Compulsory Nautical Publications

The rules: why the bridge carries publications

In short: Read bridge equipment carriage rules first: charts and publications are part of that SOLAS V/19 list. SOLAS V/27 says the charts and publications for the voyage must be adequate and up to date. The MCA turns this into a practical list (MGN 610 (M+F) Annex B).

What SOLAS and the MCA require

• SOLAS V/27: nautical charts and publications (sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables and every other publication needed for the voyage) must be adequate and up to date.
• SOLAS V/19.2.1.4–2.1.5: every ship carries charts and publications (or ECDIS) for the intended voyage, with a back-up arrangement if they are electronic.
• The broad SOLAS rule gives the minimum: immediate access to essential safety-of-navigation information. In the UK, the MCA and UKHO spell out what that means on the bridge.
• MGN 610 (M+F) Annex B gives the indicative list of publications. The MCA’s A Master’s Guide to the UK Flag (large yacht edition, section 12) gives the yacht version. The Mariner’s Handbook (NP100) also carries a list in an annex.
• Every chart and publication must be the latest obtainable edition, corrected from the latest Notices to Mariners and radio navigational warnings (MGN 610 Annex B).
• You only need the parts relevant to the voyage (e.g. the Sailing Directions volume for your area) (MGN 610 Annex B).

Who is exempt, and electronic publications

• Pleasure vessels under 150 GT are outside SOLAS V/27 (MGN 610, para 34.2).
• Electronic publications are accepted if issued by or for an authorised hydrographic office (for the UK: the UKHO) (MGN 610 Annex B).
• Digital publications need a primary and a secondary computer, unless an up-to-date paper copy is on the bridge (MGN 610 Annex C). On ECDIS only if that ECDIS is type-approved for it.
• On the bridge: a paperless yacht with e-NPs on two laptops is fine; one laptop and no paper back-up is not.

IAMSAR Vol. III and the International Code of Signals (SOLAS V/21)

• IAMSAR Vol. III (Mobile Facilities): all ships carry an up-to-date copy (SOLAS V/21). Exempt: ships under 150 GT, ships under 500 GT not on international voyages, and fishing vessels (MGN 610, para 28). It is the on-scene manual for search and rescue: see radar in search and rescue.
• International Code of Signals (ICS): carried by ships that must carry a radio installation (SOLAS V/21).
• The thresholds are quoted differently: the MCA large yacht guide says over 300 GT; MGN 610 says not required under 150 GT (para 27.3) and required from 150 GT (Annex B). In the exam, give the rule (radio installation) and both figures.

The core list and how to remember it

In short: Learn the list with the mnemonic “5 As — Not The Normal Achievement In International Maritime Oral”: 13 items. Then know the six ALRS volumes and who publishes what.

The 5 As mnemonic

• The MCA yacht list adds: charts corrected up to date, the Official Log Book, the Code of Safe Working Practices, the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide (Category A and B yachts), navigational tables (distant-water vessels only) and the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance Parts 1 and 2.
• On that list, lights, sailing directions, tide tables, tidal stream atlases and navigational tables may be covered by an almanac on small yachts.

The six volumes of the ALRS

Mnemonic: Can Randy Maidens Make Good Partners.

• Vol. 5 is the one to open first in a distress: see GMDSS sea areas and equipment. Vol. 3 tells you where and when to get weather forecasts at sea.
• Vol. 6 is your daily tool approaching port: VHF channels, reporting points, pilot boarding.

Who publishes what

• UKHO (trading as ADMIRALTY): charts, Sailing Directions, Lights, ALRS, Tide Tables, Tidal Stream Atlases, Nautical Almanac, NP100, Notices to Mariners.
• IMO: IAMSAR, International Code of Signals.
• MCA: M Notices, Official Log Book, Code of Safe Working Practices, Ship Captain’s Medical Guide.
• Manufacturers: the equipment manuals.

Notices to Mariners: keeping charts and books up to date

In short: A publication is only legal if it is corrected. The UKHO issues Weekly Notices to Mariners (NMs), a Cumulative List twice a year and an Annual Summary every January. Use them in that order: cumulative → weekly → chart.

The Weekly Notices to Mariners

Published every week by ADMIRALTY (the UKHO’s trading name), free to download. 8 sections. Mnemonic: “Exploration Charts Navigate Sailors, 2 Lists of Miscellaneous E-Pubs”:

1. Explanatory notes and publications list. Section IA (every 4 weeks): T&Ps in force and cancelled. Section IB (quarterly): current editions of publications.
2. Charts: updates (corrections), including T&Ps.
3. Navigational warnings: reprints of radio navigational warnings.
4. Sailing Directions: amendments.
5. Lists of Lights and Fog Signals: amendments.
6. Lists of Radio Signals: amendments.
7. Miscellaneous publications: amendments.
8. E-Pubs: digital publications and services.

Cumulative List, T&Ps and the Annual Summary

• Cumulative List (NP234, published January and July): chart numbers in order, the latest edition date of each chart, the permanent NMs for each chart over the last 2 years (January issue) or 2½ years (July issue), and the edition status of other ADMIRALTY publications.
• T&Ps = Temporary and Preliminary notices. Find them in the Annual Summary Part 1, then in Section II of each weekly NM since. The valid list is reprinted in Section IA every 4 weeks.
• Annual Summary Part 1 (NP247(1), in force from 1 January): the annual notices that stay valid — ADMIRALTY chart agents, areas of war or conflict, naval exercise areas, national claims (territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ), wrecks and war graves — plus reprints of T&Ps still in force. Lasting information often moves into NP100.
• Annual Summary Part 2 (NP247(2)): all corrections to Sailing Directions (and miscellaneous publications) still in force at the end of the previous year.

How to check and correct a paper chart

1. Open the Cumulative List: check the chart is the latest edition and which permanent corrections apply.
2. Look at the bottom left-hand corner (BLC) of the chart: which corrections are already done?
3. Check every Weekly NM published since the Cumulative List (under about 6 months) for permanent corrections and T&Ps. Start from the most recent and work backwards: it saves time.
4. Apply the missing corrections in magenta ink and write the NM serial number in ink in the BLC.
5. Record it in the chart correction log (NP133A, paper chart maintenance record). The log should match the BLC: use it as a double check.

How to correct the publications, and the chart-room books

• Publications: start from the Annual Summary Part 2, then every weekly NM since (Sections IV to VII).
• Chart-room books that go with the charts:
  • The largest-scale chart available for the area.
  • NP131 — Admiralty Chart Catalogue.
  • NP5011 — chart symbols and abbreviations (paper); NP5012 — ENC symbols in ECDIS, recommended by the MCA on ECDIS ships (MGN 610 Annex B).
  • NP294 — How to keep your ADMIRALTY charts and publications up to date.
  • NP133A — chart correction log (recommended).

Using the publications to plan a passage

In short: In the appraisal stage of passage planning you collect information from the charts and the publications. Know which book answers which question.

Which book for which question

Reading a light: the three ranges

The definitions are at the front of the List of Lights.

• Luminous range: how far the light is seen, from its intensity and the visibility at the time. Ignores height of light, height of eye and curvature of the Earth.
• Nominal range: the luminous range in a meteorological visibility of 10 NM. This is the range printed on the chart.
• Geographical range: the furthest a light can be seen, set by the height of eye, the height of the light and the curvature of the Earth.
• Example: Fl(3) WRG 15s 21m 15-11M = group of 3 flashes every 15 s; white, red and green sectors; 21 m above MHWS; nominal range 15 NM (white) down to 11 NM.

Bridge books and records

In short: Some books are not on the UKHO list but you need them every day: Norie’s Nautical Tables, the Nautical Almanac, the GMDSS log, the Official Log Book, the Code of Safe Working Practices and the Master’s standing and night orders.

Tables, almanac and the GMDSS log

• Norie’s Nautical Tables (or other sight reduction tables) are not on the NP100 list, but the MCA’s Master’s Guide lists navigational tables (for distant-water vessels).
• The Nautical Almanac: needed for any celestial sight and for compass checks by the Sun.
• GMDSS log: all UK ships of 300 GT and over carry one (MCA Master’s Guide). On a yacht the bridge is the radio room, so in practice it is a compulsory bridge book. It need not be the MCA version, but the daily, weekly and monthly radio tests must be recorded somewhere.

The Official Log Book (MCA)

• Who: UK ships, except ships under 25 GT, pleasure yachts and lighthouse-authority ships (Merchant Shipping (Official Log Books) Regulations 1981, reg. 2). Every UK commercial yacht keeps one (MCA Master’s Guide).
• Nine parts to remember:
  1. Ship, Master and owner details (and the date the log was opened).
  2. Crew list — record of seamen employed.
  3. Births and deaths.
  4. Drills (musters, boat and fire drills) and steering gear tests.
  5. Inspection of crew accommodation.
  6. Inspection of food and water.
  7. Load line (freeboard) record.
  8. Navigation log.
  9. Narrative section.
• A shorter grouping gives 7 parts: crew list · register of births and deaths · boat and fire drills · emergency steering drills (every 3 months) · accommodation, food and water checks (weekly) · freeboard sheet · narrative.
• Accommodation and food and water inspections every 7 days. The log is normally closed 6 months after the first entry. A false or incomplete entry is an offence (MCA Master’s Guide).
• Drill rules: emergency organisation, musters and drills.

Code of Safe Working Practices and the Master’s orders

• COSWP (MCA): today the rule is enough copies for every seafarer to reach one easily (MCA Master’s Guide; MGN 539). An older rule of thumb: one copy on ships with fewer than 5 crew, more copies above that.
• Company and Master’s standing orders and the Master’s night order book: kept on the bridge and signed by each OOW. What goes in them: OOW duties and the safe navigational watch.

Useful extras that are not compulsory

In short: Not on the compulsory list, but good practice to carry. Know the difference in the exam.

The extras

• Commercial yachting pilot books.
• NP735 — IALA Maritime Buoyage System (no longer on the NP100 list): see IALA buoyage.
• Ocean Passages for the World (NP136).
• A guide to the Collision Regulations (e.g. Cockcroft and Lameijer).
• The Met Office Marine Observer’s Handbook.
• Emergency checklists (“kill cards”): actions and SOPs for each emergency.
• Ship Captain’s Medical Guide (MCA): often called optional, but the MCA yacht list requires it on Category A and B yachts. It is the book behind radio medical advice.