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Seafarer RNC
(Raster Navigational Chart)

Seafarer RNC

What is Seafarer RNC?

Seafarer RNC, (Raster Nautical Chart) is an award-winning product from the Australian Hydrographic Service (AHS), consisting of digital facsimiles of official Navy charts on CD ROM in Hydrographic Chart Raster Format (HCRF). It provides faithful and reliable high quality images designed to aid and improve navigation. You can perform all the traditional navigational functions such as bearing and distance calculation, way-point insertion and route planning. Most authorised systems will allow a link to GPS to show real time vessel position.

 

Official Status of Seafarer RNC

Seafarer RNC satisfies Chapter V of the SOLAS Convention as amended in 2002 and promulgated for Australia under AMSA Marine Orders Part 21, Order 6 of 2003, which details carriage requirements for nautical charts and publications necessary for the intended voyage.

Seafarer RNC is also approved for use in ECDIS systems under the Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) dual-fuelling concept.

 

How is Seafarer RNC updated?

For mariners who wish to update their charts regularly we provide a Monthly Update Service. Mariners requiring less frequent updates can apply for Periodical Update as needed. You can of course choose not to update your charts but the longer the timeframe between updating the higher the cost.

 

What do I need to run Seafarer RNC?

You will need a viewing system produced by a Licensed System Manufacturer, your own Pentium PC and a set of Seafarer RNC charts supplied by the AHS.

Note: The AHS produces a low cost desktop viewing application called Seafarer Viewer that can display Seafarer RNCs and a number of other electronic chart formats.  Seafarer Viewer is useful to those who wish to view electronic charts but not use them for navigation. 

Where can I obtain navigation software and charts?

Seafarer RNC is available from our network of Seafarer Product Distributors. The Distributor can provide you with a navigation system and assist you in the selection of charts on the Seafarer RNC Application Form. This form will be faxed to the AHS where your order will be processed and your chart data and permits will be forwarded to your preferred delivery address.

 

What Chart Pack do I Need?

You choose the pack that covers your area of interest. You can purchase a single chart or a day pack that will cover an area of local interest, a regional pack that will cover a broader area of the coast or an Australian pack which includes all Australian navigation charts.

 

What is the cost of Seafarer RNC?

The cost of navigation software from a licensed system manufacturer, will vary depending on what system you decide to buy. The cost of the Seafarer RNCs will vary depending on what pack you purchase, recommended retail prices are in the Pricing Section of our website.

 

What else do I need to know about Seafarer RNC (FAQ)?

Q. Can I link Seafarer RNC to GPS?

A. A GPS link will be a function of all navigation software developed by Licensed System Manufacturers. You will require a cable to connect to the 9-pin serial port on your computer.

Q. Can I update Seafarer RNC?

A. Yes Seafarer RNC is fully updateable. If you subscribe to the monthly update service you will receive an update CD every month. Your system will perform all the update procedures for you by overlaying update tiles onto the affected areas of your charts. You may also apply for a periodical update at any time. As Seafarer RNC Update CDs contain all previous updates, the cost of your periodical update will depend on the period since your last update.

Q. What if I purchase Seafarer RNC without updates then, say 3 years later simply purchase a monthly update service at the update price?

A. The User will be required to bring the chart packs up to date via the periodical update service first, then pay for a monthly service.

Q. Does Seafarer RNC show the location of reefs and wrecks?

A. Seafarer RNC will show exactly the same information as a paper chart. Any reef of other feature that poses a threat to safe navigation will be shown on the chart. Deeper reefs and pinnacles that fisherman look for do not necessarily pose a threat to shipping would not be shown on a navigation chart.

Q. What areas do the charts cover?

A. The complete Australian navigation chart series is now available as Seafarer RNCs.

Q. Can you zoom into the charts?

A. Seafarer RNC comes with a high resolution and low resolution display. You can zoom into the charts but you will lose resolution on the image. This is due to the fact that the chart is a Raster scan not a Vector product; the raster image is made of a discrete number of pixels (dots) that do not change in number regardless of the zoom level.  When zooming in the pixels will just appear larger.

Q. Can I print the chart from the CD?

A. Windows™ will allow you to do a screen print of the current screen image to another application within the office environment. This can then be printed on a normal printer or plotter. Some software packages may have a print facility to print A4 portions of the chart but not the entire chart.

Q. Can the data be backed up?

A. The User may make a backup of the chart permits only. It is recommended that users keep a backup of their permit disk as lost or corrupted permits incur an administration fee to replace.

Q. How can I run 2 CD's on my computer?

A. Provided you have enough disk space, approx 800 mb, the chart and/or update CD can be downloaded onto a hard disk. This method of accessing Seafarer is recommended for its speed advantages.

Q. Can I load Seafarer RNC onto a number of computers?

A. Seafarer RNC can be loaded onto any number of computers, however it can only be accessed via the security dongle which comes with a navigation software package.  Seafarer RNC will only run on the computer which has the security dongle attached.

® Seafarer is a registered trademark of the Commonwealth of Australia

 

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Last Updated: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 8:49 AM
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