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SENC Acronym for System ENC or System Electronic Navigational Chart. When any authorized navigation software program opens and official ENC file, the first thing it does is convert the file to a format that is unique to the program in use, and this new file, stored some place else on your computer, is the one the program actually uses to display the charts. In that sense, each ENC you have on your computer gets doubled in required storage space required. Some nations also sell their ENC directly in SENC format, which means they will be unique to a specific navigation programs, and usually unique to specific computers as well. When available, these SENC products can be less expensive and easier to download and install than the encrypted S-63 version of the ENC. This is typically not an issue for US ENC since they are free products, at least for recreational mariners. Some ECDIS systems require that even free US charts be purchased from an official IHO outlet, with the thought that this will guarantee their authenticity.

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