b'thattheywouldnolongerhaveaccessto any updated paper charts from NOAA. In reality, the idea was never to take paper charts awayentirely,butrathertocreateamore up-to-date set of data from which other end products, including paper, might be derived.Withthatinmind,NOAAdeveloped theNOAACustomChartapplication, which uses updated ENC data to produce a printable PDF fi based on the customersle desired scale and area. While the output from the application doesnt look quite the same as the traditional paper charts many have grown accustomed to, they more closely approximate that traditional look with each new release of the application. Based on customer feedback, a number of improvements are now being pursued. These include better labeling, the inclusionofregulationcitationsassociated with areas described in the Code of Federal Regulations,andabetterpresentationof compass roses. Its important to note up front that output from this application should notNautical chart. (NOAA)be considered a replacement for the traditional paper charts. It is primarily designed to off ertheonlineRNCViewerthatfacilitatearehavinggreatsuccess.Recreational mariners, who are not required to meet anythesebackdropsarebeingdiscontinuedboaters can now use an ENC on laptops particularcarriagerequirements,anaddedearly on in the chart cancellation process.and mobile apps. More information about planning tool and source of information inThese services will be shut down aroundENC-based services can be found here. paper form. January 1, 2022. NOAAisstillworkingwithourcertifi edNOAA is also developing a second seamless chart agents and assisting them in printingWe have been working to get the word outENC service that should be available in the the output from this application. Some ofabout the shutdown of these services and tonext six months. It will use the same chart the ideas that are being investigated as a resultprovide companies that use these resourcessymbolsastheNOAACustomChart ofthesediscussionsincludegivingusersin their software some alternatives based onapplication. These symbols resemble those the ability to save and store their own chartENC data. It is apparent that a number ofon the traditional paper chart and can be layouts or select a predefi ned chart created bycompanies using the ENC-based services inused within applications, providing users the agent. Users may be able to subscribe to atheir navigation software and applicationswith a familiar look.chart or set of charts and have these printed and sent to them by chart agents based on aspecifi edlengthoftime.Althoughthese details are still in work, its worth noting that theapplicationdoescurrentlyallowusersIs Electric to select letter or legal paper sizes that can be printed at home on standard printers. ARight For sheet size of 11 by 17 inches is also available for printers able to accommodate that size.You?More information about the NOAA Custom Chart application is available here.Additional feedback we received dealt with RNCs. Though they are used to produce the paper charts, a wide variety of navigational softwareprogramsandapplications leverageRNCsindividuallyorcollectively as a backdrop consisting of charts that areLets talk about itstitchedtogether.Asindividualcharts are cancelled this will leave gaps of coverage withinthesebackdrops.Thus,theRNCTorqeedo Inc. T +1 (815) 444 8806TileService,SeamlessRNCServicesand171 Erick Street, Unit A - 1 usa@torqeedo.comCrystal Lake, IL 60014 www.torqeedo.comOCTOBER 2021 9 FOGHORN FOCUS: MARINE PROPULSION'