An electronic navigational chart is an official chart database, issued by a hydrographic office, that stores depth areas, soundings, wrecks, buoys and other features as objects with attributes rather than as a picture. ECDIS uses it to draw the display and to run safety checks against the ship's own safety depth. ENCs are issued as cells by usage band, from overview to berthing scale, and kept current with update files.
ENC cell still has the old wreck as PA, our update will put it in with a proper least depth.
Mariners only see what is encoded; a carefully surveyed wreck coded without a least depth shows up on the bridge as depth unknown.
Also heard as
- electronic navigational chart
- vector chart
- ENC cell
Related terms
S-57
The international data transfer standard behind most electronic navigational charts, built on objects and attributes.
S-100
The international data framework behind a family of marine products, including vector charts, gridded bathymetry and water levels.
ECDIS
Electronic Chart Display and Information System: the type-approved chart system a ship can carry in place of paper charts.
Nautical chart
A map of waters and coasts made for mariners, showing depths, hazards, aids to navigation and landmarks.