The UKHO supports digital solutions for vessels requiring non-ECDIS navigation.

In 2018, mandatory ECDIS regulations changed how larger vessels navigate using digital charting. These ECDIS regulations cover vessels sailing internationally for passenger ships of >500 gross tonnes and cargo ships of >3000 gross tonnes.

The move to digital charting for all types and sizes of ships is undeniable. However, vessels not mandated to have an ECDIS fitted on board do not have universal access to regulated, official digital navigation products due to infrastructure, finances and other reasons. Commercial and leisure navigation is global, and the UKHO believes an international approach is the right course.

We are delighted that the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has established an Electronic Chart System (ECS) Project Team to develop a set of recommendations that existing IHO bodies, external organisations, and Member States will address, identify and prioritise ECS navigation requirements, and analyse their impacts on current IHO hydrographic standards.

Our commitment to leave no one behind in the transition to digital navigation has not changed. We will continue to provide an ADMIRALTY paper chart service that supports the needs of mariners who rely on them during the transition period.

Naturally, the ADMIRALTY paper chart service will evolve, not only because other hydrographic offices that supply the paper charts included in our paper chart series are making changes, which may impact our offering and coverage. We will keep our partners and users updated every step of the way.

In managing the service, we must have a deeper understanding of the changing value of paper charts to the mariner. Whilst we recognise the industry’s move towards digital charting, we also understand that this occurs at different rates in different parts of the world. Therefore, we are increasing efforts to expand our knowledge of paper chart usage worldwide and will use this to direct the service to meet the needs identified.

In July 2022, we announced our intention to withdraw from paper chart production by the end of 2026, providing our stakeholder groups with a planning horizon. However, feedback showed that international regulations may need to change, significantly extending our withdrawal timeline.

There is an ongoing need for paper charts. Despite declining use and need, it is not right to impose a change that would risk the mariner. There needs to be ongoing market change to remove the need for paper charts; it would be wrong for us to dictate this timescale. Instead, we will carefully monitor the market and respond when appropriate.

We initially assumed a national approach to digital navigation below ECDIS, covering current Electronic Chart System (ECS) users, would be sufficient. Following extensive feedback, a clear requirement emerged to achieve international change. Many mariners who do not use ECDIS operate internationally. Therefore, we need consistent standards for ECS display of official charts for safe and compliant navigation.

We received extensive feedback from many groups affected by our July 2022 decision. In general, the feedback supported the transition to digital charting but focused on the challenges of getting there. Areas of feedback included:

• Impact on international voyages.
• Access to digital products in areas with restricted internet access.
• Use of digital navigation hardware and infrastructure on current vessel and bridge set-up.

Before the announcement, we could not communicate our plans externally. Since the announcement, we have gathered evidence from all stakeholders. Extensive feedback and work with our regulator and other stakeholders have shown a need for international change to support the digital transition.

The feedback we received supports our stated position that digital navigation offers the best way to conduct safe, efficient navigation. However, some mariners require paper charts for safe and compliant navigation. We will not risk the mariner by withdrawing paper charts whilst there is a continued need in the market.

POD will remain the sole source for our charts. We remain committed to investigating the future uses of POD infrastructure.

We will continue to look at the requirements for a raster digital product. We have no plans to withdraw or significantly change ARCS.

The need to continue to provide a value-added assurance layer for ENCs remains important for the UKHO and our services. AIO remains the key product to make this available for AVCS users.

We have had extensive and continued engagement with National Hydrographic Offices worldwide. We are keen to continue our work together.

We have had extensive and continued engagement with our distribution channel. We are keen to continue our work together.

We must address the challenges we face in declining paper chart sales to continue to supply a sustainable paper chart series. We are finalising a strategy for managing the paper chart service against internal and external factors.

The transition from paper to digital has been going on for many years. 85% of chart demand is for digital charting, driven by factors including:

• Cost reductions for the shipping industry.
• The ease of use of digital navigation.
• Increasing numbers of digitally trained crew entering from training.
• The ease of updating digital charts – linked with increasing bandwidth at sea and the activity of other National Hydrographic Offices. 

At the same time, the next generation of digital products and services is maturing, and producers and mariners alike will look to explore and develop products and services, taking advantage of these and further improving the accessibility of maritime data.

As a UK Government Trading Fund, the UKHO is self-funded by its commercial products and services. Please see section 9.3 in Public Spending Statistics for more information about trading funds.

There are challenges to producing this chart and keeping it up-to-date following printing. We will consider it should we find use cases where this capability provides the best solution, and the chart is acceptable.

We are continuing to work with partners across the industry to develop the next generation of maritime solutions.

We will work with standards bodies to make the case for a recognised standard for digital navigational data for vessels below the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Chapter V threshold to carry ECDIS/ECS users. The work will focus on a digital charting service which overcomes the barriers to using full ECDIS.

We recognise that other Hydrographic Offices may still require paper charts and will need a route to market. We will work with the distribution channel and National Hydrographic Offices to see what role we might play in enabling that.

The IHO created a Project Team (IHO ECS Project Team) at IHO HSSC in May 2023 to understand and recommend changes to standards for the display of official chart data in ECS systems. 

The diverse range of potential ECS users represents a larger proportion of mariners than the ECDIS user group, highlighting the importance of a co-ordinated international approach to allow mariners to plan and conduct navigation using a consistent, internationally recognised digital chart solution.

In 2018, mandatory ECDIS regulations changed how larger vessels navigate using digital charting. These ECDIS regulations cover vessels sailing internationally for passenger ships of >500 gross tonnes and cargo ships of >3000 gross tonnes.

A digital service does not require manual changes to the chart. Instead, charts are updated automatically from supplied update data. Digital services also offer a range of capabilities to allow routes to be created and queried, as well as integration with other onboard sensors, depending on the specifications of the display system.