This document provides an introduction to nautical charts, including Admiralty charts. It explains that charts show water depths, shorelines, hazards, buoys and other navigational markers using standardized symbols and colors. Depths are shown in meters and refer to the chart datum, or lowest astronomical tide. The document provides examples of features found on nautical charts such as latitude and longitude lines, tidal diamonds, compass roses, buoys, wrecks, obstructions and seabed composition. It encourages further learning about charts and navigation through online courses and videos.

1. INTRODUCTION TO NAUTICAL
CHARTS
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TYPES OF CHART
▸ IMRAY
▸ ADMIRALTY (THIS TUTORIAL WILL USE EXAMPLES FROM
AN ADMIRALTY CHART)
▸ SIMILAR CHART SYMBOLS BUT DIFFERENT COLOURS…

3. EXAMPLE OF AN ADMIRALTY CHART:

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LOCATION OF THE CHART

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YEAR OF PRINT (IN THIS EXAMPLE 2016)

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COLOURS & THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (ADMIRALTY CHARTS)
WHITE
INDICATES
DEEP WATER
DARKER BLUE
INDICATES VERY
SHALLOW
WATER
GREEN
INDICATES
AREAS THAT DRY
OUT
YELLOW
INDICATES LAND
LIGHT BLUE
INDICATES
SHALLOW
WATER

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DEPTHS & SCALE

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COLOURS & DEPTHS (ADMIRALTY CHARTS)
▸ Green = Drying
Heights above Chart
Datum
▸ E.G. 1.3 above Chart
Datum
▸ Dark Blue =
Shallow Water
▸ E.G. 0.3m of water
▸ Light Blue =
Shallow Water.
▸ E.G. 2.9m of water
▸ White = Deep
Water
▸ E.G. 7.7m of water
▸ Shown in Metres at Chart Datum / Lowest Astronomical Tide
*SEE INTERPRETING TIDE TABLE TUTORIAL FOR MORE INFO

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TIDAL DIAMONDS
▸ Tidal Diamond Symbol; refer to info at bottom of
chart to gain information on Tidal Streams
*SEE INTERPRETING TIDAL DIAMONDS TUTORIAL FOR MORE INFO

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CHART SYMBOLS: COMPASS ROSE
▸ Used to Measure Bearings & Calculate Variation
*SEE MEASURING BEARINGS ON A NAUTICAL CHART TUTORIAL FOR MORE INFO

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LATITUDE & LONGITUDE LINES
▸ Longitude Lines (vertical black
lines)
▸ Used with Latitude Lines to take
position fixes
▸ Latitude Lines (horizontal black lines)
▸ Used with Longitude Lines to take
position fixes
▸ Used to measure distance from the
side of the chart
*SEE MEASURING DISTANCE TUTORIAL FOR MORE INFO

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CHART SYMBOLS: BUOYAGE
▸ IALA A Buoyage Symbol Examples:
▸ Port Lateral Marker
▸ R = Buoy is painted Red
▸ Fl.R4s = Light Sequence
▸ NC14 = Name of the Buoy
▸ Starboard Lateral Marker
▸ G = Buoy is painted Green
▸ Fl.G3ss = Light Sequence
▸ NC13 = Name of the Buoy

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CHART SYMBOLS: BUOYAGE
▸ Buoyage Symbol Examples:
▸ West Cardinal Mark
▸ YBY = Buoy is painted Yellow/Black/Yellow
▸ Q(9)15s = Light Sequence
▸ Diver = Name of the Buoy
▸ Special Mark
▸ Y = Buoy is painted
Yellow
▸ Isolated Danger Mark
▸ BRB = Buoy is painted
Black/Red/Black
▸ FL(2) = Light
Sequence
*SEE BUOYAGE TUTORIAL FOR MORE INFO

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USEFUL SYMBOLS EXAMPLES:
▸ Marina
▸ Mud
▸ Sand
▸ Visitors Berth
SOME E.G. OF
NATURE OF SEABED
▸ No Anchoring
▸ Slipway

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EXAMPLE OF SOME HAZARDS & OBSTRUCTIONS SYMBOLS:
▸ Obstruction: 9.1m at Chart Datum
▸ Rocks awash at Chart Datum
▸ Submarine (a.k.a.
under water) power
cable

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EXAMPLE OF SOME WRECK SYMBOLS
▸ Wreck (any part) showing at Chart Datum
▸ Wreck where mast/s are showing at Chart Datum
▸ Submerged Wreck - Depth Known (in this E.G. 6.5m)

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MORE CHART SYMBOLS:
▸ See Admiralty Chart 5011(which in fact is an A4 booklet),
you can also get this information via various Apps

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MORE INFORMATION & LEARNING
Want to find out more / learn more?
▸ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for More Tutorial Videos
OR Check out our website & sign up to a:
▸ RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship Online Course
▸ RYA Day Skipper Theory Online Course
▸ Book an RYA Practical Course
See www.marine-education.co.uk