World Navigation Resources

Organized by region, with MLA-style citations and live URLs.

Last updated: 13 December 2025

This is a curated, current replacement for a legacy list of world navigation resources. For government publications (e.g., NGA Sailing Directions, List of Lights), editions and update cadences change; use the linked official publication portals to download the latest version and corrections.

Global resources

Core references

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The American Practical Navigator (Bowditch). 2024 ed., Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/APN. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coast Survey. “U.S. Chart No. 1 (Chart Symbols).” NOAA Nautical Charts, https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/us-chart-1.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. United States Coast Guard Navigation Center. Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook. United States Coast Guard, https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/navRules/navrules.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  4. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. International Code of Signals. Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/ICOS. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  5. United States Naval Observatory (USNO), Astronomical Applications Department. “World Time Zone Map.” USNO, https://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/world_tzones. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  6. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Radar Navigation and Maneuvering Board Manual. Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/RNMB. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Voyage planning (winds/currents, ports, distances)

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Atlas of Pilot Charts (Pub. 105–109).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/APC. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Planning Guides).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDPGuides. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Enroute).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDEnroute. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  4. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “List of Lights.” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/NGALOL. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  5. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “World Port Index (WPI) (Pub. 150).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/WPI. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  6. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Distances Between Ports (Pub. 151).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/DBP. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  7. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coast Survey. Distances Between United States Ports. NOAA, https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/distances.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Corrections, warnings, and weather

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Notice to Mariners.” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/NTM. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. International Hydrographic Organization. “Navigation Warnings on the Web.” IHO, https://iho.int/navigation-warnings-on-the-web. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. World Meteorological Organization. “Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service (WWMIWS).” WMO, https://wwmiws.wmo.int/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  4. National Hurricane Center. Guide to Marine Meteorological Services. NOAA, https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/global-marine-weather-services-guide.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  5. International Hydrographic Organization. “Standards and Specifications.” IHO, https://iho.int/en/standards-and-specifications. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

North Atlantic and Europe

Official sailing directions and pilots

  1. United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. “ADMIRALTY Sailing Directions.” ADMIRALTY, https://www.admiralty.co.uk/publications/publications-and-reference-guides/admiralty-sailing-directions. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. “Notices to Mariners—Weekly.” ADMIRALTY Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.admiralty.co.uk/NoticesToMariners/Weekly. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. Kartverket (Norwegian Mapping Authority). “Den norske los.” Kartverket, https://www.kartverket.no/en/at-sea/se-havniva/den-norske-los. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  4. Kartverket (Norwegian Mapping Authority). “Nautical publications.” Kartverket, https://www.kartverket.no/en/at-sea/charts-nautical-publications/nautical-publications. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  5. Kartverket (Norwegian Mapping Authority). Symbols and Abbreviations Used on Norwegian Charts. PDF, https://www.kartverket.no/globalassets/kart/sjokart/nautiske-publikasjoner/symboler-og-forkortelser-pa-norske-sjokart.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Tides, currents, and VHF procedures (Norway)

  1. Kartverket (Norwegian Mapping Authority). “SeHavniva—Tides, water levels and weather.” Kartverket, https://www.kartverket.no/en/at-sea/se-havniva. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. Kystverket (Norwegian Coastal Administration). “VHF channel plan and NAVTEX broadcasts.” Kystverket, https://www.kystverket.no/en/services-and-services/vhf-and-radio/vhf-channel-plan-and-navtex-broadcasts/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. Kystverket (Norwegian Coastal Administration). “VHF channel plan (PDF).” Kystverket, https://www.kystverket.no/globalassets/vhf-kanalplan_2025-1.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

NGA publication sets relevant to this region

The following NGA publication numbers appeared in the legacy list; use the official NGA portals above to download the current edition for each volume: List of Lights (Pub. 114–115) and Sailing Directions (Enroute) (Pubs. 131–132, 141–143, 181–183, 191–195).

The Americas

United States official sailing directions

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coast Survey. “United States Coast Pilot.” NOAA Nautical Charts, https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/index.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Nautical Publications.” Marine Navigation, https://marinenavigation.noaa.gov/nautical-publications.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. United States Coast Guard Navigation Center. “Maritime Safety Information Products.” Navigation Center, https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/msi. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Canada

  1. Canadian Hydrographic Service. “Canadian Sailing Directions.” CHS, https://charts.gc.ca/publications/sailingdirections-instructionsnautiques-eng.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. Canadian Hydrographic Service. “Nautical publications.” CHS, https://charts.gc.ca/publications/index-eng.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. Canadian Coast Guard. “e-Navigation Portal.” Canada.ca, https://e-navigation.canada.ca/index-en. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

NGA publication sets relevant to this region

NGA publication numbers from the legacy list that primarily cover the Americas include: Sailing Directions (Enroute) (Pubs. 124–125, 145–148, 153–154) and the regional Planning Guide Pub. 140 (North Atlantic Ocean and Adjacent Seas).

Africa and South Atlantic

NGA planning and coastal approach information

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Enroute).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDEnroute. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Planning Guides).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDPGuides. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

NGA publication sets relevant to this region

NGA publication numbers from the legacy list that primarily cover Africa and the South Atlantic include: Sailing Directions (Enroute) (Pub. 123; Pub. 171) and Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) (Pub. 160).

Indian Ocean and Middle East

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Planning Guides).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDPGuides. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Enroute).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDEnroute. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. International Hydrographic Organization. “Navigation Warnings on the Web.” IHO, https://iho.int/navigation-warnings-on-the-web. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  4. World Meteorological Organization. “Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service (WWMIWS).” WMO, https://wwmiws.wmo.int/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

NGA publication numbers from the legacy list that primarily cover this region include: Sailing Directions (Enroute) (Pubs. 172–174, 173) and Planning Guide Pub. 160.

Asia and the Pacific

Official hydrographic offices (supplement NGA as needed)

  1. Australian Hydrographic Office. “Australian Hydrographic Office.” hydro.gov.au, https://www.hydro.gov.au/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. Australian Hydrographic Office. “Australian Notices to Mariners.” hydro.gov.au, https://www.hydro.gov.au/n2m/notices.htm. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. “New Zealand Nautical Almanac.” LINZ, https://www.linz.govt.nz/products-services/maritime-safety/new-zealand-nautical-almanac. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

NGA publication sets relevant to this region

NGA publication numbers from the legacy list that primarily cover Asia and the Pacific include: Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) (Pub. 120) and Sailing Directions (Enroute) (Pubs. 126–127, 155, 157–164, 175).

Ocean-route climatology

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Atlas of Pilot Charts (Pub. 105–109).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/APC. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Arctic and Antarctica

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Planning Guides).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDPGuides. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Sailing Directions (Enroute).” Maritime Safety Information, https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/SDEnroute. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  3. International Hydrographic Organization. “Navigation Warnings on the Web.” IHO, https://iho.int/navigation-warnings-on-the-web. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

NGA publication numbers from the legacy list that primarily cover polar regions include: Sailing Directions (Enroute) (Pubs. 181–183) and Planning Guides Pub. 180 (Arctic) and Pub. 200 (Antarctica).

Inland waterways

Europe

  1. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. European Code for Inland Waterways (CEVNI). UNECE, https://unece.org/transport/publications/european-code-inland-waterways-cevni. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
  2. European Committee for Drawing up Standards in the Field of Inland Navigation (CESNI). “River Information Services (RIS) Standards.” CESNI, https://ris.cesni.eu/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Legacy list mapping

The legacy file contained many navigation staples, but most NGA Sailing Directions and planning guides were cited as 2013–2015 editions, and the tide tables referenced an older 2019 annual volume. In practice, you will get a “current” library by anchoring your workflow on the official publication portals (NGA MSI, NOAA Coast Survey, national hydrographic offices), plus the official warning and notice feeds.

Key replacements