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St. John's, NL, Canada,
August 2003--The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is pleased to announce a significant increase in the number of Admiralty Charts that are available as part of the highly popular ARCS series. ARCS (Admiralty Raster Chart Service) charts are digital copies of the globally-renowned Admiralty paper charts and are presented, along with weekly updates, on CD-Rom.
As a result of positive long-term negotiations between the UKHO and Nautical Data International, Inc. (NDI) of Canada, ARCS charts now offer significantly extended coverage in Canadian waters. Mohammad Al Zaibak, Chief Executive Officer of NDI, sees the collaboration as a positive venture that will have many advantages for ARCS users.
“The close working relationship between NDI and the UKHO throughout the project has meant that we have been able to produce a world-leading series of digital charts that provide crucial features associated with real-time navigation”; he says.
The UKHO is midway through issuing new charts in Canadian waters in conjunction with NDI and the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), with 54 new ARCS charts launched immediately and a further 40 to be released as new charts become available.
Notes for Editors:
1. The UKHO is one of the world’s premier suppliers of navigational paper charts and publications, with a folio of over 3,300 charts and 220 publications, sold under the Admiralty brand.
2. Digital products are becoming increasingly important to the mariner. The UKHO currently provides near world wide coverage with electronic charts via its Admiralty ARCS and ENC services, and global coverage of digital tidal and lights information through TotalTide and the Admiralty Digital List of Lights.
3. Nautical Data International, Inc. (NDI) is the sole worldwide distributor of the official Canadian electronic navigation charts and other digital nautical information under a multi-year agreement with the Government of Canada. NDI, a private Canadian company based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, distributes its CHS’ certified data products under the brand DigitalOcean® for the recreational boating, recreational and commercial fishing, and commercial shipping navigation purposes as well as for other non-navigation applications. DigitalOcean® is a registered trademark of NDI. For more information visit www.digitalocean.ca
4. Through the foresight of the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and in partnership with the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), NDI has successfully developed a comprehensive digital portfolio comprised of thousands of nautical charts and other marine information (including 325 S-57 ENC’s and 660 Raster BSB charts) covering navigable Canadian waters and coastal zones.
5. The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is mandated to collect, compile, publish, and distribute hydrographic charts and related nautical publications to facilitate safe and efficient navigation throughout Canadian and adjacent international navigable waters.
Further Information:
Katie Jones
UKHO, Admiralty Way
Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN
Tel + 44 (0)1823 337900 ext 3706
Fax + 44 (0)1823 351945
E mail: katie.jones@ukho.gov.uk
Greg Mercer
Nautical Data International, Inc.
100 New Gower Suite 800, St. John’s, NL
A1C 2C3 Canada
Tel + 1 (709) 576 0634
Fax + 1(709) 576 0636
E mail : gmercer@digitalocean.ca
Michel Poulin
Director, Planning,Marketing & Applied 615 Booth Street
Research Ottawa, ON
Canadian Hydrographic Service KIA 0E6 Canada
Tel + 1 (613) 995-4405
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