How to update your nautical charts?

A nautical chart is updated when all corrections that apply to the chart have been applied.

Search for map corrections

In the EFS service on kartverket.no/efs, you can search for the desired map number. You can define your search to:

• View messages from the latest EFS issue
• Messages since last visit
• All messages related to the chart in question since it was published
• From selected date or period

The search results will give you a list of relevant corrections related to your map.

The EFS service also gives you:

• Overview with printing dates for nautical charts
• Archive of all the older EFS issues

Different types of messages in EFS

Different types of messages are published in Notices to Mariners (EFS):

• Notices of the schedule printing of maps and other Nautical Publications
• Permanent, temporary and provisional changes
• Warnings
• Other relevant information

Permanent chart changes

Permanent chart changes are messages that deal with permanent changes that are considered to be of safety value.

Permanent changes can be:

• New reasons
• Establishment and change in lighthouse lighting
• Fixed and floating sea marks
• New or modified subsea cables and pipelines
• Overhead cables
• Wrecks or obstructions that may be an obstacle to fishing and shipping, etc.

Preliminary reports (P-notice)

Tentative messages are announcements of planned activities. After planned activities have been carried out, there will be a new notification of permanent chart changes. P is an abbreviation for "Preliminary".

P-notices can be:

• Planned new lighthouses and lanterns
• Planned construction activity
• Dredging
• Information about any orders and ordinances on navigation in specific areas, etc.

Temporary messages (T-melding)

Temporary messages are used when the change is only valid for a limited period of time. T is an abbreviation for "Temporary".

T-messages can be:

• Lights and sea marks that are temporarily out of order
• Establishment of aquaculture
• Construction activity
• Rig relocation
• Warning
• Seismic exploration
• Laying of anchors
• Notification of shooting exercises etc.

Different messages

"Miscellaneous" does not refer to specific charts but contains information about other matters that may be important to mariners. For example, there may be information about rules and regulations and the date of printing of nautical charts. These messages can be found in the handbook "General information to Efs".

Notices to seafarers (EFS) debt Norwegian nautical charts. Other countries' nautical charts should be based on messages in this country's 'Notices to Mariners', and not the Norwegian Notice to Mariners.