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2.1 Chart Datum-1

Details of chart datum .

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arya parida
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88 views

2.1 Chart Datum-1

Details of chart datum .

Uploaded by

arya parida
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit & Reference Datum of Height & Depths

• Uniform datums wrt which the height & depths are indicated on the chart may
be found under the title of the chart. On BA charts the depths indicated are
usually below one of the lowest of tide levels & is normally Lowest
Astronomical Tide (LAT). In non tidal waters such as Baltic, chart datum is
usually Mean Sea Level. Heights indicated are normally above Mean High
Water Springs (MHWS).
• Because of above datums the measured depths or heights at any given time
should be normally more than charted depths & heights respectively.
• On a metric chart heights & depths are given in meters. Shallow depths are
indicated in meters & decimeters.
• On a fathom chart depths are given in fathoms. Heights are given in feet.
Shallow depths are given in fathoms and feet.
Chart Datum
• Soundings on the chart are the depths below the chart datum. CHART DATUM
being an imaginary datum, beyond which the sea level rarely falls. In modern
practice, the datum is established at or near the Lowest Astronomical Tide
(LAT).
• Chart Datum : Is the level to which Admiralty tide heights & charted soundings
are referred to. Is normally the lowest astronomical tide.
• Chart datum is also the level above which tidal levels and predictions are given
in Admiralty Tide Tables. This datum is also used on the charts for giving
“drying heights” of features which are periodically covered and uncovered by
the tide.
Depth Contours
The soundings in the chart
are very useful to a
Navigator but if these
soundings on the chart are
shown very closely, the
chart will become
confusing and
impracticable. Hence all
areas, having certain
selected soundings are
shown as shown opposite.
Heights
• All charted heights, unless otherwise stated are given in metres or feet above
Mean High Water Spring (MHWS) or in places where there is no tide, the
charted heights are above Mean Sea Level (MSL).
• Thus the actual height of the object will be more than the charted height by
the amount the tide has fallen below MHWS (Mean High Water Springs).
Nature of sea bottom
• Under certain soundings, the nature of sea bottom is also indicated e.g,
soM(Soft mud), Co (Coral), Sh (Shells) Sn (Shingles).
• This information is very useful when anchoring a ship.
• The nature of bottom also becomes helpful in estimating the ship’s position,
when worked alongwith the sounding.
Unit & Reference Datum of Height & Depths

• In nautical charts soundings and drying heights are measured from Chart
Datum (CD)
• Chart Datum is the lowest astronomical tide (LAT) meaning the lowest level to
which the tide is expected to fall. All that is shown on the chart is measured
below CD & all drying heights are measured above it.
• Non-drying heights e.g, a light house are always measured above MHWS
(Mean High Water Springs) and not CD as an added safety margin. Height of
Tide (HOT) is measured above CD.
Total depth at any place - Tides
• Periodic rise and fall of the tide increases and decreases the depth of water
throughout the day at any one place. The soundings printed on the navigational
charts, cannot ,therefore, represent the actual depths of water at any given
time.
• The chart soundings are depths below a selected level of the sea called “Chart
Datum” which is generally the lowest level to which the tide falls viz., Lowest
Astronomical Tide (L.A.T.).
• Thus the actual depth of water at any place at any given time is the sum of the
charted depth plus the height of tide at that time.
• Total depth at any place = Charted depth + height of tide at that place

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