Chart 5011 (INT 1)

Edition 2 - December 1998

SYMBOLS and ABBREVIATIONS

used on Admiralty Charts
CONTENTS
System of Correction inside cover
Introduction and Schematic Layout 2

GENERAL
IA Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes 4
IB Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass 6

TOPOGRAPHY
IC Natural Features 9
ID Cultural Features 12
IE Landmarks 14
IF Ports 16
IG Topographic Terms 19

HYDROGRAPHY
IH Tides, Currents 22
II Depths 25
IJ Nature of the Seabed 27
IK Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions 30
IL Offshore Installations 33
IM Tracks, Routes 35
IN Areas, Limits 38
IO Hydrographic Terms 41

AIDS AND SERVICES

IP Lights 43
IQ Buoys, Beacons 49
IR Fog Signals 55
IS Radar, Radio, Electronic Position-Fixing Systems 56
IT Services 58
IU Small Craft Facilities 60

ALPHABETICAL INDEXES
IV Index of Abbreviations:
Principal Foreign Terms 62
Principal English Terms 66
IW International Abbreviations 69
IX Index 71

Published at Taunton, United Kingdom under the Superintendence of Rear Admiral J. A. L. Myres, FRICS, Hydrographer of the Navy, 1991.
Edition 2 - December 1998 © Crown Copyright 1998. All rights reserved
INTRODUCTION
General Chart 5011 (INT 1) provides a reference to the many symbols and abbreviations found on British Admiralty and International
charts. Symbols not shown in Chart 5011 (INT 1) may be used on adopted or co-produced British Admiralty charts and will
be shown in a glossary on the relevant charts.

Layout This edition of Chart 5011 (INT 1) is based on the "Chart Specifications of the IHO (International Hydrographic
Organization)" adopted in 1982. Previous editions of 5011 followed a former IHO Standard List, a system still used by some
Hydrographic Offices: the letter assigned to each major group of symbols in this edition has been prefixed "I" to avoid
confusion during the transitional period.

Schematic Layout of Chart 5011 (INT 1)

Section,

Sect/on designation: The letter "I" means International.

Sub-section.

Cross-reference to terms in other sections.

Column 1: Numbering following the International "Chart Specifications of the IHO". A letter in this column, eg a, indicates a national
symbol for which there is no International equivalent.

Column 2: International (INT) symbol used on Admiralty charts.

Column 4: Other symbol or abbreviation used on Admiralty charts, if different from Column 2. The mark indicates that this
representation is obsolescent.

Column 5: Numbering following the "Chart Specifications of the IHO".

Numbering following the superseded IHO" Standard List of Symbols and Abbreviations".

The mark # in Columns 2, 3 and 4 indicates that this symbol will only be found on charts adopted into the Admiralty chart series.

Metric Charts Metric units are introduced on Admiralty charts as they are modernised (except for charts of the waters around the United
and States of America, where fathoms or feet continue to be used). Metric charts can be distinguished from fathoms charts by
Fathoms Charts their use of buff tint for land areas and the prominent marginal legends DEPTHS IN METRES.

Chart Datum On metric charts, the reference level for soundings is given under the chart title. On fathoms charts, the reference level for
soundings may be given under the title; if not, it can be deduced from the tidal information panel.

Depths The units used are given under the title of the chart. The position of a sounding is the centre of the area covered by the
figures.

On metric charts, depths from 0.1m to 20.9m are generally expressed in metres and decimetres. Where source information
is sufficiently precise, depths from 21m to 31m may be given in half-metres. All other depths are shown in whole metres.

On fathom charts, depths are generally expressed in fathoms and feet where less than 11 fms, and in fathoms elsewhere.
Where source information is sufficiently precise, depths between 11 and 15 fms may be given in fathoms and feet. Older
charts may show fractions of fathoms in shallow water, and a few large-scale charts show all depths in feet.

On adopted or co-produced charts these ranges may vary.

Drying heights Underlined figures on rocks and banks which uncover indicate heights above chart datum. They are given in metres and
decimetres or in feet as appropriate.
Heights Heights, including overhead clearances, are given in metres or in feet above Mean High Water Springs, Mean Higher High
Water or Mean Sea Level; details are given in the Explanatory Notes under the chart title. The position of a height is normally
that of the dot alongside it, thus -79. Parentheses are used when the figure expressing height is set apart from the object (eg
when showing the height of a small islet).

Bearings Bearings are given from seaward and refer to the true compass.

Sea Miles A sea mile is the length of one minute of latitude locally, and is the principal means of expressing distance on Admiralty
and Cables charts. A cable is one-tenth of a sea mile.

Names Names on Admiralty charts are spelt in accordance with the principles and systems approved by the Permanent Committee
on Geographical Names for British Official Use.
A second name may be given in parentheses in the following circumstances:
a. if the retention of a superseded rendering will facilitate cross-reference to related publications;
b. i f , in the case of a name that has changed radically, the retention of the former one will aid recognition;
c. if it is decided to retain an English conventional name in addition to the present official rendering.

Chart Catalogues Details of Admiralty charts are given in the "Catalogue of Admiralty Charts and Publications" (NP 131) and in the "Home
Waters Catalogue" (NP 109), both published annually.

The Mariner's The Mariner's Handbook (NP 100) includes notes on the following:
Handbook and the use of charts and the degree of reliance that may be placed on them; chart supply and correction; names; charted
other Publications navigational aids; navigational hazards; traffic separation schemes; offshore oil and gas operations; tides and currents;
general marine meteorology. A glossary of terms used on Admiralty charts is also given.
Information about features represented on charts can also be found in the following publications:
Admiralty Sailing Directions; Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals; Admiralty Tide Tables and Tidal Stream Atlases;
Admiralty List of Radio Signals; Annual Notices to Mariners.

Copyright Admiralty charts and publications (including this one) are protected by Crown Copyright. They are derived from Crown
Copyright information and from copyright information published by other organisations. They may not be reproduced in
any material form (including photocopying or storing by electronic means) without prior permission, which may be sought
by applying, in the first instance, to the Copyright Manager, The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Taunton, Somerset
TA1 2DN, UK.
IA Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes
Schematic Layout of an Admiralty INT chart (reduced in size)
 Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes IA

Chart number in the Admiralty series. Where it is necessary to distinguish Admiralty charts from others, it is usual to add the prefix 'BA' 251
(British Admiralty) to the number.

Identification of a latticed chart (if any). Charts for which Decca lattice-overprinted versions are available bear the letter 'L' in the lower 603
right-hand corner inside the outer border. The lattice prefix number is shown against the national number.

Chart number in the International (INT) Chart series. 251.1

Publication note (imprint) showing the date of publication as a New Chart. 252.1
252,4
4

Copyright note. All Admiralty charts are subject to Crown Copyright restrictions. 253

Dates of (a) New Editions and (b) Large Corrections (abandoned as a revision category in 1972). 252.2

Small corrections: (a) the year dates and numbers of Notices to Mariners and (b) the dates (usually bracketed) of minor corrections 252.3
included in reprints but not formally promulgated (abandoned as a method of correction in 1986).

Dimensions of the inner neat-lines of the chart border. In the case of charts on Transverse Mercator and Gnomonic projections, 222.3
dimensions may be quoted for all borders of the chart which differ. Fathoms charts show the dimensions in inches eg (38.40 x 25.40). 222.4

Corner co-ordinates. 232

Chart title. This should be quoted, in addition to the chart number, when ordering a chart. 241.3

Explanatory notes on chart content: to be read before using the chart. 242

Seals. Where an Admiralty chart is in the International Chart series, the seal of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is 241.1
241 2
shown in addition to the national seal. Reproductions of international charts of other nations (facsimile) have the seals of the original .
producer (left), publisher (centre) and the IHO (right). Reproductions of other charts have the seals of original producer (left) and
publisher (right); charts which are co-productions carry the seals of the nations involved in their production.

Scale of chart; on Mercator projection, at a stated latitude. 211

241.4

Linear scales on large-scale plan. 221

Linear border scales (metres). On smaller-scale charts, the latitude border should be used to measure Sea miles and Cables. 221.1

Cautionary notes (if any) on charted detail; to be read before using the chart. 242

Source Diagram (if any). If a Source Diagram is not shown, details of the sources used in the compilation of the chart are given in the 170-178
explanatory notes (see 11). The Source Diagram or notes should be studied carefully before using the chart in order to assess the
reliability of the data used.

Reference to a larger-scale chart or plan. 254

Reference to an adjoining chart of similar scale. 254

Instruction to refer to related Admiralty Publications. 243

Reference to the units used for depths measurement. The legend, 'DEPTHS IN FATHOMS',- is shown on certain more recent fathoms 241.5
charts where confusion might otherwise arise. 255.2

Conversion scales. To allow approximate conversions between metric and fathoms and feet units. On older charts, conversion tables 280
are given instead.

Copyright Notice
IB Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass
Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass IB
IB Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass
Natural Features IC
IC Natural Features
Natural Features IC
ID Cultural Features
Cultural Features ID
IE Landmarks
Landmarks IE
IF Ports
Ports IF
IF Ports
Topographic Terms IG
IG Topographic Terms
Topographic Terms IG
IH Tides, Currents
Tides, Currents IH
IH Tides, Currents
Depths II
II Depths
Nature of the Seabed IJ
IJ Nature of the Seabed
Nature of the Seabed IJ
IK Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions
Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions IK
IK Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions
Offshore Installations IL
IL Offshore Installations
Tracks, Routes IM
IM Tracks, Routes
Tracks, Routes IM
IN Areas, Limits
Areas, Limits IN
IN Areas, Limits
Hydrographic Terms IO
IO Hydrographic Terms
Lights IF
IP Lights
Lights IP
IP Lights
Lights IP
IP Lights
Buoys, Beacons IQ
IQ Buoys, Beacons
Buoys, Beacons IQ
IQ Buoys, Beacons
Buoys, Beacons IQ
IQ Buoys, Beacons
Fog Signals IR
IS Radar, Radio, Electronic Position-Fixing Systems
Radar, Radio, Electronic Position-Fixing Systems IS
IT Services
Services IT
IU Small Craft Facilities
Small Craft Facilities IU
 IV Abbreviations of Principal Foreign Terms
Glossaries of foreign terms will be found in the volumes of Admiralty Sailing Directions.
On metric Admiralty charts, foreign terms are generally given in full wherever space and information permits. Where abbreviations are used on
metric charts they accord with the following list, apart from those on charts published before 1980 where full stops are omitted. Obsolescent forms
of abbreviations may also be found on these charts.
Abbreviations of Principal Foreign Terms IV
IV Abbreviations of Principal Foreign Terms
Abbreviations of Principal Foreign Terms IV
IV Abbreviations of Principal English Terms
Abbreviations of Principal English Terms IV
IV Abbreviations of Principal English Terms
International Abbreviations IW
IW International Abbreviations
 Index IX
See also Section IV for Abbreviations of principal English and Foreign terms, and Section IW for International Abbreviations.
IX Index
Index IX
IX Index
Index IX
 CONTENTS
Selection of Symbols

GENERAL

TOPOGRAPHY

HYDROGRAPHY

AIDS AND
SERVICES

ALPHABETICAL
INDEXES