NZMariner - Official Raster Navigational Charts (RNCs)

NZMariner is the product name of New Zealand’s Official RNC folio, and is available for download at no charge from this page. LINZ publishes NZMariner plus a monthly cumulative update file of corrections published in Notices to Mariners.

NZMariner can only be used in conjunction with compatible viewing software: Electronic Charting Systems (ECS) or Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS).

A cumulative list of updates to NZMariner charts is published each month in Notices to Mariners.

Download NZMariner RNCs

Download:

• 2007/08 Chart 1 - latest annual file (zip 170MB) - last published 31 July 2007
• June 2008 - latest cumulative update file (zip 24MB) - last published 30 June 2008
• NZMariner CD cover image (pdf 1.55MB).

Legal status

NZMariner is the official New Zealand raster chart folio. For compliance with Maritime New Zealand requirements refer to Maritime Rules Part 25. The use of NZMariner does not relieve the user of their obligations under New Zealand law and international convention. Paper copies of Official New Zealand Charts can be purchased from LINZ chart retailers.

NZMariner Technical Documentation

Format & compatibility

NZMariner has been compiled using the Hydrographic Chart Raster Format (HCRF) v2.0. This format is also used by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Offices’ ARCS, (Admiralty Raster Chart Service) and Australian Hydrographic Services’ Seafarer products. This compatibility allows mariners to utilise additional RNC coverage’s outside of New Zealand waters.

Chart updates are supplied as "tiles", as RNC charts consist of numerous 25mm 2 tiles. Any alterations or Notices to Mariners are made on replacement tiles. These updates are applied through the ECS or ECDIS, which replaces old tiles with those provided. Once installed the user can view the changes but can only operate the system with the updated information displayed.

Encryption

NZMariner data is encrypted by LINZ to protect the integrity of the data from unofficial modifications. Permits are provided, which the Electronic Chart Systems (ECS) use to decrypt the data and display the information contained on the CDs.

Use

Users require a computer, an ECS or ECDIS, and NZMariner. Computer requirements will depend on the ECS or ECDIS used to display NZMariner. Refer to your software manufacturer or retailer for further details. Depending on the ECS or ECDIS, other external sensors may also be attached to the system (e.g. GPS, Autopilot or Radar). Once these have been connected to the ECS or ECDIS, NZMariner can be installed and used. NZMariner can be used on only one system at a time and can not be used over a network. Users must accept the terms and conditions of the NZMariner licence agreement before they access the data.

Mariners have access to numerous charts and must ensure they always use the appropriate scale chart for the purpose of navigation. Please note that due to ECS or ECDIS functionality, the image on the screen may appear at times to be at a different scale to the paper chart.

ECS software providers

NZMariner is encrypted and can only be used in ECS software produced by the following firms.

• Australian Defence Industries Ltd (ADI)
• Australia Hydrographic Service (AHS)
• Chersoft Ltd
• Commonwealth of Australia
• Euronav Ltd
• HSA Systems Ltd
• Intelliscan Ltd
• Offshore Systems Ltd (OSL)
• PC Maritime Ltd
• Sea Information Systems Ltd (SIS)
• SeaPlot International
• TMQ Electronics
• Ultra SML Technologies Ltd
• Wind Vector Ltd

Additional information

All NZMariner charts are on World Geodetic Datum 1984 (WGS84) and positions obtained from GPS systems may be plotted directly onto the data. Heights and depths are in metres, heights are above Mean High Water Springs and depths are above Chart Datum which is the Lowest Astronomical Tide.