The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Overview

Access to official charts online is now available with the Admiralty WebChart Service (AWCS). Developed by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), AWCS will enable shore-based users to view charts instantly and effortlessly.

AWCS was launched in response to demand from shipping companies whose shore-based teams use charts to support their ships at sea. AWCS will offer an alternative to the sharing of paper charts in the office environment. The charts can be accessed from any internet connected PC providing users with immediate access to worldwide charts.

View our helpful 10 Steps to Mandation guide	View the Facts About Digital Charts & Carriage Requirements
View the Admiralty Digital Catalogues	Download the latest digital chart updates
Find an Admiralty Distributor	FAQs About AWCS
View the ENC Cell Update List	Download the Chart Availability List

Charts when and where you want them

Admiralty WebChart Service provides 24/7 access to the Admiralty worldwide chart holding and charts from other leading hydrographic offices. So, whether in the office, working away or using a different workstation, if you need to view charts you can. AWCS is a web-based service and once subscribed, users can access charts without needing to install data or software.

Global Chart Coverage

AWCS provides a cost-effective solution for shore-based teams to work seamlessly with their colleagues at sea, whether they use paper or digital charts. AWCS includes complete coverage of the worlds’ oceans using the well known and established ARCS charts, used for navigation at sea by many leading international shipping companies.

ENCs produced by leading national hydrographic offices around the world and new ENC coverage produced by the UKHO on behalf of Foreign Governments is also available (as an additional option within the service). ENCs are ideal for those who require more detail or the ability to select and query content.

See below for full details of all ENCs currently available within AWCS.

*new ENCs will be added to the service when they become available

Always up-to-date

The task of maintaining paper chart folios is no longer a problem with AWCS. Every week all the latest updates are uploaded by the UK Hydrographic Office. This means that AWCS is in-sync with other Admiralty charting systems used for navigation. With AWCS you can be confident that the charts you see are the latest versions including all safety critical changes.

Functionality

The user interface is straightforward, easy to use and developed with simplicity in mind. It is similar to existing web mapping services, featuring standard tools such as drag, pan and zoom to navigate the charts in a standard webbrowser. Whether you use the service daily or infrequently, the logical and intuitive nature of the service enables effortless usage.

Features of the service include:

• Port search function covering 7000 locations worldwide.
• Lat/Long search and zoom to a specified location.
• General chart search using chart number or keywords.
• Distance and bearing measurement tool.
• Cursor Geographical Position (GP) read out
• Efficient chart navigation using pan and zoom.
• Data query function ‘what’s this?’

Who will use it?

The service is designed for people who need access to charts as part of their job either in or out of the office. The service will be particularly useful for those involved in port safety, fleet management, port planning, incident management and ship brokerage.

Proven benefits

The UKHO worked closely with BP to develop WebChart. They expressed a requirement for charts online and were looking for a solution to help relieve the burden of sharing paper charts and associated maintenance. In conjunction with BP, the UKHO designed and built the service and BP are now using WebChart on a routine basis. The service is proving beneficial in a number of shore-based applications including the Emergency Response and Port Safety departments.

Easy to Buy

Admiralty WebChart Service is available on a license basis through your Admiralty Distributor. Licenses are flexible and can be purchased for durations of 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. Packs of licenses can be purchased for 1, 5, 20 or 100 users.

A one month free of charge trial license can be arranged through your Admiralty Distributor.

Price List

To download the AWCS price list, please click here.

System Requirements

• Standard PC and operating system
• Broadband internet access
• Minimum of Internet Explorer 5.5 or equivalent