US NAUTICAL PUBLICATIONS

Last revision: December 2025

AMERICAN PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR

The American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, was billed as the "epitome of navigation" by its original author, Nathaniel Bowditch. The text has evolved with the advances in navigation practices since that first issue and continues to serve as a valuable reference for marine navigation in the modern day.

The publication describes in detail the principles and factors of navigation, including piloting, electronic navigation, celestial navigation, mathematics, safety, oceanography and meterology. It also contains various tables used in typical navigational calculations and solutions, including the formulas used to derive the tabular data. Many of these solutions can also be found using the on-line calculators located in the Nautical Calculators section of this Web site.

AMERICAN PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR (Pub. 9)

• American Practical Navigator Volume I

• Volume I - Low Resolution Version

• American Practical Navigator Volume II

• Volume II - Low Resolution Version

ATLAS OF PILOT CHARTS

Pilot Charts depict averages in prevailing winds and currents, air and sea temperatures, wave heights, ice limits, visibility, barometric pressure, and weather conditions at different times of the year. The information used to compile these averages was obtained from oceanographic and meteorologic observations over many decades during the late 18th and 19th centuries. 

The Atlas of Pilot Charts set is comprised of five volumes, each covering a specific geographic region. Each volume is an atlas of twelve pilot charts, each depicting the observed conditions for a particular month of any given year. 

The charts are intended to aid the navigator in selecting the fastest and safest routes with regards to the expected weather and ocean conditions. The charts are not intended to be used for navigation.

ATLAS OF PILOT CHARTS

The charts are not intended to be used for navigation.

• South Atlantic Ocean (Pub. 105)

• North Atlantic Ocean (Pub. 106)

• South Pacific Ocean (Pub. 107)

• North Pacific Ocean (Pub. 108)

• Indian Ocean (Pub. 109)

CHART No. 1

U.S. Chart No. 1, Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms, presents the symbols depicted on paper nautical charts produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on raster representations of these paper charts such as Raster Nautical Charts (RNC), and on Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). 

The publication also presents the symbols described in the "Regulations of the IHO for International (INT) Charts" and "Chart Specifications of the IHO", published by the International Hydrographic Organization, and now includes a section providing important details about Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).

CHART No. 1

• Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms used on Paper and Electronic Navigational Charts

DISTANCES BETWEEN PORTS

The Distances Between Ports (Pub. 151) publication contains tabulated distances between departure ports, junction points, and arrival ports worldwide, organized alphabetically. The distance values normally represent the shortest navigable routes, but in certain cases, longer routes which take advantage of currents, avoid ice or other dangers to navigation, or follow required traffic separation schemes are used.

DISTANCES BETWEEN PORTS

• Publication number 151

INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SIGNALS

The International Code of Signals publication (Pub. 102) contains descriptions and graphic depictions of a specific vocabulary of signals and the various methods used to transmit them. The Code is intended to cater primarily to situations related to safety of navigation and personnel, especially when language difficulties arise. 

INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SIGNALS

• Publication number 102

NGA LIST OF LIGHTS

The List of Lights, Radio Aids and Fog Signals is published in seven volumes, as Publication numbers 110 through 116. Each volume contains lights and other aids to navigation that are maintained by or under the authority of foreign governments. 

Each volume corresponds to a defined geographic region, and contains more complete information about the navigational aids than can be conveniently shown on nautical charts. New editions are published annually for every volume. 

NGA LIST OF LIGHTS

The uncorrected publications can be viewed or downloaded in their entirety as PDF files. Corrections to the List of Lights are published in the Notice to Mariners. 

• Greenland, the East Coasts of North and Nouth America and the West Indies (Pub. 110)

• The West Coasts of North and South America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans (Pub. 111)

• Western Pacific and Indian Oceans including the Persian Gulf and Red Sea (Pub. 112)

• The West Coasts of Europe and Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov (Pub. 113)

• British Isles, English Channel and North Sea (Pub. 114)

• Norway, Iceland and Arctic Ocean (Pub. 115)

• Baltic Sea with Kattegat, Belts and Sound and Gulf of Bothnia (Pub. 116)

RADAR NAVIGATION AND MANEUVERING BOARD MANUAL

The Radar Navigation and Maneuvering Board Manual (Pub. 1310) contains, in a single volume, information on the fundamentals of shipboard radar, radar operation, collision avoidance, navigation by radar, and a description of vessel traffic systems in US waters. Additionally, the publication provides a quick reference to specific relative motion problem solutions, including both textual and graphic explanations.

RADAR NAVIGATION AND MANEUVERING BOARD MANUAL

• Publication number 1310

Download printable maneuvering board files:

• Letter size (8.5"x11")

• Tabloid size (11"x17")

RADIO NAVIGATIONAL AIDS

Radio Navigational Aids (NGA Pub. 117) contains detailed lists of worldwide stations providing radio and electronic services used in marine navigation, including: 

Radio Direction Finder (RDF) and Radar Stations

Radio Time Signal Stations

Navigational Warning Broadcast Stations

Distress, Emergency, and Safety Traffic Broadcast Stations

Medical Advice Communication Stations

Long Range Navigational Aids

RADIO NAVIGATIONAL AIDS

• Publication number 117

SAILING DIRECTIONS ENROUTE AND PLANNING GUIDES

• PACIFIC OCEAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (Pub. 120)

• Southwest Coast of Africa (Pub. 123)

• East Coast of South America (Pub. 124)

• West Coast of South America (Pub. 125)

• Pacific Islands (Pub. 126)

• East Coast of Australia and New Zealand (Pub. 127)

• Western Mediterranean (Pub. 131)

• Eastern Mediterranean (Pub. 132)

• NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS (Pub. 140)

• Scotland (Pub. 141)

• Ireland and the West Coast of England (Pub. 142)

• West Coast of Europe and Northwest Africa (Pub. 143)

• Nova Scotia and the St. Lawrence (Pub. 145)

• Newfoundland, Labrador and Hudson Bay (Pub. 146)

• Caribbean Sea Volume I (Pub. 147)

• Caribbean Sea Volume II (Pub. 148)

• West Coasts of Mexico and Central America (Pub. 153)

• British Columbia (Pub. 154)

• East Coast of Russia (Pub. 155)

• Coasts of Korea and China (Pub. 157)

• Japan Volume I (Pub. 158)

• Japan Volume II (Pub. 159)

• SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN AND INDIAN OCEAN (Pub. 160)

• South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand (Pub. 161)

• Philippine Islands (Pub. 162)

• Borneo, Jawa, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara (Pub. 163)

• New Guinea (Pub. 164)

• East Africa and the South Indian Ocean (Pub. 171)

• Red Sea and the Persian Gulf (Pub. 172)

• India and the Bay of Bengal (Pub. 173)

• Strait of Malacca and Sumatera (Pub. 174)

• North, West, and South Coasts of Australia (Pub. 175)

• ARCTIC OCEAN (Pub. 180)

• Greenland and Iceland (Pub. 181)

• North and West Coasts of Norway (Pub. 182)

• North Coast of Russia (Pub. 183)

• English Channel (Pub. 191)

• North Sea (Pub. 192)

• Skagerrak and Kattegat (Pub. 193)

• Baltic Sea (Southern Part) (Pub. 194)

• Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia (Pub. 195)

• ANTARCTICA (Pub. 200)

SIGHT REDUCTION TABLES FOR AIR NAVIGATION

The Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation are published in three separate Volumes. 

Volume I, used by both the marine and air navigator, contains altitude (to the nearest minutes) and true azimuth values of seven selected stars for the complete ranges of latitude and hour angle of Aries. These seven stars represent the best selection for observation at any given position and time, and provide the data for presetting instruments before observation and for sight reduction afterwards. Volume I (AP 3270) is prepared by the Nautical Almanac Office of the U.S. Naval Observatory in collaboration with Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). The UKHO maintains the copyright on the material it produces. 

Volumes II and III cover latitudes 0°- 40° and 39°- 89° respectively and are primarily used by the air navigator in conjunction with observations of celestial bodies to calculate the geographic position of the observer. 

The U.S. Naval Observatory provides a Web application that generates Celestial Navigation Data for a given date/time and assumed position.

SIGHT REDUCTION TABLES FOR AIR NAVIGATION (Pub. 249)

• Volume 1 - Stars (Period: 2025-2030)

• Volume 2 - LATITUDES 0° to 39°, Inclusive

• Volume 3 - LATITUDES 40° to 89°, Inclusive

SIGHT REDUCTION TABLES FOR MARINE NAVIGATION

The Sight Reduction Tables for Marine Navigation (Pub. 229) is published in six Volumes, each of which contains two eight-degree zones of latitude with a one-degree overlap between Volumes. They are designed to facilitate the practice of celestial navigation at sea. 

The tables are primarily used with the Intercept method of sight reduction by entering arguments of latitude, declination, and Local Hour Angle and obtaining tabulated altitudes and azimuth angles. The tables are prepared and published by NGA on an as needed basis. 

A Navigation Calculator function is also available on the Website, which performs many of the navigational computations derived from data found within this publication's tables.

SIGHT REDUCTION TABLES FOR MARINE NAVIGATION (Pub. 229)

• Volume 1 LATITUDES 00°-15°, Inclusive

• Volume 2 LATITUDES 15°-30°, Inclusive

• Volume 3 LATITUDES 30°-45°, Inclusive

• Volume 4 LATITUDES 45°-60°, Inclusive

• Volume 5 LATITUDES 60°-75°, Inclusive

• Volume 6 LATITUDES 75°-90°, Inclusive

USCG LIGHT LIST

• Volume I - Atlantic Coast (St. Croix River, ME to Shrewsbury River, NJ)

• Volume II - Atlantic Coast (Toms River, NJ to Little River, SC) 

• Volume III - Atlantic and Gulf Coast (Little River, SC to Econfina River, FL includes Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands)

• Volume IV - Gulf of Mexico (Econfina River, FL to Rio Grande River, TX)

• Volume V - Mississippi River System

• Volume VI - Pacific Coast and Pacific Islands

• Volume VII - Great Lakes (United States and Canada)

WORLD PORT INDEX

The World Port Index (Pub. 150) contains the location and physical characteristics of, and the facilities and services offered by major ports and terminals world-wide (approximately 3700 entries), in a tabular format. Entries are organized geographically, in accordance with the diagrams located in the front of the publication. 

WORLD PORT INDEX

• Publication number 150

UNITED STATES COAST PILOT

The United States Coast Pilot® consists of a series of nautical books that cover a variety of information important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters and the Great Lakes. Issued in nine volumes, they contain supplemental information that is difficult to portray on a nautical chart.

UNITED STATES COAST PILOT

• Coast Pilot 1 - Atlantic Coast: Eastport, Maine to Cape Cod, Massachusetts

• Coast Pilot 2 - Atlantic Coast: Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Sandy Hook, New Jersey

• Coast Pilot 3 - Atlantic Coast: Sandy Hook, New Jersey to Cape Henry, Virginia

• Coast Pilot 4 - Atlantic Coast: Cape Henry, Virginia to Key West, Florida

• Coast Pilot 5 - Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

• Coast Pilot 6 - Great Lakes: Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior and St. Lawrence River

• Coast Pilot 7 - Pacific Coast: California

• Coast Pilot 8 - Alaska: Dixon Entrance to Cape Spence

• Coast Pilot 9 - Alaska: Cape Spencer to Beaufort Sea

• Coast Pilot 10 - Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Pacific Islands

• Distances Between United States Ports

NOAA ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL CHARTS

Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) are vector data sets that support all types of marine navigation. Originally designed for large commercial vessels using a sophisticated navigational computer called an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), ENCs are now also being used on simpler electronic chart systems and “chart plotters” on many types of ships and by recreational boaters. NOAA ENCs help provide real-time ship positioning, as well as collision and grounding avoidance.

NOAA ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL CHARTS

Vector nautical chart data in S-57 format.

• All electronic navigational charts in a ZIP file