Nautical paper maps sail into sunset in digital switch

Maritime charts go online only from 2026, amid fears it may cause choppy waters for less tech-savvy sailors

‘It will be sad because they are big and you can get a greater impression of the area rather than looking at a seven-inch screen’

SINCE the first maritime maps were printed by the Admiralty 222 years ago, they have been a mainstay of navigation.

But all that is coming to an end in the digital age. The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) revealed yesterday that from 2026, its roughly 3,500 charts, used by 90 per cent of ships trading internationally, will be available only digitally amid a decline in demand.

Currently, the UKHO, which is the primary charting agency for 63 coastal states and territories, produces a range of Admiralty Standard Nautical Charts.

These include large-scale charts, which typically depict the approaches to harbours and ports, medium-scale charts, covering frequently used coastal areas, and small-scale charts, for use in more open seas.

Two centuries after hydrographer Alexander Dalrymple’s charts were first produced from copper plates in 1800, the blue and yellow maps represent the global standard for nautical navigation, from naval tankers to pleasure yachts.

One sailing instructor said the digital move was “no surprise” but “quite sad”, and might disadvantage older leisure sailors who are less tech-savvy.

Melvyn Wallhead, a yachtmaster and instructor at Northumbria Sailing, said: “In a way it will be sad because they are big and you can get a greater impression of the area rather than looking at a seven-inch screen.

“Older people might find it a little bit more difficult.”

The UKHO said the move was prompted by a “rapid decline” in demand for paper charts, with more sailors using electronic devices.

However, many sailors currently use non-official navigation systems, which warn they are not a replacement for government-produced charts.

One popular brand, Geonav, displays the automatic warning: “The electronic chart is an aid to navigation designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not to replace them.”

The switch to digital charts raises the prospect of future mariners having no paper backup to rely on in the event their electronic navigation systems fail.

Baroness Goldie, minister of state at the Ministry of Defence, said: “The decision to focus on digital products and services makes strategic and commercial sense, helping usher in a new era of maritime navigation, which will be powered by digital innovations.”