NOAA to stop producing paper charts

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey revealed plans to phase out the production of all traditional paper nautical charts. Over the next five years, NOAA says that it plans to transition to electronic chart (ENC) products with a focus on improving data consistency and providing larger scale ENC coverage. NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has produced traditional paper charts for nearly 200 years, and these products have been the primary source of navigational information for generations of American mariners. Full report.