The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) has announced plans to release three new nautical charts covering the approaches to Calabar, Jamestown and the Port of Calabar on October 1, 2026.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national charting capabilities and enhancing maritime navigation safety.
According to a statement issued by the Agency, “the new chart series comprises NG5514 – Approaches to Calabar, NG5515 – Jamestown and NG4255 – Port of Calabar.”
The charts will provide updated navigational coverage from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits.
The NHA said; “the charts contain current hydrographic information designed to support safe and efficient navigation along the strategically important Calabar maritime corridor, a key route for commercial shipping and other maritime activities in Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.”
As part of preparations for the release, the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to ensure consistency with adjoining chart coverage.
The corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) were independently validated by the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).
The agency noted that the release of the new charts would coincide with the withdrawal of UKHO Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently provide chart coverage for the Calabar area.
The NHA and UKHO are expected to coordinate the transition to ensure uninterrupted availability of authoritative navigational information for mariners.
Commenting on the development, the Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NHA, Rear Admiral Olugbode Fadahunsi, described the chart release as a major milestone in Nigeria’s hydrographic development.
“The publication of these charts represents more than the release of new navigational products. It demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart and maintain our waterways to internationally recognised standards,” he said.
Fadahunsi said that “the agency remained committed to ensuring that mariners operating within Nigerian waters had access to accurate, current and authoritative information required for safe and efficient navigation.”
He further stated that the availability of updated paper charts and electronic navigational charts would improve maritime safety, support vessel operations and strengthen economic activities within the Calabar maritime corridor.
The NHA said the initiative forms part of its broader programme to expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio through continuous hydrographic surveys, production of new charts and regular updates to existing products as new maritime safety information becomes available.
The three charts will officially become available to mariners on October 1, 2026.
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