UKHO launches digital chart service

A pilot digital chart service which provides coverage of international shipping routes by combining official vector and raster data is to be launched by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) early next year. The Admiralty Digital Chart Service will be offered to Solas vessels fitted with ecdis equipment capable of displaying both vector ENCs and raster charts, such as those from the Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS).

The pilot will be run and monitored for 12 months with a full service planned for the year 2000. The range of ENCs available for use with the current 2,700 ARCS charts will rise during the year as those produced by the UKHO are combined with others supplied by foreign hydrographic offices.