Following discussions with its Admiralty distributor network of 140 representative agents, the Office now provides a fully comprehensive Admiralty Product Ordering Service (APOS) which links an up to date digital catalogue to a full licensing and permit production service. The catalogue is available to distributors and customers as a free download and includes comprehensive search facilities covering product types, and scale or user defined routes with weekly updates available on line.

The Hydrographic Office says that this and other electronic chart developments will be among the main features at its Europort Maritime stand in Rotterdam next month. Meanwhile, the PRIMAR ENC service operated by the Norwegian Hydrographic Service on behalf of 35 countries has announced a comparable automated ordering facility developed in association with its Dutch distributor, Datema.  Called ENC-online, it additionally offers short validity permits of three months as well as those on a per voyage basis.