October 28, 2013
Monday PM

The Federal Government recently announced it will stop printing Marine Navigation Charts this April. I find this to be another example of the absurd logic prevailing in our modern society. We foolishly believe everyone has an i-Phone, expensive electronic GPS plotters or has a lap top in their possession at all times. We have become so dependent upon our electronic devices we have no concept of how vital something like a paper marine chart can be. We cannot possibly conceive of the failure of our devices or the need for anything else.

While it goes without question that any larger commercial vessels use electronics as an integral part of navigation, small private vessels may not have that option. Private mariners without the means to purchase these expensive devices will be forced to navigate in much the same way as Captain Cook did when sailing into uncharted waters.

Oh the charts will be "on line" but not on the vessels where they will be needed. Marine navigation will not become safer as the techno geniuses believe but in fact become more dangerous. Private mariners will no longer find rocks and reefs on their charts but will find them with their boat hulls. Expensive rescues of private mariners will become more common.

The concept of eliminating hard marine charts to save money will be a folly. In fact the Feds who have for over 150 years provided this means of increasing marine navigational safety might even be shown to be liable for intentionally reducing marine safety. They are knowingly removing a tool they have provided and that we have depended on for complete navigation.

Michael Moyer
Ketchikan, Alaska

Received October 24, 2013 - Published October 28, 2013

Related:

NOAA announces end of traditional paper nautical charts - NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey, which creates and maintains the nation’s suite of over a thousand nautical charts of U.S. coastal waters, announced major changes ahead for mariners and others who use nautical charts. Starting April 13, the federal government will no longer print traditional lithographic (paper) nautical charts, but will continue to provide other forms of nautical charts, including print on demand charts and versions for electronic charting systems. - More...
Monday PM - October 28, 2013

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