The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has announced that Italy now approves the use of e-Nautical Publications (e-NPs) and ADMIRALTY Digital Publications (ADP) in place of paper equivalents.
This decision means that Italian-flagged ships can now take advantage of the greater efficiency and accuracy offered by e-NPs and ADP whilst continuing to meet their SOLAS carriage requirements. Benefits of these products include fast electronic updates and easier access to important information mariners need, reducing workload on board and the risk of human error during passage planning tasks.
The Italian flag currently flies on over 1,300 ships, including 537 vessels over 2,000 GT. As a result of Italy’s approval, 81% of the global fleet is now authorized to use digital publications in an electronic format in place of their paper equivalents to meet the carriage requirements of the SOLAS Convention.
Christine Trickett, Senior Product Manager (Software and Publications) at the UKHO, commented: “. This means that all ships under an Italian flag can now benefit from e-NPs and ADP, and the speed, security and accuracy they provide to bridge crews. Furthermore, 81% of the global fleet can now draw upon the benefits of the digital versions of these vital publications, further reinforcing the UKHO’s commitment to supporting safe and efficient navigation around the world.”
e-Nautical Publications (e-NPs) are electronic versions of official ADMIRALTY Nautical Publications such as Sailing Directions and the Nautical Almanac. They allow bridge crews to download and apply electronic weekly Notices to Mariners (NMs) in just a few seconds every week, improving efficiency and accuracy on board.
The UKHO's latest film demonstrates how this feature of e-NPs can significantly reduce time spent updating Sailing Directions in comparison to paper publications. During this particular demonstration, which looks at a route planned between Shanghai and Rotterdam, the product reduces a task that could take hours into one that takes a matter of seconds.
ADMIRALTY Digital Publications also provide greater efficiency and flexibility than their paper equivalents, giving bridge crews faster, more accurate updates and easier access to the information they need. The range comprises of ADMIRALTY Digital List of Lights, the world’s most advanced source of light and fog signal data; ADMIRALTY Digital Radio Signals (sold as ADRS 1,3,4,5, ADRS 2 and ADRS 6), a source of maritime radio communications for pilot and vessel traffic services; and, ADMIRALTY TotalTide, the world’s most comprehensive tidal prediction program.
