Safety to Navigation

The Hydrographic Institute is the entity in Portugal responsible for the supervision and monitoring of Navigational Warnings and for the publication of Notice to Mariners through which Nautical Charts and Publications are updated. This monthly publication is distributed by mail or with the possibility of consultation through the platform ANAVNET.

World Wide Navigational Warning System

The establishment of the Global Warnings Service was based on a combination of efforts by the world maritime authorities, the IHO and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to improve the safety standards of shipping by disseminating information on navigation.
The aim of the ANAV is to get information to the navigator with an importance and urgency that is not commensurate with the delay inherent in the publication of the next monthly group. If ANAV remains in effect on the date of publication of the group, it shall be included in it.

Broadcasting systems may be by NAVTEX (teleprinter), radiotelephony, International INMARSAT SafetyNET.

In the “Grupo Anual de Avisos aos Navegantes” you can find all the information about this service.

NAVTEX

The NAVTEX system is a service of broadcasting and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of telegraphy, by direct narrowband printing.
It broadcast Navigational Warnings, meteorological information and other information necessary for navigation safety, considering that each station has a coverage area with a radius of 400 miles. In Portugal it is activated from the stations in Continental Portugal, Madeira Island and Azores Island and the English frequency is 518 kHz.

In the “Grupo Anual de Avisos aos Navegantes” you can find all the information about this service.

ANAVNET

The Hydrographic Institute makes available in its web page a service of aid to navigators called ANAVNET - https://geoanavnet.hidrografico.pt/.

This service allows you to consult the publications "Avisos a Navegantes - Grupo Mensal" in pdf format, where you can find all the information that allows you to keep up to date all charts and publications acquired.
This service makes it easier for all interested users the access to the data of the Notice to mariners but does not exempt the use of the publication in paper format.

In the same pdf format, you can also consult the publication Avisos a Navegantes - Annual Group, where you can find all the Special Notices that complement the information contained in the Nautical Charts.

Navigational Warnings are also available in Portuguese and English, via NAVTEX, for the Mainland, Madeira and Azores Islands.
There is also an option, corresponding to the local warnings that allows the navigator to consult the local navigation warnings in the ports. In addition, the navigator has available for consultation, applicable diverse regulation, promulgated both by the Maritime Authorities and by the Port Authorities.
(This register is the responsibility of the local Maritime Authorities).

Hydrographic report

Mariners are advised to send information to the Hydrographic Institute regarding, for example, any alterations in the existing aids to navigation or new dangers by filling the Hydrographic report. However it is emphasized that in the communication of information content and speed is more important than is form.