Navionics S-57

What are Navionics S-57 charts?

Navionics S-57 charts are vector charts from the private sector produced by Navionics SpA. Navionics provides a seamless cartographic database (global coverage), the largest privately owned database of its kind.

These charts are an aid to navigation designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not to replace them. Only official government charts and Notices to Mariners contain all the information needed for safe navigation, and as always, the captain is responsible for their prudent use.

Coverage

Data formats

S-57 more info (external link)

describes the Standard to be used for the exchange of digital hydrographic data between national Hydrographic Offices and for the distribution of digital data and products to manufacturers, mariners, and other data users.

directENC

The directENC format is the SevenCs ECDIS Kernel SENC (System Electronic Navigational Chart) format. SENC is the data base, transformed by ECDIS/ECS from the S-57 data for optimum use, and updated by appropriate means. It simplifies and accelerates the access to the vector charts and their handling.

The directENC data are pre-converted from S-57 format and has been approved by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (BSH). It acknowledged that directENC provides "a complete storage and availability of information content of S-57 data format, Edition 3.1 without changes and losses". This means that directENC can be used officially for distribution of the S-57 data.

Data encryption

To ensure protection and security, Navionics S-57 charts are only delivered in encrypted format.

S-63 - IHO Data Protection Scheme more info

The S-57 data are encrypted according to S-63 - the IHO Data Protection Scheme. It describes the recommended standard for the protection of ENC information and defines security constructs and operating procedures that must be followed to ensure that the data protection scheme is operated correctly and to provide specifications that allow participants to build compliant systems.

A chart display system (e.g. ECDIS or ECS) which shell display encrypted S-57 data must be compliant to S-63. Such a system has a unique ‘S-63 User permit’ (ENC User permit) which is required to produce chart permits. This chart permits have to be used to import the ordered and encrypted charts.

directENC - Data Encryption

Vector charts in directENC format are also encrypted but different to S-63. Usually this data are provided as ENC Units which need the so called ‘Chart Access Key’ for data import. The system unique SevenCs ECDIS Kernel ‘Hardware-Id’ is required for key generation for the ordered ENC Units.

Licence Conditions

The exclusive General Standard License Terms and Conditions (GSLTC[Link zum entsprechenden PDF Dukument]) shall govern all License Agreements between ChartWorld and its Clients. They shall apply likewise to all future License Agreements, even if this should not be expressively stated otherwise.

Subscription

Purchasing includes the acceptance of the licence agreement with a one year validity period. The licence shall be renewed for another year unless the licensee has cancelled the agreement within one (1) month before expiry date of the licence agreement. During validity period of the licence additional charts may be accessed.

Among other things the licence includes the right to receive updates or new editions of the charts, respectively, unless otherwise agreed (and on condition that updates or new editions are supplied by the producer).

In case the licence agreement is renewed service fees for those charts for which updates or new editions shall be provided further on will be invoiced. The fee for subsequent years is 50% of the list prices.

When the licence agreement is cancelled the right to receive updates or new editions will expire. The general right to use all purchased charts shall not be affected.

If updates or new editions shall be provided again for charts that have been purchased earlier a new licence agreement needs to be made.

Volume discounts for Chart Units

per Installation/Application and Licence as well as for each additional Unit, if at least 4/10/25 Units already bought and a running Licence exists!

Educational institutions and schools

All institutions that want to buy ENCs for educational purposes can buy the ENCs service with a 50 % price reduction.