{"id":1932,"date":"2024-11-18T14:23:09","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T14:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lhg.is\/sjokort\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T13:28:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:28:14","slug":"hydrographic-department","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lhg.is\/en\/hydrographic-department\/","title":{"rendered":"Hydrographic Department"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nIcelandic Coast Guard\n<\/h6>
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\nHydrographic surveying and nautical charting\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<\/section>
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The ICG Hydrographic Department is responsible for both hydrographic surveying and nautical charting. Updated nautical charts are essential for safe navigation; it is mandatory for all ships to carry such charts.<\/p>

The ICG\/Hydrographic Department issues a monthly publication of Notices to Mariners with information on amendments that need to be added to the nautical charts. The ICG Hydrographic Department constantly reviews ocean areas that are covered by older surveys.<\/p>

Hydrographic surveys are carried out over the summer months by the survey vessel Baldur, and during the winter months, the crew works on the processing of data together with the nautical cartographers.<\/p>

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The Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) is responsible for hydrographic surveying according to clause 17 of law No. 52\/2006<\/a>. The Hydrographic Department (ICG-HD) executes this task. ICG-HD works in two sections, survey section and chart section. Employees are 12. ICG-HD makes nautical charts and publishes other nautical publications for mariners around Iceland. The main objective is to complete a series of costal charts at scale 1:100 000 and update harbour plans.<\/p>

Each and every vessel must carry latest edition of necessary charts i.e. transit charts and coastal charts. Furthermore a ship must carry necessary instruments to plot positions on a chart and Lists of Lights, Tide Tables and Pilots covering relevant sea areas. Charts must be corrected and up to date according to latest Notices to Mariners. Other corrections should be made where applicable.<\/p>

Danes carried out hydrographic surveying and production of nautical charts of Icelandic waters until the fifth decade of the 20th century. In the year 1960 Icelanders took fully over. Icelandic charts fall into the following categories:<\/p>

Transit charts, scale:<\/strong> 1:200 000 - 1:3 500 000 9 charts<\/p>

Coastal charts, scale:<\/strong> 1:70 000 - 1:160 000 20 charts<\/p>

Approach - and harbour charts, scale:<\/strong> 1:10 000 - 1:50 000 51 charts<\/p>

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Other publications are:<\/strong><\/p>