Nearly 2.3 million charts were downloaded within 90 days of the October 2013 beta release of NOAA’s free PDF nautical charts, which provide up-to-date navigation information in this universally available file type.
NOAA PDF nautical charts are digital formats of the traditional paper charts, and are up-to-date to the day they are downloaded. PDF charts are free. NOAA Raster Navigational Charts (NOAA RNC ®) are digital images of NOAA's entire suite of paper charts, updated continually with critical corrections. OpenNauticalChart offers free seacharts for everybody. This charts are usable (offline) with several ship-plotters and Navigation-equipement on board.
“To us, that represented more than two million opportunities to avoid an accident at sea,” says Rear Admiral Gerd Glang, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. “Up-to-date charts help boaters avoid groundings and other dangers to navigation, so our aim is to get charts into the hands of as many boaters as we can.”
The free PDF charts are one product in NOAA’s suite of easy-to-access navigational products and services, which also includes print-on-demand paper charts, electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC®), and raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC®).
Download Nautical Charts Free Downloads
With the end of bulk-printed paper charts, advancements in computing and mobile technologies make it possible for NOAA to deliver accurate nautical charts in the format that works best for boaters, fishing vessels, and commercial mariners.
Not sure which one you need? Check out NOAA’s interactive chart locator, where boaters can select a chart from a map of the U.S. and choose their format.
Free Download Nautical Charts
It’s important to know that printing PDFs may alter a chart’s scale, color, or legibility. Ships that are required to carry a navigational chart 'published by the National Ocean Service' should obtain printed charts from NOAA-certified Print-on-Demand (POD) providers.