Hosted marine vector charts

Vector charts and raster charts

A raster chart is an image. A vector chart contains geometry and attributes that a renderer draws as fills, lines, symbols and labels. Vector layers support theme changes, feature inspection and selective visibility. More geometry and labels also mean more browser work, so tile detail and collision handling matter.

What NautaCharts provides

NautaCharts delivers chart archives, nautical styles and symbol sprites. Its European inland coverage is based on inland ENC datasets; USA coastal coverage is based on NOAA ENC datasets. Read the coverage notes before choosing an archive.

Chart features include depths, aids to navigation, waterways, bridges, anchorages and restriction areas. Portrayal uses S-101 and S-52 reference material with product-specific display choices. NautaCharts does not claim certified ECDIS compliance.

How integration works

1. Create an account and obtain a browser API key with access to the required archive.
2. Add the entitled archive as a vector source in your host map.
3. Load maritime-vectors-plugin.js and install the chart layers against that source.
4. Choose an insertion layer so fleet and AIS overlays remain above the charts.

MapLibre requires a registered PMTiles protocol. Mapbox uses the integration appropriate to the host’s PMTiles support. Your host application controls camera, projection, pitch, base map and overlays. Open the code examples and plugin API.

PMTiles, caching and chart updates

A PMTiles archive is a single file containing many vector tiles. HTTP range requests retrieve the required parts instead of downloading the entire archive. Browser rendering still depends on tile geometry, symbols, labels and device capabilities.

Archives are baked snapshots. A style update can change how existing features look, but it cannot add attributes or geometry missing from an old archive. New chart data requires a new archive. Versioned URLs help clients keep an archive consistent while it is being updated.

Keep the vector source’s maximum zoom equal to the archive’s highest baked zoom. The map can zoom closer by overzooming those tiles. Raising the source maximum above the baked level can request tiles that do not exist.

Choosing a chart integration

Use NautaCharts when you need hosted nautical chart context inside an existing fleet, port or GIS application. If you need a complete chartplotter with GPS instruments, track recording or route guidance, those application features must come from your own software or another product.

Explore the live chart · Integration documentation · Discuss a deployment