Company

Japan Hydrographic Charts & Publications Co., Ltd. was established in 1947 by a small number of like-minded people from the former Japanese Navy's Hydrographic Department, and then started sale of nautical charts. Japan's fleet of vessels, largely devastated by the previous war, was gradually restored, upgraded over the years, and bagan to expand in line with the succeeding economic growth.

During the times, our business has expanded into foreign-edited nautical charts, starting with US NIMA charts in 1953 followed by the ones from UK, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. In 1979, we started sale of Chinese charts under an agreement with Chinese Navy Headquarters.

The economic growth has led to and spurred technical innovations on. Digitization of hydrographic data was develped and improved in response to the requirements for safe and efficient operation of increasing number of vessels. Recently, we can see the establishment of new marine communication system on a par with the terrestrial systems through the development of "Maritime Broadband". With the installation of Electronic Chart Display System (ECDIS) being set mandatory as from 2012, various nautical chart softwares which incorporate many kinds of operational and hydrographic information laid on top of conventional data will very likely be our main field in the future.

The innovation of more advanced information systems and communication systems enables the available data to be shared instantaneously, not only between mariners but among all relevant parties, including on-shore shipmanagers, cargo owners or port authorities. This will bring a better way to avoid possible danger and more efficient navigation, which will result in an expansion of safe marine transportation. We at Japan Hydrographic Charts have been carefully watching this dynamic transition and have continuously strove for the digitization of all our related operations. Consequently, we are commited to swiftly meeting all customers demands and thereby contributing to the development of shipping industry.

We aim to contribute to safe operation of vessels by cordially, politely, swiftly and accurately meeting customers' needs with responsibility and awareness of our position as Japan's only company specializing in the sale of nautical charts and publications, which are essential for the navigation of coastal or ocean-going vessels that are the direct bearers of logistics in global economy.