The Russian Federation Confirms Flag State Approval for Admiralty Digital Publications

Over 75% of the world's vessels over 2,000 gross tonnes now permitted to carry digital nautical publications.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) can confirm that vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation are now able to use ADP to meet carriage requirements for nautical publications. The Russian Federation is the world's eighth largest flag state, as measured by the number of vessels, and this decision allows the 2,322 vessels flagged by the Russian Federation to carry digital nautical publications in order to meet their SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) carriage requirements for nautical publications, instead of carrying their paper equivalents.

With confirmation of this approval from the Russian Federation, a new landmark has been reached in the acceptance of digital nautical publications for voyage planning and navigation purposes, with over 75% of the world's vessels over 2,000 gross tonnes in size now permitted to carry Admiralty Digital Publications. Russia joins many other leading flag states, including Panama, Marshall Islands, Liberia, Singapore and Greece, in approving the carriage of digital publications, such as lights lists, radio signals lists and tide tables.

Josephine Washington Product Manager (Publications) at the UKHO commented:  "The Russian Federation has confirmed that the use of digital tide tables, digital lists of lights and digital lists of radio signals are acceptable alternatives to paper versions of the same publications, subject to their inclusion in the vessel's safety management system and approval by a classification society. This is an important and welcome decision, as it means that all Russian-flagged vessels can now take advantage of the benefits offered by digital nautical publications when it comes to faster and more efficient voyage planning and navigation.

"69 flag states have now approved the use of Admiralty Digital Publications, including 17 of the 20 largest flag states, covering more than 75% of the world's fleet of vessels over 2,000 gross tonnes. The rapid rate of flag state approval for digital publications in the past 18 months demonstrates the speed with which maritime navigation is transitioning from a paper-based world to a digital one. It is also testament to the progressive attitude among leading flag states towards the use of technologically advanced navigational tools, as well as the degree of confidence that they have in Admirlaty Digital Publications."

Admiralty Digital Publications is a world-leading suite of digital navigation publications, comprising Admiralty Digital List of Lights, the world's most advanced source of light and fog signals information; Admiralty Digital Radio Signals Volume 6, which provides up-to-date maritime radio communications and pilot services information; and, Admiralty TotalTide, the world's most comprehensive tidal prediction program.

The UKHO has worked very closely with flag state authorities around the world to secure their consent for the use of digital nautical publications and is continuing to liaise with the remaining flag states to gain their approval. The UKHO is also working on plans to expand its existing range of digital nautical publications in order to meet the growing demand for this format.