Crew Library - US Gov References
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) - This is the best and most current source of all laws/regulations - however it is not an official legal edition of the CFR. As many published works on boating often cite the proper and legal methods to accomplish things on your boat, everyone should know where to look up those citations and verify the integrity of any regulatory statement made. Don't be surprised when you discover many author's interpretation of the regulations are not complete, accurate, or out-of-date. A copy of the CFR can also be downloaded for viewing offline.
USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook - Rules of the Road. The operator of each self-propelled vessel 12 meters or more in length shall carry, on board and maintain for ready reference, a copy of these Rules [33 CFR 83.01.g] This is the ONE book all vessel operators should have aboard and know its contents intimately. Download free PDF copy here.
US Notice to Mariners - provides timely marine safety information for the correction of all US Government navigation charts and publications from a wide variety of sources, both foreign and domestic. If you desire, a Subscription Service is provided whereby the US Notice to Mariners (NTM) is delivered to your e-mail address each week.
USCG Local Notices to Mariners - The primary means for disseminating information concerning aids to navigation, hazards to navigation, and other items of marine information of interest to mariners on the waters of the United States, it's territories, and possessions. If you desire, you can subscribe to the Local Notice to Mariners and have it delivered to your e-mail address each week.
American Practical Navigator (Bowditch) - Volume 1 and Volume 2. The Encyclopedia of Navigation - describes in detail the principles and factors of navigation, including piloting, electronic navigation, celestial navigation, mathematics, safety, oceanography and meteorology. A very informative read. Be sure to download the Nautical Calculators so you can work through some of the examples.
US Chart No. 1 - Describes the symbols, abbreviations, and terms used on nautical charts.
- Volume I - Atlantic Coast (St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey)
- Volume II - Atlantic Coast (Toms River, New Jersey to Little River, South Carolina)
- Volume III - Atlantic and Gulf Coast (Little River, South Carolina to Econfina River, Florida includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Volume IV - Gulf of Mexico (Econfina River, Florida to Rio Grande River, Texas)
- Volume V - Mississippi River System
- Volume VI - Pacific Coast and Pacific Islands
- Volume VII - Great Lakes (United States and Canada)
- Pub. 110 - Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies
- Pub. 111 - The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans
- Pub. 112 - Western Pacific and Indian Oceans Including the Persian Gulf and Red Sea
- Pub. 113 - The West Coasts of Europe and Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Azovskoye More (Sea of Azov)
- Pub. 114 - British Isles, English Channel and North Sea
- Pub. 115 - Norway, Iceland and Arctic Ocean
- Pub. 116 - Baltic Sea with Kattegat, Belts and Sound and Gulf of Bothnia
United States Coast Pilot - Weekly updates. The Coast Pilot supplements the navigational information shown on NOAA nautical charts.
- Volume 1 - Atlantic Coast: Eastport, Maine to Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Volume 2 - Atlantic Coast: Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Sandy Hook, New Jersey
- Volume 3 - Atlantic Coast: Sandy Hook, New Jersey to Cape Henry, Virginia
- Volume 4 - Atlantic Coast: Cape Henry, Virginia to Key West, Florida
- Volume 5 - Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
- Volume 6 - Great Lakes: Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior and St. Lawrence River
- Volume 7 - Pacific Coast: California
- Volume 8 - Alaska: Dixon Entrance to Cape Spencer
- Volume 9 - Alaska: Cape Spencer to Beaufort Sea
- Volume 10 - Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Pacific Islands
International Code of Signals - For Visual, Sound, and Radio Communications. Contains descriptions and graphic depictions of a specific vocabulary of signals and the various methods used to transmit them.
Sailing Directions Enroute - include detailed countries coastal and port approach information, supplementing the largest scale chart of the area. Update Summary.
Sailing Directions Planning Guide - include relevant physical, political, industrial, navigational and regulatory information about the countries adjacent to a particular ocean basin in a single volume.
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) - The purpose of a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is to provide active monitoring and navigational advice for vessels in particularly confined and busy waterways. Check USCG Homeport website for port specific information. Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) New York has a user manual that details port contact and navigation requirements.
The World Factbook (CIA) - Provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. The entire World Factbook can be downloaded for offline viewing.
Website Links:
USCG National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) - US vessel documentation and registration website.
U.S. Coast Guards Boating Safety Division - Everything about boating safety.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center
Maritime Safety Information
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey
Inland Electronic Navigational Charts
USCG PSIX Vessel Search - Port State Information eXchange (PSIX) Contains vessel specific information derived from the United States Coast Guard's Marine Information Safety and Law Enforcement System (MISLE).
NOAA USCG Vessel Search - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) USCG Vessel Search website.
ITU Ship Station Search - International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Maritime mobile Access and Retrieval System (MARS) Vessel Search website.
FCC Radio Ship Station License Search - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Licensing System (ULS)
FCC Operator License Search - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Licensing System (ULS)
Canada:
Canadian Sailing Directions - companion to nautical charts.