UKHO releases Small Craft Folio for 2020 sailing season

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is releasing a new edition of its Small Craft Folio for the 2020 sailing season, the organisation has announced.

The 2020 edition will be released to support leisure and small craft users whilst UKHO considers feedback gathered during its recent open consultation on the organisation’s ongoing strategy for the small craft leisure market.

The 14th edition of SC5605, Chichester to Ramsgate and Calais to Oostende will be published in February 2020. The new edition incorporates the same year-to-year improvements as seen with previous editions of the Small Craft Folio. As with all ADMIRALTY Charts, they fully reflect the latest charting information to ensure safe navigation for the mariner.

Cathrine Armour, Director of Customer at UKHO, commented: “The response to our call for feedback into our new strategy has been tremendous. We’d like to thank the entire small craft and leisure community for their support and the evidence they have provided as we continue to make these considerations.

“This announcement allows us to continue supporting this important market whilst also ensuring that all feedback is fully taken into account and that our new strategy fully reflects the demands of leisure mariners and industry associations. We have always been proud to be an organisation that works very closely with our customers, and we hope that this new version will provide the leisure maritime community with the best possible support for the 2020 sailing season.”

As the UKHO announced in October 2019, the organisation’s wider small leisure craft strategy is still in development. Following this latest announcement, the UKHO will provide further updates about its small craft and leisure strategy as soon as possible.

The RYA's Government Relations and Training teams have recently met with UKHO to follow up our response to their consultation on the proposed withdrawal of their small craft folios. This was a really positive meeting where UKHO shared their future strategy that is going to bring a fresh approach that addresses our concerns and should be welcomed by all in due course.

Any users with questions about this process or the 2020 edition of the Small Craft Folio should contact products.feedback@ukho.gov.uk.