The ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) is the world’s leading official digital maritime chart service, with over 15,750 official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) to help bridge crews navigate safely and efficiently whilst meeting flag and port State requirements.
Key features of AVCS include:
100% official global maritime ENC coverage with more routes and ports than any other competing service
Unique ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO) for additional passage planning information
Weekly updates available via email, online or on CD and DVD to ensure ongoing safety and compliance
Delivered in industry standard S-63 / S-57 formats, guaranteeing compatibility with all ECDIS sold today – even in a mixed fleet
More routes, more ports
The ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) provides the widest official ENC coverage available, enabling ships to navigate on ECDIS for the entirety of most major routes on a single chart service. This coverage includes 4,000 of the biggest ports worldwide, of which we offer unique coverage for over 130.
Ongoing safety and compliance
All AVCS customers are supplied with weekly electronic updates via internet download, email or disc – ensuring that bridge crews and shore-based teams have access to complete and up-to-date information. These electronic updates reduce time and effort spent making manual updates to paper charts, minimise the risk of human error and help to ensure compliance with Flag and Port State requirements.
Carriage-compliant, 100% official
All ships using AVCS on board receive a UKHO certificate. This certificate can be used for local inspections and confirms that all Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) in AVCS satisfy the chart carriage requirements of SOLAS Chapter V.
AVCS meets the latest mandated data protection standard from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which helps to reduce the risk of both data piracy and the distribution of unofficial, dangerous data to mariners.
ADMIRALTY Information Overlay, unique extra navigational data
The ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO) aids navigators at the crucial passage planning stage.
It contains ADMIRALTY paper chart Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners (T&P NMs) where the information is not encoded into the underlying ENC. It also contains ENC Preliminary Notices to Mariners (EP NMs), which highlight navigationally significant differences between ENCs and ADMIRALTY paper charts.
AIO can be displayed as a single layer on top of ENCs on the majority of ECDIS currently being sold, and also on back-of-bridge software, including ADMIRALTY Planning Station. All AVCS customers receive the unique AIO at no extra cost.
Compatible with all type-approved ECDIS makes
AVCS is delivered in industry standard S-63 / S-57 formats, guaranteeing compatibility with all type-approved ECDIS sold today. Please see the Specifications tab for a list of systems that are also compatible with the ADMIRALTY Information Overlay.
Purchase options that suit you
For maximum convenience, AVCS ENCs can be ordered in predefined transit, regional or port folios (groupings of ENCs). New ENCs are automatically added as soon as they become available, ensuring your ships always have the latest data. You can also combine AVCS folios with your choice of individual ENC charts for unrivalled coverage and flexibility.
Alternatively, all ENCs can be bought on an individual, chart-by-chart basis for precise coverage and voyage flexibility. Simply buy the licences to unlock the charts needed for a voyage, when and for as long as they are needed. Most ENC-issuing countries allow durations of 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.
ECDIS and ADMIRALTY Information Overlay compatibility
All ECDIS equipment must undergo a type-approval certification process to ensure it meets IMO Performance Standards for ECDIS. AVCS is compatible with all ECDIS and ECS (Electronic Chart Systems) that meet these requirements. You can find out more about type-approval and get advice on ECDIS implementation by talking to an ADMIRALTY Chart Agent.
The following table lists display systems that currently support both AVCS and the ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO).
| Manufacturer | Model | AIO Compatible ECDIS Version* | ARCS | ADMIRALTY TotalTide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChartWorld | eGlobe ECDIS | 4000.10.207 ECDIS Kernel v 5.12 | | |
| Consilium | ECDIS S-ECDIS |
4.5.4.27 10.2.xx |
|
|
| Danelec | DM800 ECDIS G2 DM700 ECDIS |
3.xx 3.xx |
| |
| Furuno | FEA-2107 FEA-2807 FMD 3100 FMD 3200 FMD 3300 |
6.21 6.21 All All All |
|
|
| Jargoon | SEALL ECDIS | 1.2 | | |
| JRC | JAN-701B JAN-901B JAN-2000 |
ECDIS Application 2.02 Maintenance no. v56 Chart Portfolio 2.02 |
|
|
| Kongsberg | K-Bridge ECDIS 7.1.x K-Nav ECDIS 7.1.x |
7.1.x 7.1.x |
|
|
| MARIS | ECDIS900 | 4.5.3.16 | | |
| OSI Maritime Systems Ltd. | ECPINS ECPINS Warship ECPINS Submarine |
6.0 6.0 6.0 |
|
|
| PC Maritime | Navmaster | 7.1.0.20 | | |
| SAM | MULTIPILOT NACOS Platinum ECDISPILOT NACOS Platinum ECDISPILOT Basic |
TickV1.0.15.32, V2.0.x.x TickV1.0.15.32, V2.0.x.x TickV2.0.x.x |
|
|
| Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine | VisionMaster FT | 5.6 | | |
| Tokyo Keiki | EC-8100 EC-8600 EC-8000-A EC-8500-A |
1.7.0 |
|
|
| Totem Plus | Totem ECDIS | 2.00 | | |
| Transas | Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS MFD Navi-Sailor 4000 ECDIS MFD Standard, Standard+, Premium, Premium+ |
2.00.320.3052 |
|
|
| Telko | TECDIS | 4.7.x.23 | | |
| Wuxi Nuorui Technologies | NRECDIS | v4.0.2.6 | | |
* AIO compatible ECDIS version numbers indicate the minimum ECDIS software version required to view the AIO.
AVCS, AIO, TotalTide, ADRS and ADLL can be displayed in ADMIRALTY e-Navigator Planning Station.
Below you’ll find information to help you update AVCS. This includes links to the AVCS Online Updating Service software, as well as cancelled and replaced folios.
AVCS Online Updating Service
The AVCS Online Updating Service provides immediate access to the latest digital chart updates for subscribers of the AVCS service. The service is complimentary to the standard DVD and CD-based updating services for AVCS and offers quick access to the most up-to-date information.
Download the AVCS Online Updating Service software
Cancelled and Replaced folios
Periodically, changes to the ENC coverage available worldwide make it necessary to cancel and replace both ENC Units and AVCS Folios. The below Excel files contain a full list of cancelled Units and Folios, along with the Units and Folios that replaced them:
AVCS Cancelled and Replaced Folios
Replacements for Cancelled Cells
AVCS Support Films
Guides to help you download updates for AVCS, as well as complete installation, are listed on our Support Tab.
Find out more about support for AVCS >
ADMIRALTY e-Navigator Planning Station
ADMIRALTY e-Navigator Planning Station is a voyage planning and chart management tool that helps bridge crews to view, order and manage ADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions.
Find out more about e-Navigator Planning Station >
Downloading updates via the FTP site
We supply all AVCS customers with weekly electronic updates via Internet download, email or DVD. To obtain AVCS updates via the Internet, you can use our public FTP website with the following login credentials (the username and password details are case sensitive).
URL: FTP://ukho.gov.uk
Username: ukhopublic
Password: Public12345
Below you will find information to support you in your use of the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service, including detailed user guides and support films. If you cannot find the answer to your questions, kindly contact us for more details.
AVCS User Guides
Download the ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO) Version 2 User Guide
Download AIO Version 2 Frequently Asked Questions
Download AIO Version 2 Letter for Compliance Inspectors
README file
Information on the use of ENCs in ADMIRALTY services. This information may be navigationally significant and should be reviewed for changes when you update your ECDIS.
Important information for AVCS users
Includes information on general cautions about the use of ENCs within ECDIS.
Download Important Information for AVCS Users
T&P NMs in ENCs
Not all ENC producers include Temporary and Preliminary (T&P) Notices to Mariners (NMs) in their ENCs. The following table lists the confirmed status of T&P NMs in the ENCs that are available in AVCS and the ADMIRALTY ECDIS Service.
Download the current status of T&P NMs in ENCs
ENC Update Status
04/04/2019
28/03/2019
21/03/2019
14/03/2019
AVCS Installation Guides for ECDIS
The following guides are designed to help you install AVCS on specific ECDIS types. Installation films are also available on the AdmiraltyTV YouTube Channel for a select range of ECDIS, or simply scroll down below this page to see How to Install AVCS.
| Manufacturer | Installation Guide | Installation Guide Films | S-63 1.1 Migration Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADMIRALTY e-Navigator | |||
| Danelec | |||
| ChartWorld | |||
| Furuno |
FMD 3000 series |
||
| JRC | |||
| Kelvin Hughes | |||
| Kongsberg | |||
| MARIS | |||
| Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine | |||
| OSI Maritime Systems | |||
| PC Maritime | |||
| Raytheon Anschutz | |||
| SAM Electronics |
ChartPilot 1100 Version 6.14 |
|
|
| Telko | |||
| Tokyo Keiki | |||
| Totem Plus | |||
| Transas |
Digital Media Ordering Schedule
Below you’ll find issue dates for each base disc, as well as countries covered.
| Area CDROM | Issue date | Countries covered |
|---|---|---|
| Base 1 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Estonia EE, Finland FI, France FR, Latvia LV, Lithuania LT, Sweden SE. |
| Base 2 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Norway NO. Poland PL. |
| Base 3 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Solomon Islands SB, Turkey TR, United Kingdom GB. |
| Base 4 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Croatia HR, Denmark DK, Georgia GE, Greece GR, Italy IT, Malta MT, Montenegro ME, Portugal PT, Romania RO, Russia RU, Slovenia SI, Spain ES, Ukraine UA. |
| Base 5 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | USA US. |
| Base 6 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Canada CA, USA US. |
| Base 7 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Australia AU, Bahrain BH, Burma (Myanmar) MM, East Asia Hydrographic Commission EA, Egypt EG, India IN, Indonesia ID, Iran IR, Israel I1, Malacca & Singapore Straits MS, Malaysia MY, New Zealand NZ, Pakistan PK, Philippines PH, Singapore SG, South Africa ZA, Sri Lanka LK, Thailand TH, Tunisia TN, Vietnam VN. |
| Base 8 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | Argentina AR, Bangladesh BD, Belgium BE, Brazil BR, Chile CL, Colombia CO, Cuba CU, Ecuador EC, Germany DE, Iceland IS, Mexico MX, Netherlands NL, Panama PA, Peru PE, Suriname SR, Uruguay UY, Venezuela VE. |
| Base 9 | Week 14, 04 April 2019 | China C1, Hong Kong C2, Macau C3, Japan JP, Korea (Republic of) KR. |
|
Reissue date: Week 23, 06 June 2019 |
||
You can purchase charts in AVCS as individual ENCs, or in folios covering a geographic region. These ENCs and folios, which are outlined below, can be purchased on a subscription basis for periods of 3, 6, 9, or 12 months where countries allow. Additional coverage can also be purchased at any time, and each chart has its own subscription period.
Transit Folios
These folios provide ENC coverage at a scale appropriate for vessels not engaged in local trade, saving you the expense of purchasing detailed coverage where it’s not required. Transit folios also provide increased coverage of major choke points, such as the Suez Canal and Malacca Strait.
View a Transit Folio example >
Regional Folios
These cover a much smaller geographical area than Transit Folios and include all Coastal and some Approach ENCs, where coastal coverage is not available. Regional Folios are designed for local and coastal trade, where more detailed coverage of complex coastal waters is required. They do not include Port Approaches or Entry.
View a Regional Folio example >
Port Folios
These typically comprise of Approach, Harbour and Berthing ENCs, grouped together into a single sales unit.
Individual ENCs
Instead of purchasing your ENCs as folios, it is also possible to buy ENCs individually, allowing you complete control over your chart holdings. Most ENCs in the AVCS service can be selected on a chart-by-chart basis and typically contain ENC data approximately equivalent to that of a paper chart.
Combination
Combine AVCS Folios of your choice with individual ENC charts for unrivalled coverage and voyage flexibility.
The ADMIRALTY Digital Catalogue (ADC) can also provide you with a comprehensive and up to date reference of current ADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions, with functionality that allows you to search for products by type, scale or a defined route.