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The Norwegian Pilot – Consolidating nautical information

Having a single source for all necessary information makes navigation at sea easier and more efficient. For this reason, the Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) and the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) are collaborating to further develop the nautical publication, The Norwegian Pilot.

- Our long-term goal is for The Norwegian Pilot to be a reliable and user-friendly source of nautical information that supports professional users in planning safe voyages, says product owner Bente Berggraf at the Hydrographic Service at Kartverket

A one stop shop

In the planning stage of a voyage, navigators must consult several different tools and services to prepare a sailing plan ready for approval. This process is often time-consuming and complicated. By utilizing the geographic infrastructure and standardized authoritative data, all the necessary information can be gathered in one service. This way, navigators will no longer need to switch between different services.

The project has a user-centric approach, to ensure that the resulting service effectively addresses the needs of navigators. Kystverket and Kartverket will conduct extensive user interviews and testing throughout the development and data collection phases.

– The new Norwegian Pilot will be a service for navigators but also a consolidated data delivery to the industry, for commercial services to benefit from. The joint development of The Norwegian Pilot also allows both agencies to phase out separate solutions that do not communicate with each other, says Berggraf.

Digitization of Nautical Publications

Both Kartverket and Kystverket are responsibile for offering nautical information in new digital formats as the IMO (International Maritime Organization) framework for development and digitization is implemented in the coming years.

Several nautical publications are transitioning to digital formats. This means that port data, navigational information, reference routes, and sailing regulations will be shared with users in new international formats for use in navigators' planning tools. A key part of the new collaboration on The Norwegian Pilot is digitizing important information so it can be used in voyage planning equipment on vessels that adhere to upcoming SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) standards. This ensures that the same digital information is used in onboard equipment, Kystverket's maritime traffic control centers, and port systems. The information will contribute to safe navigation and efficient, sustainable maritime transport.

– New international standards for nautical information will largely be in place by 2025. Then it will be up to us at Kystverket and Kartverket to deliver all the important information we have today, says project leader John Morten Klingsheim from Kystverket.

Launching in 2025

The Norwegian Pilot is an addition to nautical charts and contains descriptions of shipping lanes, information about the waters, ports, docking areas, anchorages, and reference routes. The project will run over several years, with the first launch planned for 2025.

Facts

The Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) is Norway's hydrographic service and is responsible authority for the pilot book The Norwegian Pilot.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) is the authority responsible for safe, efficient, and sustainable maritime traffic.

As a result, Kartverket and Kystverket have entered into a closer collaboration to further develop the pilot book The Norwegian Pilot."

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