This section of our textbook is outdated. Here is a modern version.

2.4 Latest Editions and Corrections

There are still nations that produce paper charts, including Canada, and for those nations the existing discussion in Sec 2.4 remains essentially valid, with some references changes.

However, in the US, we no longer have any official paper charts. Since Jan 1, 2025, our only official charts are the electronic navigational charts (ENC) described in our booklet ENC Essentials. These charts are viewed in a nav app, such as qtVlm, which is one of the best for this. See www.starpath.com/ENC/getting_started.htm.

We also have now a new option to create our own paper backup chart, which could in fact be used for our primary chart underway if made properly. These paper charts are called NOAA Custom Charts (NCC) and we design these ourselves and then print them ourselves. See www.starpath.com/NCC. The historic official print on demand outlets, will also make these for us if we prefer.

In either case, ENC or NCC, which are based on the ENC, the question of Latest Editions and Corrections is now completely new.

Using qtVlm, we can load charts for any location in US waters with a button click, then sometime later, we can use the same button click to see if there are any updates, and with one more button click, we install the updates.

And on top of that, NOAA updates the ENCs every day if any changes occur. So the entire issue of chart handling has been revolutionized in 2026.

The case of ENC is as simple as explained above. There is a bit more to think about when checking and making updated NCC..

When you make the NCC yourself, you will not have a chart number, as it is indeed custom to the borders you choose, which may not match any existing ENC, although you could choose to do that. But the NCC will have a creation date. So you can look at the latest dates of corresponding ENCs using Item 1.1 at www.starpath.com/getcharts. This does not tell you what has changed but it does confirm that something has changed.

The NOAA NCC production site provides a way to save your design, so you can return to it and rebuild the PDF with the latest updates. Then get the new one printed. Then you are assured you have the latest version. Likewise if you ask a point-on-demand printer to make one, they will always make the latest version.

If you do not want to make a new NCC, you can use a unique qtVlm feature that will tell you everything that has changed between any two specific issues of the chart. Activate the function with cmd/ctrl K, then choose Updates.

That unique updates inquiry, however, is a bit involved. The practical solution to check your paper chart is also have onboard or in a phone or tablet, a copy of qtVlm, with updated charts. Then layout on your paper chart (NCC) the route you plan to follow, and compare the chart along that route on the NCC with what you see in qtVlm, which, as noted above, can always have the latest version loaded with a button click—assuming you are in internet or cell phone range.

In short, you will still be navigating with the paper chart, but just using qtVlm to be certain there are no crucial changes you might need to know about.