NZMariner Technical Documentation

NZMariner is the product name of the official Raster Navigational Chart (RNC) folio for New Zealand. It is a digital coloured facsimile of New Zealand paper navigational charts and can be used in Electronic Charting Systems (ECS) and approved Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).

Product description

NZMariner consists of two files:

  1. an annual Chart file which provides mariners access to all charts that have been captured to date
  2. a monthly Update file which provides corrections and additional charts which have been published since the annual Chart file was released.

Users require an annual Chart file as a minimum and can not use the monthly Update file unless the associated annual Chart file is installed on their ECS.

Availability

NZMariner is available at no cost for users to download.

Notification of the availability of the monthly Update file is promulgated through the fortnightly New Zealand Notices to Mariners.

Format, compatibility & encryption

NZMariner is produced in Hydrographic Chart Raster Format (HCRF) which is also used by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS) and Australian Hydrographic Services Seafarer RNC. This compatibility allows mariners to utilise additional RNC coverage beyond New Zealand waters.

NZMariner data is encrypted by LINZ to protect the integrity of the data from unofficial modifications. Permits are provided within the files, which the ECS/ECDIS use to decrypt the data and display the chart information.

Navigational systems

NZMariner is capable of being used in ECS/ECDIS which support either UKHO ARCS or AHS Seafarer products.

NZMariner includes permits which allow systems produced by the following organisations to display NZMariner data:

Coverage

LINZ charts currently available in NZMariner are listed in the New Zealand Chart Catalogue (NZ 202).

Legal status

For compliance with New Zealand legal requirements for nautical charts and publications please refer to Maritime Rules Part 25, as supported by Maritime New Zealand Marine Guidance Notice 8 Use of Electronic Charts, ECDIS and ENCs in NZ.

top