NOAA nixing paper charts

That will be an interesting situation if Navtex is discontinued in the USA only as its a SOLAS requirement on all vessels over a certain tonnage worldwide whether commercially registered or privately registered . Navtex is also one of the vital components making up the GMDSS equipment requirements. USCG was supposed to have Loran -E enhanced up and running by now for a GPS backup but they're not even close last time I looked. I don't put a lot of stock in any of the USCG press blurbs other than narco seizures on the high seas.

From the article:
"NOAA will still provide access to paper chart products based on ENC data, either through third-party vendors or through the NOAA Custom Chart system (now in prototype phase). The online NOAA Custom Chart (NCC) application lets users create their own paper charts with NOAA ENC data. The user can define the scale and size of custom-made nautical charts, then download them in a special PDF format."

That will make it handy to print out harbor approach or other large scale charts that are current and reflect the latest corrections provided in Local Notices to Mariners.
Having charts on board that are outdated is not a good situation, at times. Outdated charts from all other parts of the world notwithstanding

I read the info would be available for a private company to take over, print and sell.
It would be interesting if a private company would go into this venture.

I remember ancient reading history, The Nav charts were so used to, are printed by a contractor.

Since we know a government office can not preform under any budget; I can imagine a private firm taking over and possibly making a profit with less chart cost.

For really using a paper chart, We plot our progress off shore. Since the ocean is always there, a few year old chart is still good. Off shore currents and weather can affect our inlet ETAs. On a big chart, Josie & I can easily see our progress (C&TMG) and make adjustments if needed. This beats one at a time starting into a smaller screen.
Inlets have fresh data and studied well on the ships displays. Our chart chips are updated before every trip or delivery. Not to many new inlets left for us but they are still checked for changes. That big dawg leg at St.Augustine was smoothed out a lil last year. SD or CF works on near every boat we operate and our ole surplus rugged XP laptop with built in GPS is still in our delivery nav kit.
Everybody is prepared and sitting down for all inlets, To late then to study any chart.

Some here may not have noticed yet, Some sea buoys and range day boards are already gone, replaced by AIS icons & Racon trails.
Your going to be looking more at the ships display in the future anyway, start really getting used to it now.

Nowadays with so many back up on board, tablets and phones, I don’t think paper charts are that critical although I still carry them, at least in chart book format.

even if just the two us on board we have 3 iPads, 2 cell phones plus a laptop with usb gps all with up to date charts and nav software.
Yeah lightening can strike but so does a rogue wave wiping off your paper chart

Also folks, this is just one chart provider.
There are others printers. Relax.

Exactly, Admiralty charts still in paper, many other countries actively surveying and producing excellent worldwide nautical charts in paper and electronic form. BBA Chart kits wont go away and any paper charts aboard now can be updated through publications for years to come. Not the end of the world for cruisers, gunk-holers nor charter yacht captains.