Digital Publications Canadian Coast Guard

PDF Format

Table of Contents

• Background
• Publication Portfolio
• Publication Portfolio (cont'd)
• Benefits
• Next Steps
• Questions

Background

• Launched Notices to Mariners website -- www.notmar.gc.ca (1995)
• Discontinued the hard-copy distribution of the Notices to Mariners Monthly Edition and transition to digital (2010)
• Reviewed existing distribution channels for all Coast Guard Publications to identify improvements and efficiencies (2011)
• Decision taken to discontinue the hard-copy distribution of all publications and transition to digital following cost-benefit analysis (2011)
• Consulted with Transport Canada and Canadian Hydrographic Services to ensure regulatory requirements continue to be met (2012)

Publication Portfolio

• Canadian Aids to Navigation System: Providing descriptions and locations of external aids to navigation – lights, buoys, lightstations, fog signals, and more – to help mariners navigate safely.
• Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters: Providing critical information for ice navigation.
• Radio Aids to Marine Navigation: Providing information on radio communications, radio navigational aids services provided in Canada by the Canadian Coast Guard as well as Environment Canada marine and ice products and services.

Publication Portfolio (cont'd)

• List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals: Providing key information on lighted aids to navigation.
• Notices to Mariners Annual Edition: Providing a breadth of important information for marine navigation in Canada.
• Notices to Mariners Monthly Edition*: Providing essential monthly updates to charts and publications, including newly discovered hazards to navigation.

* The Monthly Edition has only been available in digital format since 2010.

Benefits

• Provides access to the latest maritime navigation safety updates
• Allows users to view and download complete publications for free
• Creates more flexibility to search for information
• Eliminates the need to transcribe changes
• Forms part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s drive towards the digital future navigation
• Meets the stringent navigational requirements of the commercial mariner

Next Steps

• Continue consultation with industry, clients and stakeholders including dealer distribution network
• Provide advance notification to clients to bring awareness to the change
• Transition to digital publications by April 1, 2013

Questions

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Digital Publications Canadian Coast Guard (1.4 MB)  

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To order this document by e-mail, contact us at:cmac-ccmc@tc.gc.ca