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2. SUPPLIERS OF ADMIRALTY CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Source: UKHO.
Former Notice 2/13 is cancelled. This is a repetition of the former Notice.
1. Admiralty charts and publications are supplied to all our distributors world-wide. The charts are despatched fully updated for the
latest published Admiralty Notices to Mariners. For an up-to-date list of Admiralty Distributors see the Catalogue of Admiralty
Charts and Publications (NP131), the UKHO website: ([Link] – products and services - how to buy),
or telephone: +44 (0)1823 337900.
2. Admiralty Distributors are divided into the following categories:
a. INTERNATIONAL ADMIRALTY CHART AGENTS
International Admiralty Chart Agents (IACAs) maintain a comprehensive and world-wide stock of Admiralty charts and
publications and also provide a range of value added services based on the Admiralty series of products. The value added services
provided by all IACAs offer the following benefits for vessel owners, operators and masters:
(i) Immediate supply of Admiralty products from an extensive stock;
(ii) Assurance that your vessel has all of the updating information required for Admiralty products through the
automatic weekly supply of Admiralty Notices to Mariners (NMs);
(iii) Significant reduction of your vessel’s staff time in updating Admiralty products by:
S ensuring all Admiralty charts are fully updated at the time of despatch to you for the latest published NMs.
S supplying updating tracing sets each week.
S providing, on request, a tailored set of NMs applicable for each Admiralty product you purchase.
S assurance that you are aware of the latest Admiralty products by notifying you automatically (and
supplying if required) of all new Admiralty products and all new editions of Admiralty products,
appropriate to your vessel’s current trading pattern;
(iv) Assurance for vessels’ officers that they have applied all the necessary NMs on the latest versions of Admiralty
products by supplying weekly lists of applicable updates specific to those Admiralty products held on board;
(v) Simplified control and inspection routines for vessel owners and operators through provision of a clear audit trail
on Admiralty products and related services supplied to the vessel.
This range of folio management services provides a powerful aid both for vessels’ masters and vessel owners and operators alike,
particularly those responsible for vessel safety management plans required under the International Safety Management Code.
Some IACAs offer further value added services. Benefits of these include:
(i) Assurance that only the latest versions of Admiralty products are being used, and that all updates on board the
vessel have been correctly applied, by undertaking quick and reliable on board inspections and submitting
written reports to the vessel owner and operator.
(ii) Assisting vessel owners’ and operators’ own inspection procedures by supplying correction logs for a random
selection of Admiralty products held on the vessel.
Please contact your nearest IACA for details of which further services are available.
b. ADMIRALTY CHART AGENTS
Admiralty Chart Agents (ACAs) hold, in stock, a broad range of Admiralty products suitable for SOLAS regulated shipping
trading both internationally and locally. All ACAs supply Admiralty charts updated for the latest published NMs. The majority of
ACAs also provide some of the value added services offered by IACAs and to an equivalent standard. Please contact your nearest
ACA for further details of which services are available.
c. ADMIRALTY DIGITAL DISTRIBUTORS
In addition to the chart agency network, the UKHO also distributes its digital products such as Admiralty Vector Chart Service
(AVCS), Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS) and Admiralty digital publications such as TotalTide, Admiralty Digital List
of Lights (ADLL) and Admiralty Digital Radio Signals (ADRS), through authorised Admiralty Digital Distributors, who supply
digital products and ARCS compliant software. Distributor details are listed in the Catalogue of Admiralty Charts and
Publications (NP131), the UKHO website: ([Link] – products and services - how to buy), or telephone:
+44 (0)1823 337900. The ARCS software suppliers are listed separately.
d. OFFICIAL SUB-DISTRIBUTORS
Official Sub-Distributors are appointed and provisioned by IACAs and other Authorised Chart Agents/Distributors to stock and
supply Admiralty products and services to customers on behalf of the authorised agent.
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3. SUPPLY OF NOTICES TO MARINERS AND UPDATE SERVICES
a. NOTICES TO MARINERS
In the interests of safety, it is important that Admiralty products are kept updated. Admiralty Notices to Mariners are widely
available for consultation and copies may be obtained from Admiralty Distributors. These are listed in the Catalogue of
Admiralty Charts and Publications (NP131), the UKHO website: ([Link] – Products and Services – How to Buy), or
telephone: +44 (0)1823 337900. Current and historical NM information can also be found on the UKHO website:
([Link] – Products and Services - Maritime Safety Information - Notices to Mariners). This service includes the full
text of the latest weekly NM bulletin, and full colour NM Blocks and notes. There is also a searchable service on the web at:
[Link] to enable users to search for current and historical updates by Admiralty chart number. The NM website
is updated and available on Monday of each week. NM tracings are not available from the website but can be supplied
electronically, or in paper form by the Admiralty Distributors.
b. ELECTRONIC COURIER SERVICE PROVIDERS
The UKHO has also appointed Electronic Courier Service (ECS) Providers to supply updates to Admiralty paper and digital
products. These Electronic Couriers supply update services, customised to the portfolio of charts and publications held on board,
to vessels whilst on passage and distributed through electronic communication channels. ECS Providers provide value added
services for Admiralty Distributors. Details are available from the UKHO website: [Link] – Marine - How to Buy –
Value Added Services.
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