Every so often I see someone searching "free nautical chart Chile" expecting to find the complete official cartography available for free download. It doesn't exist. Chile's official nautical cartography — paper and electronic alike — is sold directly through the SHOA store (Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada de Chile, Chile's Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service). What is free are other equally useful documents that very few sailors know about or use.
This guide separates exactly what's free, what you have to buy, and how to keep your cartography up to date once you have it — without the misinformation that usually circulates on this topic.
What Is SHOA?
SHOA is the official, technical and permanent state body responsible for producing and updating all nautical cartography of Chilean territory. In other words, it's the only official source of nautical charts for Chile — any other cartography source you use (apps, plotters with third-party data) ultimately relies on, or should be cross-checked against, the data SHOA produces.
What You CAN Download Free
SHOA publishes several freely accessible documents that are extremely useful for any sailor, even if you never buy an official chart:
- Notices to Mariners Bulletin: monthly publication with all the information that updates current charts and publications — essential if you sail regularly
- Catalogue of Charts and Nautical Publications (Pub. 3000): the full index of which charts exist for each area of Chile, useful for knowing what to buy
- Chart 1 — Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms: the key to correctly reading any nautical chart, Chilean or international
- Distance Table: distances between ports and reference points along the Chilean coast
All of these documents are available in PDF format from the free downloads section of SHOA's online store (tienda.shoa.cl), with no registration or payment required.
What's NOT Free: The Official Nautical Chart
This is where the most common confusion lies. The nautical chart itself — the one you need to plan a route or navigate with precision — is sold, not given away. This applies to both traditional paper charts and electronic navigational charts (ENC).
ENCs are distributed in encrypted format under the international S-63 standard, issued with a use and update licence valid for one year. After that period, you need to renew the licence to keep receiving updates. This model isn't unique to Chile — it's the standard most hydrographic services worldwide use for official electronic cartography.
"The confusion between 'free SHOA documents' and 'free SHOA nautical charts' has cost more than one sailor time when they arrived expecting the latter."
How to Buy the Official Nautical Chart
The process happens directly through SHOA's online store (tienda.shoa.cl):
- Go to the online store and browse by region or search for the specific chart you need
- Choose between a paper chart or an electronic navigational chart (ENC) depending on your navigation equipment
- For ENCs, you'll need to complete the User Permit form — part of the S-63 licensing process
- The free Pub. 3000 catalogue helps you identify exactly which chart number covers your navigation area before buying
- Review the property rights and terms of use, also available free on the site
Electronic Charts (ENC) vs. Paper Charts
Neither fully replaces the other, and many serious sailors carry both. The electronic chart integrates directly into your plotter or navigation software and makes real-time position tracking easier. The paper chart doesn't depend on electricity or software and remains the most reliable backup if your electronic system fails — something that, in the southern channels with humidity and demanding conditions, isn't as remote a scenario as it sounds.
- ENC: integrates with plotters and software · requires an S-63 licence valid for one year · makes real-time tracking easier
- Paper: doesn't depend on electricity or software · reliable backup if electronics fail · requires manually applying corrections with each bulletin
- Practical recommendation: carry both if you sail outside protected zones — electronic for daily use, paper as an emergency backup
Is It Mandatory to Carry Nautical Charts?
The use of nautical cartography on board falls under Chapter V of the SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea), in force internationally since 2002. In Chile, the authority that verifies compliance is the Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo y de Marina Mercante (DGTM y MMN).
For commercial and passenger navigation, the requirement is clear. For recreational sailing, the specific requirements can vary depending on vessel type, navigation zone and clearance category. My practical recommendation: check directly with your local Port Captain before departure, especially if you're heading to remote areas or the southern channels.
How to Keep Your Charts Updated
Buying the chart is only the first step — keeping it updated is your responsibility as the user, not something automatic. SHOA publishes a monthly Notices to Mariners Bulletin (free, downloadable from its site) detailing every change that must be applied: new buoys, depth changes, reported obstructions, modified markings.
An outdated chart can be more dangerous than no chart at all, because it creates a false sense of security. Check the monthly bulletin regularly, especially before sailing into areas you don't visit often.
Practical Advice from the Captain
After decades sailing with SHOA cartography, my recommendation is simple: download the free Chart 1 symbols legend and the Pub. 3000 catalogue right now — they'll help you understand exactly what you need before spending money on the wrong chart. And once you buy your official chart, whether paper or electronic, set a monthly reminder to check the Notices to Mariners bulletin. It's the habit that separates the sailor who navigates informed from the one navigating with a beautiful but outdated chart.
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