National Geospatial Intelligence Agency - Maritime Safety Information

In doing my post on the Atlas of Pilot Charts I once again went back to the NGA Maritime site.  If you travel outside the United States by boat this is an important web site for information.  The top link to the site is http://dnc.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=msi_home_page. In general the site contains the same kind of information you will find on the USCG and the NOAA Coast Survey sites for inside the US.

All of the information is free!  Of particular interest are:

• US Notice to Mariners (the Notice to Marines for everywhere outside the US)
• Atlas of Pilot Charts
• Broadcast Warnings (for everywhere outside the US)
• The American Practical Navigator (downloadable, latest version - Bowditch)
• Distances between ports
• International Code of Signals (this book helps you communicate - e.g. ask for medical help - when you do not know the language
• NGA List of Lights
• Sailing Directions Enroute (These are similar to the US Coast Pilots)
• Sailing Directions Planning Guide (Similar to the CIA World Factbook)
• ONI Reports (Worldwide threats to shipping)

I may have posted this before but it is worth the rerun.