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HomeAviationOffersMappingHydrographic Products

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### Contact Mapping

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**Phone:** **(804) 279-6500**DSN:**** 695-6500**Toll Free:****1-800-826-0342

### Quick Resources

                        - AMPS
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**CAC-Required Sites****

AMPS **

MEBS **

FedMall **

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**Guides**
                          - Mapping Customer Handbook (PDF)
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# Hydrographic Map Products

Hydrographic or nautical charts show the depths of water, natures of bottom, contours of bottom coastline, or tides and currents in a given sea or sea and land area. These charts are also referred to as marine maps. Standard hydrographic products support safe navigation of the world's waters, by focusing on near-land and near-sea floor information. Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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                            - Approach Charts
                            - Bottom Contour Charts
                            - Coastal Charts
                            - Combat Charts
                            - Harbor and Approach Charts
                            - Pilot Charts
                            - Sailing Charts
                            - Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook

## Approach Charts

The Approach Chart incorporates the information of Sailing and General Charts to provide precise navigational aids for harbor navigation and anchoring. It is designed to ensure safe navigation particularly while entering or departing a significant port area.

The Approach Chart is especially useful when planning reconnaissance waterborne insertion operations. The information on these charts are printed on a Mercator projection and may be incorporated with a Harbor Chart.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Bottom Contour Charts

The Bottom Contour Chart depicts detailed underwater topography in the form of bathymetric curves. Based on survey data and foreign published charts, Bottom Contour Charts provide a general picture of the sea floor configuration and its features.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Coastal Charts

The Coastal Chart is the key chart for determining offshore position in relation to the shoreline. It is ideal for inshore coastal navigation where the course may lie inside outlying reefs and shoals; for entering and leaving bays and harbors of considerable width; and for navigating large inland waterways.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Combat Charts/Littoral Planning Charts

A special-purpose chart of a land-sea area using the characteristics of a map to represent the land area and a chart to represent the sea area. Special features make the chart useful in naval operations, specifically, amphibious operations. Combat Charts depict almost equal amounts of sea and land over an area of interest. A standard scale (with specific exceptions) is used to provide optimum operational coverage and afford the most orderly transition from the nautical chart coverage to the 1:50,000 topographic maps.

Combat Charts form a first step in developing a database for modern littoral warfare to include tactical maneuver from the sea and join logistics over the shore. Combat Charts are being replaced by the Littoral Planning Chart (LPC) to ensure the older Combat Charts are removed and the updated LPC is the new standard chart.  They employ the use of nautical charts for tactical purposes in addition to the traditional use to ensure safety at sea.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Harbor and Approach Charts

Harbor and Approach Charts portray precise navigational information for maneuvering to berth and anchor, or while entering or exiting port. They are designed to combine the information of both charts for anchorage maneuvering, channel keeping, and close-shore approach navigation.

The Harbor and Approach Chart is printed on a Mercator projection to maintain an accurate plot of the ship's location and direction, and to determine distance from ship to shore.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Pilot Charts

The Pilot Chart contains meteorological and oceanographic information to aid the navigator in selecting the quickest and safest maritime route. It is not intended to be used alone, but in conjunction with other navigation aides. Each chart focuses on a major ocean area which presents in graphic form averages obtained from winds, currents, ice, and other marine data gathered over many years. The Atlas of the Pilot Charts is divided into monthly charts.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's (NGA) Sailing Directions also provide the mariner with information regarding environmental conditions for efficiency and safety of navigation for local weather conditions. The Pilot Chart is printed on a Mercator projection and includes magnetic variation and a latitude and longitude overlay.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Sailing Charts

Sailing Charts are the smallest scale charts used for planning, fixing a position at sea, or for plotting during a long ocean voyage. These charts are usually printed on a Gnomonic projection. The Sailing Chart emphasizes voyage efficiency in terms of time and fuel economy by considering the winds, currents, ice, tropical storm activity, and other potential hazards to navigation.

However, the Sailing Chart cannot stand alone. It must always be used in conjunction with Optimum Track Ship Routing Services to refine the final voyage track.

Hydrographic stock numbers can be obtained via the NGA Reference Number/National Stock Number (NRN/NSN) Lookup and Download.

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## Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook (Navigators Rules of the Road)

As of September 2014, the Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook Part Number/NSN COMDTM166722D/7642-01-448-2151 have been updated by the US Coast Guard with an August 2014 edition date. This publication will still available in hard copy until the Mapping Customer Operations stock is exhausted. After that point, it will no longer be available in hard copy but can be found within the CDPUBQTLY/7644-01-531-0779. For your convenience, below is a link to the United States Coast Guard Navigation Center, which has a downloadable copy of the Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook in a PDF format.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ **

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