USCG: NVIC 01-16 CH2-USE OF ELECTRONIC CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS IN LIEU OF PAPER CHARTS, MAPS AND PUBLICATIONS
Excerpt from Federal Register Notice – Vol 85, No. 102 05/27/2020
PURPOSE. This Commandant Change Notice publishes a change to Use of Electronic Charts and Publications in Lieu of Paper Charts, Maps and Publications, Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular number 01-16, 16700.4.
MAJOR CHANGES. In response to recommendations from the Navigation Safety Advisory Council and the public, the Coast Guard updated its policy on electronic carriage of the Inland Navigation Rules and electronic publications in general. This Ch-2 to NVIC 01-16 revises the NVIC, Enclosure (1) and Enclosure (2) to allow electronic editions of the Inland Navigation Rules and Vessel Traffic Service Rules so long as operators are able to display ready reference current electronic editions on their electronic device without internet connectivity by a producing a previously downloaded copy. It also provides a path for mariners to access certain required publications which are not required to be ready reference via web services. Enclosure (2) is further updated to highlight which publications are required by existing regulations to be ready reference and removes the requirement for independent back-ups. Finally, Ch-2 makes non-substantive clarifying changes throughout the NVIC and enclosures.