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The Editor's Office PL t/a
FISH FINDER TM
PO Box 3195,
Darwin, NT, 0801.
Ph: 08 8981 0621
Fax: 08 8981 0228
fishfindermaps@bigpond.com
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Seafarer RNC (Raster Nautical Charts) and Seafarer Viewer are made by the Royal Australian Navy's hydrographic service (AHS).
Seafarer charts are high-quality digital copies of Navy charts supplied on CD-ROM.
The Seafarer Viewer below is a low-cost version of the full-blown Endeavour Navigator program for viewing digital charts charts. It provides the viewer with waypoints, zoom functions and other utilities and is a superb aid for locating likely fishing areas along the Australian coast.
The RAN charts can also be viewed and be used for navigation using an authorised software system (AlphaMap, CPlot95, Microplot, Navi-Sailor 2500 or Navmaster) which allows a link to a GPS unit to show real-time vessel position.
Seafarer users can perform traditional navigational functions such as bearing and distance calculation, and route planning.
From a small-boat fisherman's point of view, trips can be planned in advance by inputting routes and fishing spot GPS data from the Seafarer chart into a handheld GPS, all from the comfort of an armchair and desktop PC.
To use Seafarer charts you need:
*Seafarer Viewer or an approved navigation system
*a Pentium computer
*a set of Seafarer charts
If you buy Seafarer your CDs and permits will be forwarded to your delivery address. You will also be sent a dongle which attaches to the serial port of your computer. You will only be able to use your charts on a computer carrying your specific dongle.
For mariners who wish to update their charts regularly there is an Update Service.
When buying charts be sure to buy the chart pack that covers your area of interest. You can buy single charts or save money on individual chart costs by buying a Day Pack (DAY) that will cover an area of local interest, a Regional Pack (REG) that will cover a broader area or an Australian Pack (AUST) which includes all Australian charts.
There are links below to find out more about the digital charts and products available from the Australian Hydrographic Office. IMPORTANT - to use digital charts you need both the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software AND the digital charts as neither item works without the other.
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Click on the image for a preview of this excellent chart viewer, which gives waypoints for reefs, wrecks, creek mouths etc. For a full outline of features click here. With this program you may never need to buy another paper chart, and you can load your GPS with every local feature, quickly recouping the cost of the software. Users must also buy the required digital charts. You can buy single charts or a Day Pack (DAY) that will cover an area of local interest, a Regional Pack (REG) that will cover a broader area, or an Australian Pack which includes all Australian charts. Click here to see the list of available Australian Hydrographic Office charts. Click here to see the chart pack index. Users can also buy the update service on this web site - with this service the latest charts and their updates are mailed each month on CD direct from the Hydrographic Office.
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Seafarer Single Digital Charts
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$46.95
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Click here to see a detailed list of available Australian Hydrographic Office charts. Users can also buy the update service on this web site - with this service the latest charts and their updates are mailed each month on CD direct from the Hydrographic Office. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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When buying charts be sure to buy the chart pack that covers your area of interest. You can buy a Day Pack (DAY) that will cover an area of local interest, a Regional Pack (REG) that will cover a broader area, or an Australian Pack, which includes all Australian charts. Click here to see a detailed list of available Australian Hydrographic Office charts. Click here to see the chart pack index. Users can also buy the update service on this web site - with this service the latest charts and their updates are mailed each month on CD direct from the Hydrographic Office. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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Seafarer Chart Regional Pack
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$839.00
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When buying charts be sure to buy the chart pack that covers your area of interest. You can buy a Day Pack (DAY) that will cover an area of local interest, a Regional Pack (REG) that will cover a broader area, or an Australian Pack which includes all Australian charts. Click here to see a detailed list of available Australian Hydrographic Office charts. Click here to see the chart pack index. Users can also buy the update service on this web site - with this service the latest charts and their updates are mailed each month on CD direct from the Hydrographic Office. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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This magnificent chart pack contains all the Australian Navy digital charts. Click here to see a detailed list of available Australian Hydrographic Office charts. Click here to see the chart pack index. Users can also buy the update service on this web site - with this service the latest charts and their updates are mailed each month on CD direct from the Hydrographic Office. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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Seafarer Day Pack Monthly Update
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$248.00
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A monthly chart update service for the Seafarer Chart Day Packs. Your updated charts will be mailed out on CD each month. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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Seafarer Regional Pack Monthly Update
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$370.00
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A monthly chart update service for the Seafarer Chart Regional Packs. Your updated charts will be mailed out on CD each month. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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Seafarer Australia Pack Monthly Update
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$530.00
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A monthly chart update service for the Seafarer Chart Australia Packs. Your updated charts will be mailed out on CD each month. IMPORTANT - you need the Seafarer Viewer or other chart viewer software to be able to use digital charts as they do not work on their own.
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Seafarers Handbook (paper)
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$39.95
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The Australian Seafarers Handbook
Released in January 2005, the Australian Seafarers Handbook is an official nautical publication providing mariners with a description of the Australian physical and jurisdictional maritime environment.
It combines information from various government agencies under the cover of one official nautical publication maintained up-to-date by Notices to Mariners.
It contains much of the textual information which cannot be shown on navigational charts including:
**Seabed characteristics, tides & currents, sea names and shipwrecks
**The regional climatic environment
**Marine Protected Areas, Regulations and responsible agencies
**Major Australian Maritime Legislation and Regulations, and responsible agencies
**Buoyage, Navigation Aids, Coastal Pilotage, Torres Strait and GBR Shipping Routes, Accident and Incident Reporting
**Maritime Safety Information, Meteorological Broadcasts, Warnings, Search and Rescue
**AUSREP and REEFREP Ship Reporting Systems
**Maritime Security, Customs, Quarantine, Immigration and Military information
**Australian trading ports and responsible agencies
Official Status of Australian Seafarers Handbook
The Australian Seafarers Handbook satisfies Chapter V of the SOLAS Convention as amended in 2002 and promulgated for Australia under AMSA Marine Orders Part 21, Order 6 of 2003, which details carriage requirements for nautical charts and publications necessary for the intended voyage.
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