On 1 April, the Danish Geodata Agency will switch to a new Print on Demand (POD) solution for nautical charts, which will ensure that users can only acquire corrected and updated paper charts. This transition aims to provide users with the best possible navigation base, thus supporting safety at sea by making sure correct nautical charts are always at hand.
Changes and benefits for users
The POD solution entails several significant changes and benefits for users. With POD, it is still possible for the user to order charts online, however now the charts will only be printed once the order is placed. This means that newly purchased charts will always contain the latest corrections and thus users will not have to add corrections manually. However, each correction has a processing period of up to 14 days before its incorporation into the chart can be expected.
POD ensures that the charts are always up to date at the time of purchase. However, it also means that it will no longer be possible for resellers to have physical nautical charts in stock and sell them directly from the shelves.
If the user still wants to add chart corrections manually, these can easily be found on www.gst.dk. The previously weekly publication of nautical chart corrections will also change on 1 April to continuous updates per chart on www.gst.dk. Read more in the article here. In the case of major changes, such as changes to port facilities or updates regarding depth data, a new version of the chart will be released as before, replacing the old version.
What does this mean for users?
- Order online: Users can order updated charts via online solutions provided by resellers.
- Always updated charts: The charts are updated continuously and printed only when an order is placed. No old charts are kept in stock.
- Reduced need for manual corrections: Users can expect charts to be updated no later than 14 days after a correction has been published, thus avoiding the need to make manual corrections with a pencil or pen.
- New editions with major changes: In the event of significant changes, such as changes to port facilities or updates regarding depth data, a new version of the chart will be issued to replace previous versions.
- Easy access to nautical chart corrections: Corrections to nautical charts can be accessed digitally via www.gst.dk. Here, users can see which corrections a chart has been updated for, and they can also find information about any recent corrections that should be added to physical charts.
The new Print on Demand (POD) solution will take effect in April 2025, ensuring a more flexible approach to printed nautical charts for all users.