Electronic navigational chart

Real-world objects and areas of navigational significance, or to a lesser degree - informational significance, are portrayed through Raster facsimiles of traditional paper charts; or more commonly through vector images, which are able to scale their relative position and size to meet a Mariner's Selected Viewing Scale (MSVS) displayed through an ECDIS.

[3] All Navigational charts must meet the requirements set out in the SOLAS (Safety of Lives at Sea) Convention.

RENCs independently check each ENC submitted by the contributing countries to ensure that they conform to the relevant IHO standards.

While there are variations and different specifications within ENC charts, they generally serve similar purposes across different regions and organizations.

SENCs are used for navigation on vessels equipped with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).

They may include localized navigation aids, safety information, and specific hydrographic data relevant to the region.

They may include additional information relevant to the designated route, such as traffic separation schemes or recommended tracks.

These categories help classify different types of ENC charts based on their intended use, geographic coverage, and the specific information they provide to support safe navigation.

Other sensors which could interface with an ECDIS are radar, Navtex, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and depth sounders.

[15] In the future, the ENC will be part of a product specification family which is based on the "IHO Universal Hydrographic Data Model", known as S-100.

[16] The new ENC standards include greater data layers allowing for enhanced navigation formats, such as S-129 on Under Keel Clearance Management (UCKM).