-reference to related publications;
b. if , in the case of a name that has changed radically, the retention of the former one will aid recognition;
c. if it is decided to retain an English conventional name in addition to the present official rendering.

Chart Catalogues Details of Admirafty charts are given in the "Catalogue of Admiralty Charts and Publications" (NP 131) and in the "Home
Waters Catalogue" (NP 109), both published annually.
The Mariner's

The Mariner's Handbook (NP 100) includes notes on the following:

Handbook and
other Publications

the use of charts and the degree of reliance that may be placed on them; chart supply and correction; names; charted
navigational aids; navigational hazards; traffic separation schemes; offshore oil and gas operations; tides and currents;
general marine meteorology. A glossary of terms used on Admiralty charts is also given.
Information about features represented on charts can also be found in the following publications:
Admiralty Sailing Directions; Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals; Admiralty Tide Tables and Tidal Stream Atlases;
Admiralty List of Radio Signals; Annual Notices to Mariners.

Copyright

Admiralty charts and publications (inclucling this one) are protected by Crown Copyright. They are derived from Crown
Copyright information and from copyright information published by other organisations. They may not be reproduced in
any material form (including photocopying or storing by electronic means) without prior permission, which may be sought
by applying, in the first instance, to the Copyright Manager, The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Taunton,Somerset
TA1 2DN, UK.

Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes

Magnetic
Decca

Features

IB

IA

Tidal

Data

IH

IS

Chart number in the Admiralty series. Where it is necessary to distinguish Admiralty charts from others,
it is usual to add the prefix 'BA' (British Admiralty) to the number.
Identification of a latticed chart (if any). Charts for which Decca lattice- overprinted versions are available
bear the letter L in the lower right- hand corner inside the outer border. The lattice prefix number is shown
against the national number.
Chart number in the International (INT) Chart series.

251
603
251.1

Publication note (imprint) showing the date of publication as a New Chart.

252.1
252.4

Copyright note. All Admiralty charts are subject to Crown Copyright restrictions.

253

Dates of (a) New Editions and (b) Large Corrections (abandoned as a revision category in 1972).

252.2

Small corrections: (a) the year dates and numbers of Notices to Mariners and (b) the dates (usually bracketed) of 252.3
minor corrections included in reprints but not formally promulgated (abandoned as a method of correction in 1986).
Dimensions of the inner neat- lines of the chart border. In the case of charts on Transverse Mercator and Gnomonic 222.3
p projections, dimensions may be quoted for all borders of the chart which differ. Fathoms charts show the
222.4
dimensions in inches eg (38.40 x 25.40).
Corner co- ordinates.

232

Chart title. This should be quoted, in addition to the chart number, when- ordering a chart.

241.3

Explanatory notes on chart content; to be read before using the chart.

242
Seals. Where an Admiralty chart is in the lnternational chart series, the seal of the International Hydrographic
241.1
Organization (IHO) is shown in addition to the national seal. Reproductions of international charts of other nations 241.2
(facsimile) have the seals of the original producer (left), publisher (centre) and the 1HO (right). Reproductions of
other charts have the seals of original producer (left) and publisher (right); charts which are co- productions carry
the seals of the nations involved in their production.
Scale of chart; on Mercator projection, at a stated latitude.
211
241.4
Linear scales on large- scale plan.
221
Linear border scales (metres). On smaller- scale charts, the latitude border should be used to measure Sea miles 221.1
and Cables.
Cautionary notes (if any) on charted detail; to be read before using the chart.
Source Diagram (if any). If a Source Diagram is not shown, details of the sources used in the compilation of the
chart are given in the explanatory notes (see 11). The Source Diagram or notes should be studied carefully
before using the chart in order to assess the reliability of the data used.

242
170-178
241.9

Reference to a larger- scale chart or plan.

Reference to an adjoining chart of similar scale.

254
254

Instruction to refer to related Admiralty Publications.

Reference to the units used for depths measurement. The legend, 'DEPTHS IN FATHOMS', is shown on certain
more recent fathoms charts where confusion might otherwise arise.
Conversion scales. To allow approximate conversions between metric and fathoms and feet units. On older
charts conversion tables are given instead.
Copyright Notice

243
241.5
255.2
280