Collection: ELECTRONIC Aussie Navigation Charts (AusENC)

Australian Paper & Electronic Navigation Chart (ENC) Index HERE 

• **AusENCs will run on OpenCPN which is a free program.  You will have to purchase an S.63 User Permit for approx $20 AUD** You can purchase an S.63 User Permit by clicking HERE

To find a program that is compatible with AusENCs, CLICK HERE  or to download OpenCPN CLICK HERE

If you are looking for PAPER Navigation Charts please click HERE

If you place an order for an AusENC pack, please download this form, fill it in and email it to shop@thenavigationcentre.com.au so that your permit can be processed.

AusENC is a local, official vector Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) service tailored to meet Australian, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands domestic operations. It provides coverage of:

• Australian, Australian Antarctic Territory and Papua New Guinea waters published by the AHO as 'AU' cells
• Papua New Guinea waters published by the AHO as ‘PG’ cells
• Solomon Islands waters published by the AHO as 'SB' cells
• North Island New Zealand and South Island New Zealand waters published by Land Information New Zealand as ‘NZ’ cells

AusENC are encrypted using the IHO S-63 data protection scheme. They can be used in IMO compatible Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), or in smaller and simpler compatible Electronic Chart Systems (ECS) which can decrypt IHO S-63 data.

ENC deliver additional functionality over paper or raster charts when used in an ECDIS or suitable ECS such as:

• Enabling vessels to navigate using real-time GPS positions displayed on the ENC,
• Enabling the ECDIS / ECS to respond to a safety depth contour based on a vessel’s actual draft,
• Look-ahead functions which enable dangers or hazards to be identified automatically and warnings raised,
• Provision of alerts and prompts for planned course alterations.
• The ability to customise the display and level of content to suit the vessel, conditions and time of day.

ENC published by the AHO are arranged in a grid-based system of ‘cells’, of 1, 10 or 30 degree height and width. ENC covering ports have customised coverage. ENC are generally at larger scale and have greater detail than the equivalent paper chart coverage. The AusENC service includes fortnightly updates.

PURCHASE / DOWNLOAD

The AusENC service uses a combination of ‘subscriptions’ and ‘permits’. A subscription tells the AHO which ENC a mariner wants, and for how long, while a permit ensures that the correct edition of each subscribed ENC can be opened and used. All other ENC services used for navigation use the same subscription and permit system.

AusENC is sold as subscriptions to ENC grouped in packs with different coverage and extent. This ensures that a mariner has all the relevant ENC for an area, and avoids the risk of missing one if selected individually. If a larger area of coverage is required, buying a larger pack is cheaper than subscribing to multiple smaller packs. A complete list of available packs and their ENC cell contents can be obtained from the AusENC Pack Index.

AusENC pack subscriptions may be purchased commercially through AusENC Distribution Agents such as The Navigation Centre.

When ordering an AusENC subscription it is essential to supply an ‘S-63 User Permit’ for the IHO S-63 compatible viewing system to be used. These can be obtained from the system manufacturer or supplier.  Additionally, a working email address is required in order to receive AusENC cell permits and other service notifications.

When orders are processed, permits and instructions on how to install and use the AusENC service will be sent by email, normally within two working days.

On receipt of the permits, the latest AusENC base dataset (January or July as appropriate) and update dataset can be downloaded from the Product Downloads page. 

Once AusENC permits and AusENC data are installed on the viewing system, the AusENC service will be ready to use. Updates should be downloaded and applied regularly – using the ‘Cumulative Update’ option ensures they are applied in the correct order, particularly if an individual update is missed.

Detailed information about AusENC is available in the AusENC fact sheets.

UPDATES

AusENC should be updated regularly to ensure they remain safe to use and continue to meet any applicable chart carriage requirements throughout the subscription period.

The ‘Standard’ AusENC service includes fortnightly updates available for mariners to download within the subscription price, along with any new permits via email for new editions of subscribed ENC. This is the preferred method, as mariners can receive their updates as soon as they are released. 

AusENC updates are released fortnightly. Each will be identified as Week 2, 4, 6 etc. Updates include:

• Permanent, Temporary and Preliminary Notices for changes to charted information significant to navigation such as changes to:
  • New hydrographic surveys, including dredged and other charted depths,
  • Port infrastructure including new port developments,
  • Navigational marks and lights,
  • New reported dangers to surface navigation such as shoals, wrecks and other obstructions,
  • Pilotage, anchorage and restricted areas.
• New editions of existing ENC already included in each subscribed pack.
• New ENC released within an area covered by a subscribed pack.

AusENC Updates can be downloaded from the Product Downloads page. Replacement AusENC cell permits will be sent by email when new cells and new editions of cells are released for subscribed packs.

Detailed information is available in the AusENC fact sheets.

The AusENC’s are sold in packs. You can have Australia Packs, Voyager Packs, Coastal Pack and Port Packs. AusENC packs

The Australia Pack and Voyager Packs can be subscribed to for different time periods (12, 9, 6 or 3 months) all other packs are on a 12 month subscription. A subscriptions comes with a fortnightly update service.