Many of you have questions about updates of nautical charts. We will try to explain here how it works, the relationship between MapMedia and data suppliers such as Jeppesen (C-MAP charts) or Navionics (Datacore charts) and also answer the question of who does what.
MapMedia works with various vendors such as Jeppesen and Navionics, as well as national Hydrographic Services.
MapMedia does not correct the C-MAP and Datacore nautical charts as this is done by Jeppesen and Navionics before we receive their data.
MapMedia then converts integrates their charts into our proprietary mm3d format.
How do nautical chart data providers work? How do they get chart corrections to you?
Providers that supply us with chart data are constantly working on improvements, corrections and updates to their entire chart portfolio (like C-MAP and Datacore).
This can be done either by carrying out surveys in the field, through private partners or via Hydrographic Services. This is a non-stop job and requires substantial resources for these investigations and verifications.
However, when Jeppesen and Navionics release an updated version of their C-MAP or Datacore charts, that does not mean that they have re-surveyed the entire chart area, corrected all mistakes and have integrated all marinas worldwide. Of course everyone would like this to be the case but it is not realistic.
Example of a new vs. old Navionics chart
Providers can focus on a particular area, e.g. improving European Rivers, or the Caribbean etc. In this case a special effort will be made in these regions, so that there is be a greater chance that everything will be corrected, but once again, this is not a certainty if they did not have enough information beforehand.
It is impossible for anyone to be aware of every single navigation change or new marina worldwide comprehensively and all at the same time.
There are still some nautical charts that have not been updated in a couple of years. When you see a chart that is for example from 2004 in the MaxSea product list, this date has been directly extracted from the C-MAP (Jeppesen) or Datacore (Navionics) database. It does not mean that MapMedia is using an old chart, this is impossible.
The same goes for raster charts and this update lag is certainly more prominent with Hydrographic Services as the frequency of their chart updates is quite slow. In fact they are less reactive when it comes to the integration of new marinas. Editions and revision dates are generally older.
This however, does not apply to all Hydrographic Services and the SHOM in France offers very good charts for our country as is the case with the biggest Hydrographic Services in their own countries.
SHOM logo – the French Hydrographic Office
Users are also a good source of information. Their comments and critiques are used to improve product quality.
Each time as Anomaly Report is sent to MapMedia via the form on our website, we check it, analyse it and we pass it on to the supplier who produces data for this region.
In turn, the supplier verifies and analyses the problem, and if the suggestion is confirmed, they correct their nautical charts or tell us if the correction is planned for the next version. We then inform the customer who reported the anomaly.
When we receive their updated chart data, we can begin the job of integrating and converting the data into our mm3d format.
MapMedia releases a new version of each chart zone once a year.
It is therefore possible that there is a maximum difference of one version between a MapMedia and chart supplier version during this time.
The quality of charts and user safety is a priority for MapMedia and for all of our chart suppliers.
We try to continuously improve and evolve produts in order to satisfy your needs.
Please continue to keep us updated on any nautical chart problems you encounter. We thank you for your contributions!
If you’ve ever wondered what is the logic behind the chart references found on our online nautical chart catalogue, here’s the answer.
All our charts present the same information when you make a search on our online nautical chart catalogue: name of the zone (Baltic Sea and Denmark in the example below), number of files that you must download in order to install the chart (8 in the example) and chart reference (WVJENM299MAP13.1):
If you already have the chart reference, you can type it in the search bar (green rectangle in the image above). If you put at least 3 characters, our online nautical chart catalogue will display all the chart zones that start with that 3 characters, that’s called stemming.
But be careful, old versions of some chart zones may have a different syntax.
TIMEZERO online nautical chart catalogue only displays the latest version of all charts, so if you try to find your old UK-Ireland chart by typing “R28P-MAP/01″ you’ll never find it!
Please note that we have updated the following MapMedia Vector C-MAP by Jeppesen charts from the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, Aegean, North and Baltic Seas and other European Coasts and inland waters:
These updates include the latest charts and NTM provided by our data providers. Copy the new reference and go to MapMedia’s chart catalogue if you want to check the coverage of each chart.
As an example, see the modifications that have been introduced to the Marmaris Port in Turkey and to the Liverpool Bay in UK:
Old and New Marmaris Port Jeppesen vector chartOld and New Liverpool Bay Jeppesen vector chart
Please note that we have updated the following Raster and Vector charts from Canada & the Great Lakes, North America, Central America & the Caribbean, and South America:
These updates include the latest charts and NTM provided by our data providers. Copy the new reference and go to MapMedia’s chart catalogue if you want to check the coverage of each chart.
Here you can appreciate some of the modifications that have been introduced to these areas from Baja California:
Old and new Marina San Lucas Jeppesen vector chartOld and new Marina Los Cabos Jeppesen vector chartOld and new Marina de La Paz Jeppesen vector chart
Please note that charts updates for our Raster Wide European areas WR25MAP3.1, WR26MAP2.1 and WR28MAP2.1, and for Raster Mega Wide European areas MWR46MAP3.1, MWRTRANSATMAP3.2 are now available.
These updates include the latest charts and NTM provided by our data providers.
You will find below the new references for the Raster European charts areas:
Important! The WRMEW25MAP4.1 update includes the latest charts from Dutch hydrographical services (April 2012). mm3d charts are the first charts to integrate this new data.
Moreover, 3 new charts areas are available: WRMEW20MAP1.1 and WRMEW30MAP1.1 (Wide charts) and MWRMTR49MAP1.1 (Mega Wide chart). You will find their coverage below:
We invite you to check the details of this update and new areas through the link below :
Please note that our Mediterranean raster charts will be updated as of today due to the introduction of some modifications by the respective Hydrographic Services.
Wide areas concerned: R32MAP1.2, R33MAP1.2 and R34MAP2.1
Jean-Michel and Annette André, sailors and MaxSea TimeZero users, describe how they take advantage of their marine navigation software. The testimonial was kept in its original language (french).
Utilisateur de MaxSea depuis de nombreuses années, j’ai acquis en 2009 la version TimeZero qui m’a accompagné sans faiblesse tout au long d’un parcours Atlantique de Bretagne aux Antilles par le Sénégal et le Brésil. J’apprécie la fiabilité de la cartographie (celle des cartes papier que j’utilisais antérieurement) et la fluidité dans le changement d’échelle.
J’utilise bien sûr les diverses fonctions proposées pour la navigation (points, routes, routage) mais la possibilité de recevoir des fichiers météo (fichiers grib de Sea Chopper) à tout moment et en tout lieu avec l’iridium est pour ma part, déterminante. Ces fichiers sont de plus en plus précis et complets (vent, précipitations, vagues etc..)
Certaines fonctions m’apparaissaient secondaires. Les photos satellites appartenaient à cette catégorie jusqu’à ce que je découvre que celles-ci pouvaient être beaucoup plus précises que les cartographies officielles peu fiables en certains endroits peu fréquentés de notre parcours.
Je suis donc un utilisateur très satisfait de MaxSea et si je peux me permettre une réserve, celle-ci concerne la possibilité de mise à jour en ligne, des cartes.
Are a you a MaxSea user? How about sharing your experience with fellow sailors? Send your testimonials to info@maxsea.fr or vist us at: http://www.facebook.com/maxseasoftware