Apr 08 2008
Free Marine GPS Charts
Who can argue with free? To download NOAA ENCs in the S-57 format for navigational purposes, click here 
The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) produces NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (NOAA ENC®) to support the marine transportation infrastructure and coastal management. NOAA ENC®s are in the International Hydrographic Office (IHO) S-57 international exchange format, comply with the IHO ENC Product Specification and are provided with incremental updates, which supply Notice to Mariners corrections and other critical changes. NOAA ENC®s are available for free download on the OCS website. To download NOAA ENCs in the S-57 format for navigational purposes, please click here.
The NOAA ENC® supports all types of marine navigation by providing the official database for electronic charting systems (ECS), including the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). NOAA ENC®s support real-time navigation, as well as the collision and grounding avoidance needs of the mariner, and accommodates a real-time tide and current display capability that is essential for large vessel navigation. NOAA ENC®s also provide fully integrated vector base maps for use in geographic information systems (GIS) that are used for coastal management or other purposes.
For technical questions about the NOAA ENC®, its format or the standards involved; and for questions related to production scheduling or cartographic content of the NOAA ENC®s that are not answered in the FAQ’s, please click Here for NOAA’s Nautical Chart Product Inquiry page.
