About Us | FAQ's | Articles | Press | Events | OG Blog | Resources | OG Club

Q. What is OceanGrafix’ relationship with NOAA?

A. In June, 2000 OceanGrafix was selected as NOAA’s partner in the development of a new generation of nautical charts to be produced using digital technology to continually incorporate NOAA’s latest cartographic changes. The new charts were introduced in 2002 and OceanGrafix continues to produce them today under an exclusive contract with NOAA.

Q. What are the most important features of the OceanGrafix NOAA charts?

A. These charts are officially approved NOAA Nautical Charts. They meet the carriage requirements of the US Coast Guard and are SOLAS compliant. The OceanGrafix chart contains all of the information provided in the traditional NOAA chart with one important difference – the information is always up to date: whenever a customer orders an OceanGrafix chart, it’s printed “on demand” with the very latest NOAA cartographic updates.

Q. How do OceanGrafix nautical charts differ from traditional NOAA pre-printed charts?

A. With traditional NOAA charts, orders are filled from warehouses where the pre-printed charts are stored. Changes to chart details which occur after printing will not be added until the next print run, and charts may not be reprinted for several months – in fact, sometimes it can be as long as four years between printing. OceanGrafix NOAA charts are updated just before they are printed.

Q. What are the other important features of OceanGrafix charts?

A. OceanGrafix charts carry additional information important to mariners, such as tide table, bridge heights, lighthouse information, navigation information and safety tips. This information is displayed in boxes along one edge of the chart. Also displayed is information advising when the chart was printed, and references to the update information in the form of the latest Notice to Mariners data. [ Also, OceanGrafix NOAA charts are colorful, and brighter and easier to read as compared to traditional pre-printed NOAA charts.] OceanGrafix NOAA charts are colorful, brighter and easier to read.

Q. What do you mean by “up to date”?

A. OceanGrafix NOAA Nautical Charts are updated minutes before printing, using the latest NOAA data including the most current Notice to Mariners, NGA Notices (from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, formerly NIMA); the Local Notice to Mariners issued by each of the nine US Coast Guard (USGS) districts and critical safety information from NOAA.

Q. So, when I order an OceanGrafix chart, what happens next?

A. When a customer orders a OceanGrafix NOAA chart, the entry of the order energizes our computers to poll the NOAA cartographic files and download any changes to the charts that were ordered. Those changes are incorporated in the digital files used to print the charts. So, OceanGrafix nautical charts are totally up to date at the time a customer orders them.

Q. Why do NOAA charts need to be kept up to date?

A. NOAA performs research continually in oceans, lakes and rivers, discovering changes to depths, contours, navigation aids, lights, bridges, cables, pipelines , wrecks, obstructions, waterway operations and more. These changes, called “Notices to Mariners” , are constant and numerous. If mariners use charts that are several months (or years!) old but the charts have not been “updated”, they need to pay close attention to the changes that NOAA has advised - or, better yet, order a new chart - which can now be printed "on demand" by OceanGrafix with all of NOAA's latest Notices. For more information, go to: www.oceangrafix-nautical-charts.blogspot.com/

Q How does the OceanGrafix “update” system work?

A: In concept, the OceanGrafix system is simple: the computers do the work. Our technology lies in our continual “polling” of the NOAA data sites (to be sure that our files are up to date), and in our unique network of remote printers – our family of printers located around the country (as well as a few foreign locations). When an order is placed, the related files are updated and sent to a printer so the order can be filled. Customers can visit an authorized OceanGrafix Remote Printer to see charts being printed, or wait there while their order is completed.

Q: What is meant by “Notice to Mariners”?

A: Each week the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) issues the Notice to Mariners (NTMs) for ocean-going vessels, providing timely marine safety information for the correction of nautical charts, and NOAA publications (the US Coast Pilot, the USCG lighthouse list.) You can review the Notice to Mariners at http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime/. OceanGrafix NOAA Charts include all Notice to Mariner Corrections issued prior to the time of printing.

Q: What is the “Local Notice to Mariners?”

A: The nine district Coast Guard offices issue the Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs) each week, applicable to all vessels. This LNM provides timely marine safety information including the correction of nautical charts, the US Coast Pilot, the USCG lighthouse list. The list also pertains to aids to navigation, lights, bridges, cables, pipelines,wrecks, obstructions, Federal Waterways, waterway operations and dangers to navigation. LNMs are published at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/default.htm. OceanGrafix NOAA charts include all Local Notice to Mariner Corrections issued prior to the time of printing.

Q: What is meant by a chart “Edition”?

A: A New Edition brings a NOAA Nautical Chart up to date for all chartable information available to NOAA, including hydrography, shoreline, and marine safety information published in the LNM and NM. Additionally, NOAA makes some minor changes which make the chart more useful. About 250 new editions are issued per year with the time between new editions ranging from every six months to several years depending upon the chart. The status of new editions is published at http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/dole.htm. Note that new “editions” are issued by NOAA periodically, but that OceanGrafix on-demand charts contain every NTM and LNTM as they are downloaded daily to OceanGrafix.

Q: NOAA uses the term “Print on Demand” (POD). What does that mean?

A: “POD” is NOAA’s term for print-on-demand, NOAA’s exclusive arrangement with OceanGrafix to print NOAA charts that are 100% up to date when they are ordered by a customer. OceanGrafix charts are printed (and shipped or picked up at an OceanGrafx agent) only when an order is received.

Q: What is meant by “remote printing”?

A: OceanGrafix coined the phrase “remote printing” to describe the process used to distribute the updated NOAA files to more than 20 authorized OceanGrafix agent locations in the US and around the world. One of these qualified printers will utilize the correct files to print your charts when your order is placed. If you like, you can visit a remote print site, confer with our agent’s chart experts, and watch as your charts are printed. It takes only a few minutes to print OceanGrafix print-on-demand charts.

Q: How do I know which charts I will need?

A: To locate charts by geographic region, click on chart search. To view a list of all charts, click on chart list.

Q: How do I purchase OceanGrafix NOAA Charts?

A: You can call or visit any of the Chart Agents in our U.S. network. Many of our agents are designated as “remote printers” and can print your chart immediately. Most OceanGrafix agents also have websites and some offer catalogue sales. If you prefer to buy online, you can do that as well.

Q: How do I find a chart agent?

A: To search for an OceanGrafix chart agent, click on chart agent search. To view a complete list of OceanGrafix chart agents, click on chart agents.

Q: How much do OceanGrafix NOAA on-demand charts cost?

A: OceanGrafix suggested retail prices are:

• $22.60 for water resistant paper chart
• $24.00 for map fold version
• $30.00 for laminated chart