Summary
Highlights
Use a light, fast, waterproof permanent pen with violet or magenta ink. A 0.25 nib is suitable for deletions and inserting chart limits, while a 0.18 nib is best for insertions like light descriptions. Avoid blue, black, or red ink, as red disappears under red lighting used on ships at night.
A 7H pencil is for pinpointing positions, and a 2B pencil is used for normal chart work and guidelines. An eraser is necessary for removing pencil marks, and a scalpel can be used for scratching out details if mistakes are made.
A good quality glue is essential for neatly and permanently attaching blocks, notes, and tables onto charts.
Rolling and stepping rules are used for plotting chart updates from textual NMs. Bow dividers offer more sensitive and accurate positioning. A 12 or 18-inch plastic ruler is for drawing straight guidelines, lines, and insertion deletion lines. A compass with a pen attachment is for drawing large circular areas.
A hacksaw blade (with 14 teeth per inch/2.5 cm) can be used to draw the symbol for a cable. A steel straightedge is useful for finding positions, and a template with various hole sizes is for drawing symbols like radio reporting points, pilots, and small circular areas.
The NP 133A publication, the paper chart maintenance record, is crucial. It lists every chart numerically and is used to record updates by their NM number. Maintaining an up-to-date record is vital to avoid losing track and missing necessary updates.