An end of an Era: UKHO phases out paper charts by 2026

An end of an Era: UKHO phases out paper charts by 2026

Phasing out of paper charts

222 years ago the Admiralty printed the first paper charts for commercial use. For almost two centuries mariners used these as their primary means for navigation.

With the digitalization really picking up speed in the early 2000's, the demand for paper charts has declined every year. 

The impact of the phasing out

The UKHO has announced that the paper BA charts service will be phased out by 2026. This basically means that the following services will cease to exist:

-BA paper charts
-ARCS charts
-Scanned charts
-Tracings

The phasing out will begin this year with the removal of the least used charts.

We can help you with the digital alternatives, such as an ECDIS, the SeaPad and ofcourse with digital charts. If you have any questions, remarks or need help with the transition to digital services then please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

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