Sailors Get Green Light for Digital Charts Over Paper
Published Date: 8/28/2025
Notice
Summary
The Coast Guard just updated the rules for ships about what kinds of charts and navigation papers they need to carry. This change lets vessels use electronic charts or special paper versions that count as equal to the old ones, making life easier for ship crews. If you run a vessel, check out these new options and inspection steps—no extra costs or deadlines, just more flexibility starting now!
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Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New alternative chart carriage options
NVIC 01-16 Change 3 clarifies that Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC), electronic publications, and ENC-derived paper nautical charts can be used as alternative compliance options to existing chart and publication carriage requirements. If you operate a vessel, this gives you more ways to meet the rules for what charts and navigation papers you must carry.
Inspection procedures for equivalency use
NVIC 01-16 Change 3 provides procedures for how inspections will be conducted for vessels that choose to use one or more equivalencies. If you operate a vessel and elect to rely on an equivalency, inspectors will follow these procedures when checking compliance.
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