NVIC 01-16: Chart and publication carriage equivalencies

Commandant 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, SE, United States Coast Guard Washington, DC 20593-7418 Staff Symbol: CG-NAV-2 Email: cgnav@uscg.mil NVIC 01-16 CH-3 18 AUG 2025 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 01-16 – CH- 3 Subj: EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 Ref: (a) Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, part 164 (b) Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, various parts (c) NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS CS 60, Best Practices for Creation and Maintenance of ENC-Derived Paper Nautical Charts (d) Radio Technical Commission for Marine Services (RTCM) – Standard for Electronic Chart Systems (ECS) 10900 (series)

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — PURPOSE. This circular describes equivalencies for electronic charts, electronic

publications, and ENC-derived paper charts in lieu of the carriage requirements found in references (a) and (b) and to provide procedures for conducting inspections for vessels electing to comply with one or more of the equivalencies described herein.

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — ACTION.

a. Officers-in-Charge, Marine Inspection, and Authorized Classification Societies and Third-Party Organizations conducting inspections or surveys on behalf of the Coast Guard, must ensure the provisions of this circular are adhered to for those vessels electing to comply with one or more of the equivalences described herein. b. Vessel owners and operators subject to the chart and publication carriage requirements of 33 or 46 CFR may comply with the equivalencies described in Enclosure (1).

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. NVIC 01-16 CH-2 is superseded.

DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. NVIC 01-16 CH-2 is superseded.

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — BACKGROUND. In 2016, NVIC 01-16 was published to support the growing use of

Electronic Chart Systems (ECS), Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC), and Inland Electronic Navigational Charts (IENC). Subsequently, two changes were issued to update the information and requirements necessary for electronic navigation. In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Coast Survey (OCS) announced its intention to discontinue paper chart production. In July 2024, NOAA released version 3.0 of their online custom chart tool. This tool allows mariners to select and download ENC-Derived customized paper charts, choosing the areas that are needed for NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 01-16 – CH-3 their voyage. In November 2024, NOAA published Technical Memorandum NOS CS 60, Best Practices for Creation and Maintenance of ENC Derived Paper Nautical Charts, reference (c).1 The Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) develops the Standard for Electronic Chart Systems (ECS), reference (d).2 This standard defines the classes of ECS which are incorporated into the equivalency in enclosure (1).

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION. Enclosure (1) describes three equivalencies—for

electronic charts, electronic publications, and ENC-derived paper charts, respectively—as compliance options in lieu of the carriage requirements found in titles 33 and 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Vessels subject to the carriage requirements in 33 and 46 CFR may elect to comply with one or more of the equivalencies. Enclosure (2) describes inspection procedures applicable to vessels electing to comply with one or more of the equivalencies described in Enclosure (1).

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — DISCLAIMER. This guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it

itself a rule. It is intended to provide administrative guidance for Coast Guard personnel and is not intended nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party outside the Coast Guard. It represents the Coast Guard’s current thinking on this topic and may assist industry, mariners, the general public, and the Coast Guard, as well as other Federal and state regulators, in applying statutory and regulatory requirements. This Circular prescribes no new requirements for the maritime industry. As such, vessel owners and operators may continue using official paper charts and publications in accordance with References (a) and (b) until the relevant regulations therein are amended.

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT AND IMPACT CONSIDERATION. The Office of

Environmental Management, Commandant (CG-47) reviewed this circular and the general policies contained within, and determined that this policy falls under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) categorical exclusion A3. This circular will not result in any substantial change to existing environmental conditions or violation of any applicable federal, state, or local laws relating to the protection of the environment. It is the responsibility of the action proponent to evaluate all future specific actions resulting from this policy for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), other applicable environmental requirements, and the U.S. Coast Guard Environmental Planning Policy, COMDTINST 5090.1 (series).

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — MAJOR CHANGES. This change to NVIC 01-16 revises the following:

a. Enclosures (1) and (2) updates provide ENC-Derived Printed Paper Charts and Electronic Chart Carriage equipment equivalency and guidance, which align with NOAA’s Technical Memorandum NOS CS60 and the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM), Standard for Electronic Chart Systems b. Enclosure (1) updates contain guidance for mariners seeking an equivalency for chart and publication carriage requirement, as listed in titles 33 and 46 of the CFR. 1 NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS CS 60 can be found at https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/66438 2 Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services’ Publications can be found at https://www.rtcm.org/publications NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 01-16 – CH-3 c. Table 1 was added to enclosure (1), illustrating minimum electronic chart hardware carriage requirements based on vessel type and location. d. Enclosure (2) updates provide marine inspectors guidance to make chart and publication carriage requirement equivalency determinations.

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — DISTRIBUTION. No paper distribution will be made of this NVIC. An electronic version

will be located at https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/NVIC/

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — RECORDS MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS. This circular has been thoroughly

reviewed during the directive’s clearance process, and it has been determined there are no further records scheduling requirements, in accordance with Federal Records Act, 44 U.S. Code Chapter 31, NARA requirements, and Information and Life Cycle Management Manual, COMDTINST M5212.12 (series). This policy does not have any significant or substantial change to existing records management requirements.

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — FORMS/REPORTS. None.

FORMS/REPORTS. None.

EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION FOR CHART AND PUBLICATION CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, NVIC 01-16 CH-3, COMDTPUB 16700.4 — REQUEST FOR CHANGES. Submit recommended changes or questions regarding this

circular to Coast Guard Headquarters, Office of Navigation Systems (CG-NAV-2), using the contact information provided in the above letterhead. W. R. Arguin, Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy. Encl: (1) Equivalency Determinations for “Marine Charts” or “Maps,” Publications, and Navigation Functions (2) Procedures for Inspecting Electronic Charts, Publications, and Rules