Nautical Chart Symbolsand Abbreviations - Eighth Edition - November 1984

Oct 13, 2026

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Nautical chart symbols and abbreviations approved for use on U.S. nautical charts are presented as Chart No. 1, prepared jointly by the Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Ocean Service, and the Department of Defense, Defense Mapping Agency, Hydrographic/Topographic Center. The introduction explains numbering conventions aligned with IHO resolutions, figure styles (vertical, slanting, asterisked, and parenthetical), and how metric versus feet/fathom charts are handled. It also covers sounding datum references, drying heights, shoreline symbolism, apparent shoreline, landmarks, and buoyage systems including starboard/port conventions and the IALA Region A/Region B approach.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages63

Reading Time22 min

AccessFree to download

Chart No.1

United States of America

Introduction

General Remarks

Numbering

Vertical Figures, Slanting Figures, Asterisks, and Parentheses

Metric Charts and Feet/Fathom Charts

Chart Modernization

Soundings

Drying Heights

Shoreline and Apparent Shoreline

Landmarks

Buoys and Buoyage Systems

IALA Buoyage System (Region A/Region B)

## Chart No.1 #### United States of America # Nautical Chart Symbolsand Abbreviations Eighth EditionNOVEMBER 1984 Prepared jointly by #### DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Ocean Service #### DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEDefense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center ##### INTRODUCTION General Remarks—This publication (Chart No.1)contains symbols and abbreviationsthat have been approved for use on nautical charts published by the United States ofAmerica.A Glossary of Terms used on the charts of various nations is also included.The user should refer to DMAHTC Pub.No.9,American Practical Navigator(Bowditch),Volume I,for the use of the chart in the practice of navigation and moredetailed information pertaining to the chart sounding datum,tides and currents,visualand audible aids to navigation,etc. Numbering—Terms,symbols,and abbreviations are numbered in accordance with astandard format approved by a 1952 resolution of the International Hydrographic Or-ganization (IHO).Although the use of IHO-approved symbols and abbreviations is notmandatory,the United States has adopted many IHO-approved symbols for standarduse.Style differences of the alphanumeric identifiers in the first column of the followingpages show the status of symbols and abbreviations. VERTICAL FIGURES indicate those items for which the symbols and abbreviationsare in accordance with resolutions of IHO. SLANTING FIGURES indicate those symbols for which no IHO resolution has beenadopted. SLANTING FIGURES ASTERISKED indicate IHO and U.S.symbols do not agree. SLANTING LETTERS IN PARENTHESIS indicate that the items are in addition tothose appearing in the IHO STANDARD LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBRE-VIATIONS. Metric Charts and Feet/Fathom Charts—In January 1972 the United States beganproducing certain new nautical charts in meters.Since then many charts have beenissued with soundings and contours in meters;however,for some time to come there willstill be many charts on issue depicting sounding units in feet or fathoms.Modified repro-ductions of foreign charts are being produced retaining the native sounding unit value.The sounding unit is stated in bold type outside the border of every chart and in the charttitle. Chart Modernization—Chart symbols and labeling are brought into reasonable agree-ment with uniform international charting standards and procedures as quickly as oppor-tunity affords.An example of this is the trend toward using vertical type for labeling itemsreferred to the shoreline plane of reference,and slant type for all items referred to thesounding datum.This is not completely illustrated in this publication but is reflectedin new charts produced by this country in accordance with international practices. ##### Soundings—The sounding datum reference is stated in the chart title.In all cases theunit of depth used is shown in the chart title and in the border of the chart in bold type. Drying Heights—On rocks and banks that cover and uncover the elevations are abovethe sounding datum as stated in the chart title. Shoreline—Shoreline shown on charts represents the line of contact between the landand a selected water elevation.In areas affected by tidal fluctuation,this line of contact is usually the mean high-water line.In confined coastal waters of diminished tidal in-fluence,a mean water level line may be used.The shoreline of interior waters(rivers,lakes)is usually a line representing a specified elevation above a selected datum.Shore-line is symbolized by a heavy line(A9). Apparent Shoreline is used on charts to show the outer edge of marine vegetation wherethat limit would reasonably appear as the shoreline to the mariner or where it preventsthe shoreline from being clearly defined.Apparent shoreline is symbolized by a lightline (A7,C17). Landmarks—A conspicuous feature on a building may be shown by a landmark symbolwith a descriptive label.(See 18b,36,44,72.)Prominent b

FAQs

What is Chart No. 1 mainly used for?

It provides approved nautical chart symbols and abbreviations for use on U.S. nautical charts, and also includes a glossary of terms used on charts of various nations.

How are the symbols and abbreviations numbered?

They follow a standard format approved by a 1952 resolution of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Style differences in identifiers indicate the status of symbols and abbreviations.

How does the document explain buoyage in the U.S. system and the IALA system?

In the U.S. system, starboard side buoys use even numbers while port side buoys use odd numbers, with corresponding light colors and mid-channel and obstruction marking rules. For international navigation, the IALA Maritime Buoyage System is implemented as Region A (red to port) or Region B (red to starboard), differing mainly in lateral marks.

Oct 13, 2026

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