chart and publication secrets 19
For example, in August 2005 Hurricane Katrina shift ed shoals and channels,
destroyed aids to navigation, and permanently altered land profi les along the
Louisiana and Mississippi coasts and rivers. Aft er the disaster, cartographers and
surveyors worked for months to put together new editions for the region.
One of the best-kept secrets on the web is the DOLE listing, or Dates of
Latest Editions. Th e National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
maintains this valuable free tool at http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/.
Follow these steps:
- Click on “View NOAA Charts” on the right side.
- Find the “Nautical Charting Publications” section on the left side blue
column. - Click on “Dates of Latest Editions (DOLE).”
- Click on “Dates of Latest Editions (Current Listing).”
Make this site your fi rst stop before purchasing paper or electronic charts. If you
are purchasing in person, carry a copy of the DOLE printout with you. Ask the
vendor to pull the chart, then check your DOLE list against the chart’s lower-left
corner edition information. If you are buying over the phone or online, compare
edition numbers and dates with the DOLE.
Note the two links directly above the DOLE box referring to “recent” editions.
Th ese are the newest editions available from NOAA. Make sure to check these and
see if your area of interest has a brand-new edition. If so, make sure the vendor
has that edition on hand.
Sample entries from NOAA Chart Dates of Latest Editions (DOLE) page. Note the diff erent
columns for paper charts versus POD (print-on-demand) charts.