Today, the electronic charts play an important role in the navigation safety and improve the efficiency of the maritime navigation in general. The timely pilot-system in the electronic charts displays and determines automatically the positions and distances between ships, land, navigation marks, barriers and other objets, providing with necessary informations and explanations.

At present, China MSA has produced some one hundred Electronic Nautical Charts (ENC) following the international standards of IHO-57. And these charts have passed the examination of the practice. China Maritime Survey Administration has also made many System Electronic Charts (SEC) which are already used in guiding searchs and salvages on seas, in piloting vessels in habors, in management of water transport, in maintenance of navigation marks and in dredging of channels. etc.

Electronic Charts Data Centre

The Electronic Chart Data Centre is located in Shanghai, covering an area of 1300 square meters. The centre has an electronic charts editing office, an office of editing and producing paper charts, an examination office, an central engine room, a data ooffice, a conference room, etc. Opened on 28 September 2002, the centre has produced the electronic charts of coastal areas of the country, according to the international standards. These charts provide with digital information for the automatic navigation, the harbor construction and the safety administration.