The navigator uses many information sources when planning and conducting a voyage. These sources include: 1.

. Notices to Mariners 2. Admiralty Sailing Directions 3. Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals 4. Admiralty List of Radio Signals 5. Tide & Tidal Stream Publications 6. Astronomical Publications

 1. Notices to Mariners is published weekly by United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) for Admiralty Charts and Publications and the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic / Topographic Center (DMAHTC) for U.S. Charts and Publications. Over 60 countries which produce nautical charts also produce a notice to mariners. Therefore you can only correct U.S. charts with the U.S. notice to mariners. Similarly, correct foreign chart using foreign notice to mariners because chart datum often vary according to region and geographic positions are not the same for different datum.

 Hydrograms a listing of important items in the notice, composing of a chart correction section, a publication correction section, and summary of broadcast nav. warnings and miscellaneous information.

 The content of the Admiralty Notices to Mariners comprises of 6 sections; Section I Explanatory Notes, Publication List or the Index 1. New guidelines for Notices to Mariners 2. New Laws and Regulations for NTM 3. Reliance on Charts & Associated Publications 4. Updating of Weekly Notice 5. Further guidance on T & P notices, List of Lights, Radio Signals, Sailing Directions and Radio Navigational Warnings

 Section II Admiralty Notice to Mariners, Updates to Standard Navigational Charts & Publications 1. New charts and new edition of charts published during the week and any charts withdrawn are listed in a notice. This also mentions other charts affected by these changes, and gives notice of forthcoming publications and withdrawals. The publishing of new editions of volumes of the Sailing Direction or their Supplement, List of Lights, List of Radio Signals, Tide Tables are announced in Notices immediately following the above Notices.

 2. Temporary and Preliminary Notice Temporary (T) and Preliminary (P) are found at the end of Section II. Usually in the last weekly edition of the month. All T and P notices in force at the end of the year are reprinted in Annual Summary of Admiralty Notice to Mariners.

 Section III Reprints of Radio Navigational Warnings Radio navigational warnings are designed to give the mariners early information of important incidents which may constitute a danger to navigation such as: 1. Particulars of recent dangerous wrecks 2. Shoal depths 3. Alterations to major navigational aids 4. Salvage and survey operations in congested waters 5 Movement of oil drilling rig 6. Extensive maritime exercises 7. Significant mulfunctioning of radio navigation aids

3 Types of Radio Navigational Warnings 1. Local = for local vessel operating inshore 2. Coastal = for international shipping 3. Long Range = for international shipping Local Radio Warnings primarily affects vessel in inshore waters and are normally issued by Port and Harbor authorities. Coastal Radio Warnings primarily assist the mariners in coastal navigation and between ports as far as the port outer limits. The warnings are broadcast from the country of origin. Time frequency and other information are given in ALRS Volume 5.

 Long Range Radio Warning = The World-wide Warning service comprises 16 geographical sea areas termed as NAVAREAS. In addition to Navarea IV and Navarea XII, the U.S. issue HYDROLANTS and HYDROPAC warning for the remainder of the Atlantic and Pacific / Indian Ocean areas.

 Section IV Amendments to Admiralty Sailing Directions Correction to Sailing Direction which cannot await the supplement are promulgated in Section IV of the weekly notices. Section V Amendments to Admiralty Lists of Lights and Fog Signals The volumes of the Admiralty List of Lights are corrected by Section V, which includes any relevant alterations mentioned in Section II.

 Section VI Amendments to Admiralty List of Radio Signals The volumes of the Admiralty List of Radio Signals and the notices in the Annual Summary of Admiralty Notices to Mariners related to those volumes, are corrected for Section VI, which also includes any relevant alterations mentioned on Section II.

 2. Admiralty Sailing Directions (NP 1 to 72) Also called Pilot Book is published to complement Admiralty charts. Each volume of the Sailing Directions contains; 1. Description of the coast and off-lying features 2. Notes on tidal stream and currents 3. Direction for navigation in intricate waters 4. Relevant information about channels & harbors 5. Information about navigational hazards 6. Buoyages system used in the area covered 7. Pilotage

 8. Regulations, general rule on the countries within the area 9. Port facilities 10. General summary of seasonal current, ice and climatic conditions with direct access to the sea except Great Lakes and USA. Each volume of Sailing Direction is completely revised at intervals of 5 to 10 years. In the intervening period each is kept to date by supplement issued at intervals of 1 1/2 to 2 years. Each new supplement is cumulative and incorporates all previous corrections.

 3. List of Lights and Fog Signals (NP 74 to 84) The Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals is published in 11 volumes giving a worldwide tabulation of all lighthouses and lights of navigational significance. The areas covered by each volume are: 1. Vol. A (NP 74) British Isles and North Coast of France 2. Vol. B (NP 75) Southern and Eastern side of North Seas 3. Vol. C (NP 76) Baltic Sea

 4. Vol. D (NP 77) Eastern side of Atlantic Ocean 5. Vol. E (NP 78) Mediterranean Black and Red Seas 6. Vol. F (NP 79) Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and North Pacific Ocean 7. Vol. G (NP 80) Western side of South Atlantic Ocean and East Pacific Ocean 8. Vol. H (NP 81) Northern and Eastern Coast of Canada 9. Vol. J (NP 82) Western side of North Atlantic Ocean

 10. Vol. K (NP 83) Indian and Pacific Ocean, South of the Equator 11. Vol. L ( NP 84 ) Norwegian and Greenland Seas and the Arctic Ocean For each light the following details are given: 1. Number, used for index purposes 2. Name & descriptive position 3. Approximate Latitude & Longitude 4. Characteristics & intensity 5. Elevation of lights in meters above Mean High Water Spring Level

6. Range of visibility in sea miles 7. Description of the structure in which the light is situated & the height of the structure above the ground in meters. 8. Phases, sectors, arc of visibility, period of illumination, important temporary information and other relevant remarks. Also any minor associated light which do not merit separate numbering. A new edition of each volume of the list of lights is published at intervals of about 18 months.

 4. Admiralty List of Radio Signals The Admiralty List of Radio Signals ( ALRS ) provides a comprehensive source of information on all aspects of Maritime Radio Communications. The contents range from a complete listing of stations handling maritime public correspondence to a full range of services essential to compliance with the GMDSS ( Global Maritime Distress and Safety System ). The ALRS consists of 8 volumes. New edition of these volumes are published annually.

Vol. 1 Coast Radio Stations NP281(Parts 1&2) Maritime Public Correspondence Stations identified by DSC MMSI codes Ship Reporting System including AMVER Details about how to use Inmarsat Maritime Satellite Services Piracy & Armed Robbery Reporting Procedures Worldwide coverage in two parts Updated from Weekly Notice to Mariners Revised Annually

 Vol. 2 Radio Aids to Navigation, Electronic Position Fixing Systems, Legal Time & Radio Time Signals (NP282). Listing of all Radio Direction Finding Stations Listing of all Radar & Radio Beacon Services Latest Electronic Position Fixing System details International Time Signal Broadcast details Over 40 explanatory diagrams to supplement text Worldwide coverage Updated from Weekly Notice to Mariners Revised Annually

Vol. 3 Maritime Safety Information Services NP 283 ( Parts 1&2) All Maritime Radio Weather Services listed All Maritime Safety Information Broadcast listed Over 160 color diagrams showing worldwide weather broadcast areas Worldwide listing of Navtex & Facsimile station Submarine and Gunnery warning details ( Subfacts and Gunfacts ) Radio Facsimile worldwide listing of stations /frequencies/ index of map areas

 Worldwide coverage in two parts Updated from Weekly Notice to Mariners Revised Annually Vol. 4 Meteorological Observation Stations ( NP 284 ) Essential for both professional & amateur meteorologist All MET observation stations listed Worldwide coverage Revised every 18 months

Vol. 5 Global Maritime Distress & Safety System ( GMDSS ) NP 285 All worldwide communication requirements for distress, search and rescue SOLAS compliant guide for GMDSS Pull out chart coverage for MERSAR Color diagrams for operational DSC ranges Essential information for GMDSS operator Updated from Weekly Notice to Mariners Revised Annually

Vol. 6 Pilot Services, Vessel Traffic Services and Port Operations NP 286 (Parts 1,2,3,4 & 5) Detailed Pilot Information Global Vessel Traffic Services Information Color diagrams depicting Reporting Points, Pilot Boarding Positions and ports Harbor VHF facilities listed Worldwide coverage in five parts Updated from Weekly Notice to Mariners Revised Annually

 Vol. 8 Satellite Navigation System NP 288 Major Satellite Navigation System explained Information on the correct use & limitation on these system Descriptions & examples on the over reliance on these system Advantages and disadvantages DGPS Dynamic worldwide listing of beacons transmitting DGPS Updated from Weekly Notice to Mariners Revised Annually

 5. Tide and Tidal Stream Publications Admiralty Tide Tables (ATT) are published in 3 volumes annually; Vol. 1 European waters incl. Mediterranean Sea Vol. 2 Atlantic and Indian Ocean Vol. 3 Pacific Ocean and Adjacent Seas Each volume is divided into 3 parts; Part 1 Gives daily predictions of the times and heights of high and low water for a selected number of standard ports.

 Part II Gives time and height difference for prediction of high and low water at a much larger number of secondary ports. Part III Give the Harmonic Constants for use with the Simplified Harmonic Method of Tidal Predictions for those ports, where they are known. Admiralty Tide Tables are corrected annually by Notice to Mariners No.1 contained in Annual Summary of Admiralty Notice to Mariners

 6. Astronomical Publications Sight Reduction Table for Marine Navigation ( NP401) Published in 6 volumes, each covering a band of 15 of Latitude Contain data necessary for the solution of sights of heavenly bodies. Values of altitude and azimuth are tabulated for all combination of latitude, LHA and declination at interval of 1. The calculated altitude and azimuth of the heavenly body being observed s extracted from the tables and compared with the true altitude to obtain a position line.

 Sight Reduction for Air Navigation consists of 3 volumes NP 303 (1) to (3); Vol.1 Contains tables for selected stars for all latitudes and new edition is issued every 5 years. Vol. 2 ( Latitude 0 to 39 ) and Vol. 3 ( Latitude 40 to 89 ). Contains tables for integral degrees of declination providing for sights of the sun, moon and planets. These tables are permanent.

 The Nautical Almanac ( NP 314 ) Tabulates all the data for the year required for the practice of astronomical navigation at sea. It is compiled jointly by HM Nautical Almanac Office, Royal Greenwich Observatory and the National Almanac Office, U.S. Naval Observatory and published annually b HMSO.

 Star Finder and Identifier ( NP 323 ) Consists of star chart on which are printed the navigational stars and on which the position of planets and other stars may also be plotted. The altitude and true bearing of a star at any time can be obtained using a superimposed transparent grid.