Charts and Publications
Vessels of any kind in Canada have an obligation to carry and use official charts and publications issued by or on the authority of the Canadian Hydrographic Service, and to keep them up to date. The chart carriage regulations are listed in the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020 under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
- CHS paper charts meet the requirements of the chart carriage regulations.
- Canadian Hydrographic Service digital charts meet the requirements of the chart carriage regulations under certain circumstances:
- CHS Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) meet the requirements provided they are used with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).
- CHS Raster Navigational Charts (RNCs) meet the requirements only if paper charts are carried and used as a backup.
For further information on which charts meet the official requirements, please see our list of CHS Official Products and CHS Licenced Manufacturers. The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) has information about available charts, digital charts, sailing directions, tides and water levels at charts.gc.ca. Paper and Digital Charts and other hydraogeaphic publications can be purchased at chart dealers. Notices to Mariners provides you with the necessary information to update all of your charts and nautical publications. It will advise you of our new initiatives, services and also of some important announcements concerning the maritime community and can be viewed at notmar.gc.ca
Cruising Guides
ONLINE CRUISING GUIDES:
– Dobson Yacht Club maintains a cruising guide for Cape Breton at cruising-cape-breton.info
Purchase on-line the Cruising Guide to the Nova Scotia Coast, 2014
VISIT A MARINE BOOK STORE FOR THESE REFERENCE GUIDES:
-A Cruising Guide to the Canadian Maritimes (Yacht Pilot)
-A Cruising Guide to the Down East Circle Route (Yacht Pilot)
-A Cruising Guide to the Bay of Fundy and the St. John River (Nicholas Tracy)
-Cruising Guide Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland
-Harbours and Marinas of P.E.I.
-The Insiders’ Guide to Cruising to Cape Breton Island
St John River Society
Founded in 1992, the Society’s goal is to spread appreciation and wise use of the natural and
cultural resources of the St. John River and its watershed. Today, the
Society represents the entire river and offers programs to promote its sustainable use.
The Society also owns and maintains the following wharves along the St. John River. All of these
wharves are open for public use, including to recreational boaters:
1. Maugerville
2. Burton Courthouse-unusable
3. Colwell’s
4. Queenstown
5. Hampstead
6. McDonald’s-unusable
7. Public Landing
8. Wickham
9. Gerow’s
10. Bedford
11. White’s Bluff
12. Webster’s
For more information on the Society and its work, visit stjohnriver.org