172 NAUTICAL CHART MANUAL 



GENERAL REMARKS 



Chart No. 1 contains the standard symbols and abbreviations which have been approved for 

 use on nautical charts published by the United States of America. 



Symbols and abbreviations shown on Chart No. 1 apply to the regular nautical charts and may 

 differ from those shown on certain reproductions and special charts. 



Terms, symbols and abbreviations are numbered in accordance with a standard form approved 

 by a Resolution of the Si.xth International Hydrographic Conference, 1952. 



Vertical fii/ii res indicate those items where the symbol and abbreviation are in accordance 

 with the Resolutions of the International Hydrographic Conferences. 



Slanting fiijnres indicate those items where the symbol and/or abbreviation differ from the 

 Resolutions of the Conferences, or for which Resolutions do not yet exist. 



( Those items whicli differ from the Resolutions are underlmed.) 



Slanting letters in parentheses indicate that the items are in addition to those shown on the 

 approved standard form. 



Colors are optional for characterizing various features and areas on the charts. 



Lettering styles and capitalization as used on Chart No. 1 are not always rigidly adhered to on 

 the charts. 



Longitudes are referred to the Meridian of Greenwich. 



Scales are computed on the middle latitude of each chart, or on the middle latitude of a series 

 of charts. 



Buildings - A conspicuous feature on a building may be shown by a landmark symbol with 

 descriptive note (See L-63 & I-n). Prominent buildings that are of assistance to the mariner are 

 crosshatched (See I-3a,5.47 & 66). 



Sho-reli^ie is the line of Mean High Water, except in marsh or mangrove areas, where the outer 

 edge of vegetation (berm line) is used. A heavy line (A-9) is used to represent a firm shoreline. A 

 light line (A-7) represents a berm line. 



Heights of land and conspicuous objects are given in feet above Mean High Water, unless 

 otherwise stated in the title of the chart. 



Depth Contirnrs and Soundings may be shown in meters on charts of foreign waters. 



Visibility of a light is in nautical miles for an observer's eye 15 feet above water level. 



Buoys and Beacons - On entering a channel from seaward, buoys on starboard side are red 

 with even numbers, on port side black with odd numbers. Lights on buoys on starboard side of channel 

 are red or white, on port side white or green. Mid-channel buoys have black-and-white vertical stripes. 

 Junction or obstruction buoys, which may be passed on either side, have red-and-black horizontal 

 bands. This system does not always apply to foreign waters. The dot of the buoy symbol, the small 

 circle of the light vessel and mooring buoy symbols, and the center of the beacon symbol indicate 

 their positions. 



Improved channels are shown by limiting dashed lines, the depth, month, and the year_of latest 

 examination being placed adjacent to the channel, except when tabulated. 



U. S. Coast Pilots, Sailing Directions, Light Lists, Radio Aids, and related publications furnish 

 information required by the navigator that cannot be shown conveniently on the nautical chart. 



U. S. Nautical Chart Catalogs and Inde.ves list nautical charts, auxiliary maps, and related 

 publications, and include general information (marginal notes, etc.) relative to the charts. 



A glossary of foreign terms and abbreviations is generally given on -the charts on which they 

 are used, as well as in the Sailing Directions. 



Charts already on issne will be brought into conformity as soon as opportunity affords. 



