Electronic
Chart Background Guide--
Charts for Computers and Computer Navigation Systems
Passport vector charts are licensed by Nobeltec/Nautical Software for use with Visual Navigation software products. They are produced by Transas Dataco, a Russian cartography company that also produces vector charts for commercial shipping.
The following marine navigation software packages support Passport vector charts:
Each Passport chart is a digital representation of a paper chart that contains most of the features of its paper "parent"--depth contours, navigation marks, ocean features, and more. U. S. charts are made from NOAA paper charts; many international charts are made from British Admiralty chart originals, the preferred chart of professional mariners, as well as other government and private sources. Because they are produced under license from copyrighted paper charts, they may be more expensive than their raster counterparts. Many licensing agreements also require that users purchase and install a hardware copy protection device--a dongle--to access their charts.
All Passport charts are included in the Nobeltec Visual products' installation CD-ROM. To access a particular chart region, you simply purchase an unlocking code--instead of a new CD. This works particularly well for long-term cruisers, as they can purchase charts electronically, rather than needing shipment of media.
Passport U. S. chart versions 7 and greater also contain street map data for as far as 50 miles inland; this function can be accessed by Visual Series software version 6.0 and greater. Passport Deluxe packages also include 3-D bathymetric charts, Topo maps, aerial photos, and expanded pilot data.
Sample Passport
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