Electronic Charts

Admiralty digital charts help you to keep pace with the changing demands of your work, delivering convenience and flexibility without compromising on accuracy or compliance.

Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS)

Taking you safely into the future of marine navigation, AVCS brings together electronic navigational charts (ENCs) from the UKHO and hydrographic offices.

• AVCS Overview
  The Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS) brings together Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) from national Hydrographic offices around the world and new ENC coverage produced by UKHO in co-operation with Foreign Governments to provide comprehensive, official, worldwide coverage.
• Compliant
  AVCS contains only ENC data that meets SOLAS Carriage Requirements for use within Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
• Quality
  AVCS meets customer requirements for a comprehensive, world-wide, full carriage compliant electronic chart service. AVCS continues to develop in response to customer feedback through an ongoing programme of enhancements. Full details of planned enhancements are available on the 'Future Enhancements' tab.
  UKHO has instituted a programme of assessment by its professional cartographers where the content of the ENC is compared to relevant national paper charts. Any navigationally significant discrepancies identified are then investigated and resolved with the producing nation. No other electronic chart service offers this level of reassurance.
• Carriage Compliant
  The Admiralty Vector Chart Service only contains ENC data that meets Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Carriage Requirements for use within Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
• ENC's
  Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) are digital vector charts produced to the International Hydrographic Organization’s (IHO’s) standards (S57 Version 3.1 and ENC Product Specification). They are referred to World Geodetic System 1984 Datum (WGS84) and are regularly updated with official update information distributed digitally.

Hydrographic offices do not take any responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of privately produced, unofficial charts.

Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS)

Provides cost effective, official digital chart coverage for use in conjunction with the Admiralty range of paper navigational charts.

ARCS is the UKHO’s paper chart portfolio presented in a digital format. Over 3000 charts provide extensive, official coverage of international commercial shipping routes, main ports and harbours at a comprehensive range of scales. ARCS charts are licensed on a chart by chart basis to give you maximum flexibility – you only have to pay for the charts you need.

All ARCS charts have the same familiar image and use the same internationally recognised symbology as Admiralty paper charts - making them the easy first step from chart table to electronic navigation.