SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED ON ADMIRALTY PAPER CHARTS

This official publication was initially intended to serve as a primary key to the abbreviations/symbols that are commonly used on Admiralty and also International paper nautical charts that are compiled by the UKHO, standing for the UK Hydrographic Office. Some variations may still occur on the above mentioned nautical charts adopted in the series issued by the Admiralty but originally worked out by other hydrographic offices.

Those abbreviations/symbols that are easily understood have not been included as the examples in this volume. Please also note that the abbreviations/symbols that are shown on the navigational display systems that utilizing the VEC, i.e. vector navigation charts, may sometimes differ from the ones described in this title. The publication starts with the intro part providing some general information including the numbering of charts, title and marginal notes, positions and distances, directions etc.

Then there are three major parts covering the topography, including ports, landmarks and cultural/natural features, hydrography, including depth, currents, tides, seabed nature, routes and tracks, various offshore facilities and installations etc., and navigation aids and services, such as the beacons and lights, fog signals, radars and many other. And, the last part of the book provides the alphabetical indexes.