Section 1 Getting Started

A boater in U.S. waters should be familiar with American nautical publications. Many of these, including up-to-date charts produced by the National Ocean Service (NOS), must be on board for safety's sake when cruising (it may be required by some insurance companies). Here are some of the main publications:

Chart No. 1 United States of America: Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms. This U.S. government booklet listed symbols, abbreviations and terms found on U.S. charts, however the publication is no longer available from the NOS. It can be found on line at: http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/pubs/ and downloaded in PDF format. A new publication in bookstores, How to Read a Nautical Chart by Nigel Calder (International Marine, Camden, ME, 2003) amply fills the void left by the NOS. It provides background to the construction of charts in addition to symbols and terms useful for every boater.

United States Coast Pilot is a nine-volume series covering the same U.S. coastal and intra-coastal waters as NOS charts. These contain sailing directions with distances and courses between ports. Their subjects include dangers and obstructions, channel descriptions, anchorages, bridge and cable clearances, currents, tide and water levels, prominent features, coastal navigation, weather, ice conditions, and so on. They also list Federal regulations applicable to navigation. Notice to Mariners (NOTAMS) provide updated information for charts and other marine publications. It also draws attention to new hazards. Notice to Mariners is published for regions or districts by the U.S. Coast Guard and is available in print form and on the Internet:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/default.htm

Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boaters is a U.S. Coast Guard publication. This pamphlet contains a wide range of information about Federal laws, equipment requirements, numbering and documentation, accident reporting, and safety recommendations for recreational vessels. It draws attention to the need to observe the laws of the state where you're operating. Tide Tables (four volumes, by region) give the predicted heights and times of high and low tides at primary tide reference stations and at subordinate stations. Tidal Current Tables (two volumes, one east and one west) give the corrections for applying current differences at subordinate stations up and down each coast. There are also tidal current charts complete with tidal current diagrams for selected regions.

Collision Regulations, also known as the COLREGS, are properly entitled the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. They detail piloting and technical requirements for mariners and vessels in all conditions. The purpose is to enable boaters, regardless of the size or type of vessel, to avoid collisions. The U.S. has two sets of rules. The 72 COLREGS to regulate vessels in international waters, and the Inland Rules to regulate vessels in coastal and all other inland navigable waters. This also applies to U.S. vessels operating in Canadian waters of the Great lakes so long as there is no conflict with Canadian law.

The List of Lights are produced by the U.S. Coast Guard for coastal and inland regions. These describe all classes of lights, buoys and other markers by characteristics such as number, name, position, height, type and so on. They are useful for course planning and monitoring when used along with Coast Pilots. Radio Navigational Aids is similar to the Lights List except that it covers radio aids: their frequencies, locations, Morse code identifiers and broadcast ranges. It also contains operational data on types of radios used in marine matters.

The ASA Coastal Navigation Standard 2. Identify a source of official U.S. Coast Guard navigation publications. 3. List the publications required for prudent navigation in the local area.

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