Canadian Paper Charts - being discontinued?
 

Hi,

A friend mentioned that she had heard the Can. Govt is discontinuing
paper charts. Is this true? Is there a way to print out a decent paper
chart from the CD?

Also: Anybody know if the CD version can be run on Linux somehow? Is it
a "standard" format or do you have to use the included software (which
presumably runs only on MS-Windows)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

Two or 3 years ago I talked to the Canadian Coast Guard and at that time
they mentioned that one had to have the paper charts as back-up just in
case the power went.
So I would be surprised if in fact that they will discontinue the paper
considering it is a legal requirement to have paper charts on board in
the area that you cruise or you can prove detailed local knowledge!
http://www.chs-shc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pub...ducts/core.cfm
Peter

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
Hi,

A friend mentioned that she had heard the Can. Govt is discontinuing
paper charts. Is this true? Is there a way to print out a decent paper
chart from the CD?

Also: Anybody know if the CD version can be run on Linux somehow? Is it
a "standard" format or do you have to use the included software (which
presumably runs only on MS-Windows)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

I believe Canada Hydrographic Service has "licensed"
a private corporation to distribute chart information in a variety of
formats. The govt. is supposed to receive royalties from the sales of
paper or electronic chart data. So it is technically true that CANGOV
doesn't produce paper charts anymore.

Last I head, the private corporation had filed for bankruptcy, and the
government wasn't getting paid.

As for getting a decent printout from a CD, that is going to be
absolutely possible- depending on the format and resolution of the
information on the CD. Most printing today is CTP (computer to press).
The biggest hassle for most of us will be the 8.5 x 11" format of the
typical home or small office printer, It will take a lot taping and
fitting to create a paper chart covering any real area in some of the
smaller scales.

Somebody recently told me that he had been on the bridge of a container
ship and was shown the vessel's chart printing system. Rather than
carry a large inventory of paper charts, the container ship has
computer software than can generate charts for anywhere the ship is
headed. While maybe a couple of hundred miles west of SOJDF, the
navigator will run a program to print charts for the straits and for
the shipping routes into Vancouver or Seattle. As chart corrections are
required, the information can be downloaded to the program. The system
apparently meets any requirements that the ship carry printed charts,
without the hassle of maintaining a large chart locker.

As far as LInux, Windoze, etc.....can't help you there. :-)

There is a pretty decent website for Canada Hydrographic, but I don't
remember the exact address.
That may have more info for you.

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
Hi,

A friend mentioned that she had heard the Can. Govt is discontinuing
paper charts. Is this true? Is there a way to print out a decent paper
chart from the CD?

Also: Anybody know if the CD version can be run on Linux somehow? Is it
a "standard" format or do you have to use the included software (which
presumably runs only on MS-Windows)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36


One of my neighbours works for the Hydrographic Service. I'll ask her.

On 20 Jun 2005 14:05:37 -0700, wrote:

I believe Canada Hydrographic Service has "licensed"
a private corporation to distribute chart information in a variety of
formats. The govt. is supposed to receive royalties from the sales of
paper or electronic chart data. So it is technically true that CANGOV
doesn't produce paper charts anymore.

Nautical Data International (NDI) has a contract to distribute
_digital_ chart data for the Canadian Hydrographic Service. CHS still
prints and distributes paper charts and related publications, so far
as I know.

Last I head, the private corporation had filed for bankruptcy, and the
government wasn't getting paid.

Due to many complaints from users, CHS attempted to cancel their
contract with NDI - in defence, NDI is attempting to declare
bankruptcy, in order to delay or prevent the cancellation of the
contract.

As for getting a decent printout from a CD, that is going to be
absolutely possible- depending on the format and resolution of the
information on the CD. Most printing today is CTP (computer to press).
The biggest hassle for most of us will be the 8.5 x 11" format of the
typical home or small office printer, It will take a lot taping and
fitting to create a paper chart covering any real area in some of the
smaller scales.

I believe CHS has been (thinking about) experimenting with
"print-on-demand" charts, where the retailer won't actually stock
paper charts, but will have the equipment to print them on request.

There is a pretty decent website for Canada Hydrographic, but I don't
remember the exact address.
That may have more info for you.

http://www.charts.gc.ca/pub/


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:01:41 -0700, Peter Bennett wrote:

On 20 Jun 2005 14:05:37 -0700, wrote:

I believe Canada Hydrographic Service has "licensed"
a private corporation to distribute chart information in a variety of
formats. The govt. is supposed to receive royalties from the sales of
paper or electronic chart data. So it is technically true that CANGOV
doesn't produce paper charts anymore.

Nautical Data International (NDI) has a contract to distribute
_digital_ chart data for the Canadian Hydrographic Service. CHS still
prints and distributes paper charts and related publications, so far
as I know.
SNIP

Thanks for all the Great Info, guys!

I bit the bullet and bought the ($350!) CD with all charts from Victoria
to Cape Caution. I then "printed" them (Postscript to file), moved the
files to Linux, and converted to PDF. I now have PDF files of all the
relavent charts, so I can look at them with any computer.

Still need Offshore Navigator in Windows to see my little GPS-driven boat
on them, though. (I'm trying to get gpsdrive to work properly in Linux,
but not having much luck...)

So, I've been dragged, kicking and scratching, into the Digital World!
(But still have all my paper charts, Just In Case...)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36