The Charts & Nautical Publications committee is one of the two committees within the Charts and Nautical Instrument Trade Association (CNITA) which is gathering feedback from their network in response to the announcement by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) that they intend to withdraw from paper chart production by 2026.
The UKHO states that their plan to withdraw the UKHO’s portfolio of Admiralty Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs) and Thematic Charts are in response to more marine, naval, and leisure users primarily using digital products and services for navigation.
However via our member chart agents we get feedback from end users that there is a concern that the start of withdrawal from paper charts will happen when no real alternatives and revised regulations are available, particular from offshore, cruise and Sub ECDIS market. This will result in an unsafe period if the withdrawal is done too fast. There are also significant regulatory and technical barriers to sub ECDIS solutions that need to be solved first.
Because of the good relationship which the CNITA has with UKHO, CNITA will step forward to channel all the feedback from the end users so UKHO can make the right decision in their plan to continue to be the globally trusted ADMIRALTY navigation service that seafarers the world over depend on.
We welcome the development of official digital alternatives for sectors still using paper chart products by the UKHO. And we also believe digital is the way forward.
We want all seafarers to reap the benefits of the ECDIS revolution, but sunsetting of paper charts cannot occur unless Sub ECDIS solutions (paper or digital) are found and regulated at a reasonable price.
Should you have any concern or feedback, please contact your CNITA chart agent directly.
If your chart agent is not a CNITA member, you can contact us directly:
Email: info@cnita.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 8253 4514