Complete Chart Coverage Now Available for The Great Lakes

Nautical Data International, Inc. and it’s counterpart in the United States, Maptech, today announce that boaters are no longer required to purchase two separate data products to use digital nautical charts for navigating the Great Lakes. Through a recently signed agreement, NDI and Maptech, today officially launched a joint product that will provide boaters and fishers with complete US and Canadian coverage for Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

NDI and Maptech have joined forces to produce four new chart regions for the Great Lakes. stated Mohammad Al Zaibak, the Chief Executive Officer of NDI. The new CD regions eliminate the requirement to purchase two separate products from separate companies for complete Lake coverage due to national boundaries. Each Region contains all the US and officially released Canadian charts for that Lake. All the elements work seamlessly together, added Al Zaibak.

Each of the four new Regions are co-branded by Maptech and NDI and include all of the great features of both Digital ChartKit and DigitalOcean products. The new products will also include Maptech’s Chart Navigator software, and select navigation photos and topographical maps for the US shoreline as well as marine facilities and place names for both the US and Canada. All at a reduced price from previous offerings, stated Ed Markham, President of Maptech.

Mr. Denis Hains, Acting Dominion Hydrographer, of the Canadian Hydrographic Service, commented, These new CD’s will combine raster charts from both Canadian and US authorities to facilitate navigation between the two countries. He added that, Recreational boaters using the existing products of both companies will be pleased to learn that these products will still be supported.

Today’s announcement coincides with NDI’s sponsorship of the Caledonia; North America’s largest tall ship. The Caledonia has been participating in the Tall Ship Challenge 2003 where it has been sailing the Great Lakes using the joint product CD’s provided by NDI. Caledonia’s Captain Doug Prothero, is very impressed with the advanced navigational technology the CD’s incorporate. The NDI-Maptech Great Lakes CD’s are not only very user friendly and precise, they are the way of the future in navigational technology and have made our journey through the Great Lakes that much more efficient, safe and enjoyable stated Captain Prothero.

NDI, a Proud Sponsor of the Caledonia, welcomes all to visit this magnificent ship during its Toronto stay from August 28th – 30th at the Maple Leaf Quay at the end of Rees Street.

NDI is the sole worldwide distributor of the official Canadian electronic navigation charts and other digital nautical information under a multi-year agreement with the Government of Canada. Through the foresight of the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and in partnership with CHS, NDI has successfully developed a comprehensive digital cartography database comprised of thousands of nautical charts and other marine information covering navigable Canadian waters and coastal zones.

A privately held Canadian company based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, NDI distributes its CHS’ certified data products under the brand DigitalOcean for the recreational boating, recreational and commercial fishing, and commercial shipping navigation purposes as well as for other non-navigation applications.

CHS is mandated to collect, compile, publish, and distribute hydrographic charts and related nautical publications to facilitate safe and efficient navigation throughout Canadian and adjacent international navigable waters.

Maptech aims to make navigation easier on land, on water, or in the air. Its diverse products include both electronic software as well as detailed cartography. Maptech is the exclusive provider of NOAA digital charts and produces a full line of electronic and paper products for marine navigation that appeal to both recreational and commercial boaters both in the USA and worldwide. For more information, on the latest GPS News see gps maps.

Author Notes:

Glenn Silverberg contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.handheld-gps-reviews.com.  A wealth of information about Global Positioning Systems for commercial or personal use.