The Admiralty Information Overlay brings the convenience and completeness associated with our Admiralty paper chart series to digital navigation. It includes all Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners (T&PNMs), and is displayed as single layer on top of the ENC. It combines the T&P NMs with additional navigationally significant information from the UKHO’s ENC validation programme, to make passage planning simpler and safer.
The Overlay has been developed to ensure mariners can simply view the information they need - in addition to the standard chart - to navigate safely and compliantly. By clearly showing where important Temporary or Preliminary changes may impact a voyage, the Admiralty Information Overlay will give seafarers the same consistent picture of the maritime environment on their ECDIS as they have always had. What’s more, shipping companies will also be able to more easily comply with Port State Control requirements by providing T&P NMs where they do not currently exist in ENC coverage today.
To ensure its effectiveness, we have been working with major ECDIS manufacturers to ensure the Admiralty Information Overlay can be displayed on their systems. Transas was first to announce compatibility with others expected to follow soon.
Soren Andersen, Marine Superintendent, SQE at Nordic Tankers Marine A/S says “Used as a navigational and planning aid as part of the company’s wider move to adopt ECDIS navigation, the Overlay is making passage planning and the task of keeping track of the latest ENC updates much easier. It has proved to be another important element in our efforts to continually improve the safety and efficiency of navigation.”
The Overlay is available as a free service with the Admiralty Vector Chart Service and within Admiralty Value Added Resellers’ services. If you wish to take advantage of Admiralty Information Overlay, please contact your ECDIS supplier to check and arrange compatibility.