"The loss of Imray products is very unfortunate for leisure sailors," says chairman of the Small Craft Group at the Royal Institute of Navigation, Paul Bryans.
Imray, the leading publisher of nautical information for leisure sailors, will cease its paper chart publishing operations in 2025.
“While this decision has not been taken lightly, it is a recognition of growing trends in nautical digital navigation”, the company, which has published charts for more than 200 years, said in a statement.
Imray will continue to produce its pilot book and cruising guide titles, together with the ‘Explore with Imray’ digital product, which provides mariners with verified information for coastal and offshore navigation.
Charts will continue to be printed and supported by Imray Notices to Mariners “through the 2025 season”. After that, Imray will no longer publish new editions.
Lucy Wilson, managing director at Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd, told PBO: “Imray has been publishing charts for more than 200 years, so this announcement marks the end of an era, but also provides opportunity to focus on the future.
“Imray will continue to sell charts through the 2025 season and offers excellent value compared to the alternatives, so do stock up! The UKHO and other Hydrographic Offices still produce paper charts, although their prices are due to increase from January 2025.
“As we understand it, the UKHO now has no fixed public timetable around the withdrawal of paper charts. Details of their distributors are on their website.”
She added: “Although there is likely to always be some level of demand for paper charts, independent companies like Imray receive no external funding to subsidise their production. It is pragmatic to evolve and focus activity on our cruising guides and our Explore with Imray product, where demand is strong, rather than to resist the changing habits of our customers.”
Imray is offering “a final opportunity for potential buyers interested in preserving its legacy, providing a unique chance to acquire the chart business and/or rights to the Imray name”
‘Disappointing’ development for Imray
The Chairman of the Small Craft Group at the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN), Paul Bryans said: “This is a very sad and disappointing development as paper charts are an important navigational aid since they are independent of vulnerable electronic systems and excellent for planning purposes due to their size (much larger than a chart display screen).
“It is especially unfortunate as UKHO has already announced their desire to cease production of paper charts, although UKHO has now withdrawn their target date following pressure from RIN and many other bodies.
Paul, who is also chair of the Royal Cruising Club (RCC) Pilotage Foundation which has a commercial relationship with Imray on the publishing side as they publish and distribute RCC pilot books, added: “We had also expected Imray paper products to become more popular following the withdrawal of the UKHO Leisure Chart Folios some two years ago which meant that the Imray folios and charts are the only paper charts aimed specifically at the leisure sector (and, of course, they are also approved by the MCA for use on Coded vessels under 24m).
“However, RIN has been engaging with the MCA/UKSoN for several years over a recognition/approval system for electronic navigation systems for leisure vessels, and the Pleasure Vessel Navigation Systems Working Group (“PVNSWG”) was set up in 2021 with me chairing on behalf of RIN.
“We are now drafting proposed specifications for electronic charts and display systems so that, if adopted by the MCA, leisure vessel systems can have a means of being recognised/approved for primary navigation and users can have confidence that such approved systems meet the required standards.
“We also hope that the MCA will agree to some small commercial vessels (which include charter yachts and RYA school vessels) also using these systems as the alternative being proposed for commercial vessels under 24m will be much more expensive.
“That system, currently called mini-ECDIS but to be renamed SV-ECS, will inevitably mean different display systems and the use of official electronic charts will involve much higher charting costs. The PVNSWG is due to report in April 2025.
“The aim is also to take any standards agreed by the MCA to the IHO/IMO for consideration for international recognition. This would normally be a very slow process but we hope the rapid loss of paper products worldwide will enable a more speedy resolution which is also important as the electronic chart and equipment suppliers involved all sell products worldwide.
“Despite the move to electronic navigation systems for primary navigation, RIN believes that paper charts will remain an essential navigational aid for years to come and will always be the backup which is independent of external digital information sources and electric power. The loss of Imray products is therefore very unfortunate for leisure sailors.”
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Still ‘utilise paper charts’
Richard Falk, RYA director of training and qualifications
Richard Falk, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) director of training and qualifications, said: “As we are all aware, many suppliers of paper charts have heralded their intention to move away from paper in the years ahead.
“Most recently, Imray have announced their intention to exit the paper chart market in the next year.
“Paper charts will still be available through UKHO, though the range of products and level of detail available in some areas is being reduced. The cost of paper charts is also increasing – a direct reflection of the increased cost of production.
“UKHO have committed to continuing to produce paper charts until such time as there is a viable, approved alternative available.
“In the short term, we continue to advise boaters to carry and utilise paper charts. However, there is no question that the world of navigation is continuing to shift towards further use of digital products.
>”We would therefore advise anyone going afloat to ensure that they have a sound understanding of navigation using both traditional paper and also digital resources. Understanding your electronic equipment, using it appropriately and being aware of the potential hazards to watch out for, are all sound pieces of advice.
“At this stage there is still no approved common standard for electronic charts or the equipment on which they are used within the sub 500 gt market. Therefore, boaters must always exercise care when interpreting digital navigation information, ensuring that they utilise a secondary means of position fixing, rather than blindly believing what the screen tells them.
“At the RYA, we will continue to work with regulators and other stakeholders to push for the development of an appropriate, affordable and accessible digital alternative to paper charts.”
Electronic chart conundrum
Imray charts are officially recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for carriage on coded and fishing vessels under 24m. Credit: Imray
Alan Kohler, lead on the Cruising Association’s Regulatory & Technical Services (RATS) group for charts and navigation, agreed that is sad news, and marks the end of a very illustrious period of chart publishing by Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson.
He said: “However, this decision will not have been taken lightly. Whilst many of us like using paper charts (particularly for passage planning), presumably not enough people are actually buying new paper charts to cover the high costs and skilled craft of compiling and maintaining them.
“This is of particular concern as the UKHO had previously announced their proposal to end production of paper charts by end 2026. This proposal has now been put on hold, at least for now – in part due to strong challenges raised by the Cruising Association, RIN and RYA.
“However, the direction of travel is clear – towards use of electronic charts.
“Clearly there are many excellent electronic leisure charts available. However, most of these currently have the warning “not to be used for navigation” (though it is not clear what else they can actually be used for!).
There is still no approved common standard for electronic charts or the equipment on which they are used within the sub 500 gt market
“Therefore, the priority now is to ensure there are suitable electronic alternatives for leisure craft which can be approved for navigation. Hence the Cruising Association is working closely with RIN, RYA and others on the snappily tilted “PVNSWG” initiative.
“The Imray announcement simply adds more impetus to this initiative.
“In the meantime, if you are a user of Imray paper charts then you have the opportunity to buy new charts during 2025.
“However, it is not clear whether any updates (Notices to Mariners) will continue after the end of 2025. Hence these may be best used for passage planning purposes thereafter, and supplemented by other sources, including of course the Cruising Association Almanac and other Imray pilot books.”