The future of paper charts and a back up plan for GNSS, Vivien P Godfrey

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Over the past three decades the use of paper charts has declined and the use of Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs) and other forms of digital charts has grown. The International Maritime Organization(IMO) sets the rules that govern which vessels may use ENCs instead of paper charts when using a type approved Electronic Chart Display System (ECDIS).

About 5 years ago the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced that paper charts that they create would be discontinued by 2026. This announcement caused widespread concern in the maritime community. The main reason being that there are many commercial vessels in UK waters who do not have the bridge space nor can afford to fit a type approved ECDIS. Within 18 months the UKHO reversed their decision to discontinue paper charts.

Since this time another very significant reason for retaining paper charts has emerged. This is the growth in denial of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) of which the best known is the US Global Positioning System (GPS). The denial of GNSS to vessels is becoming more common and mariners must be concerned that they may not be confident of their location.

Thus the global maritime community is moving towards requiring vessels to have a back up to the digital navigation systems.

Vivien P Godfrey, giving this talk, will briefly speak about how things have evolved to 2026 and spend more time on explaining how the UKHO is responding with a new way to quickly create paper charts from ENC data and how the Korean Digital Sextant might be the new back up to GNSS.

Vivien is Chairman and CEO of the Edward Stanford Group (Stanfords) a retailer and wholesaler of travel books, maps, globes and other travel related products and services located in London, UK. Stanfords also operates Bookharbour a retail and wholesale business in the leisure maritime industry located in Southampton, UK. She has focused full time on this UK role since 2024. Stanfords founded in 1853 remains an independent family owned business which employs 40 staff across 4 locations.

In 2024 Vivien and her husband John Mann sold their business Bluewater Books & Charts which they owned and operated for 24 years. This business located in Fort Lauderdale, USA sells marine navigation products and services to leisure boaters with an emphasis on supplying Superyachts.