Admiralty Chart 5500: Mariners' Routeing Guide - English Channel and Dover Strait

An official Admiralty Mariners' Routeing Guide, printed on demand on quality, watermarked chart paper directly from the UKHO's latest digital files. Each guide includes all available corrections up to the date of printing, ensuring you receive the most up-to-date data for safe passage planning and navigation.

About Admiralty Mariners' Routeing Guides

Admiralty Mariners' Routeing Guides are specialised navigation charts produced by the UKHO, designed to support passage planning through the world's busiest and most complex shipping routes. These guides provide essential routeing information including traffic separation schemes, recommended tracks, and navigational warnings to help mariners safely navigate congested waters. With over 200 years of experience, the UKHO is a global leader in hydrography, and these routeing guides complement standard nautical charts by focusing specifically on safe passage planning through critical maritime corridors.

Key Features of Mariners' Routeing Guides

• Specialised Routeing Information: Detailed guidance on traffic separation schemes, recommended routes, and safe passage planning through busy shipping areas.
• Critical Shipping Routes: Coverage of major maritime corridors including straits, channels, and approaches to major ports worldwide.
• Enhanced Safety Data: Information on navigational hazards, restricted areas, and traffic management measures adopted by IMO and national authorities.
• Up-to-Date for Safe Navigation: Every guide is printed on demand with the latest available corrections and official UKHO updates.

Routeing Guides for Framing & Decorative Wall Art

Authentic Admiralty Mariners' Routeing Guides make impressive pieces of nautical wall art for homes and offices, showcasing the world's busiest shipping lanes. However, as these are working navigation charts rather than decorative prints, there are a few practical considerations for those wishing to frame them. Please review the key points below before ordering.

• Chart Dimensions: Most charts are approximately DE size (1070 x 715 mm), Long DE size (1270 x 715 mm) or A0 size (1189 x 841mm), though individual charts may differ. Some chart images are smaller and may be printed with a white border which can be trimmed. As exact dimensions aren't available until printing we strongly recommend waiting to receive your chart before ordering a frame.
• Presentation: The chart will be printed from the latest file available. Sometimes this may be more up-to-date than the sample image on this page. Over the past few years the colour palette and general presentation of Admiralty charts has changed as new editions are published. For example, newer editions use a paler yellow for land compared to the traditional deeper 'mustard' colour. If this is of concern please get in touch and we can check the latest thumbnail image.
• Official Markings: Charts will include an official agent's stamp and a line of authentication data in the margin.
• Folded or Unfolded: By default, charts are folded up to three times to a standard size suitable for a ship's chart drawer. If you require an unfolded chart for framing, please select this option when ordering. Both folded and unfolded charts are then rolled for shipping in a tube.

Shipping and Handling

• Printed to Order: Please note that Admiralty charts are not off-the-shelf items. Each one is printed on demand by an official UKHO Print-on-Demand distributor and prepared individually, a process that involves printing, trimming, quality checking, folding, official stamping, and applying a chart number label to the back of the chart. Please check for messages regarding current handling times during the ordering process.
• Urgent Orders: If you are in a hurry, please get in touch with us directly and we will do our very best to accommodate your needs.
• Packaging: Your chart will be shipped rolled in a sturdy cardboard tube. Charts are produced to professional navigation standards where minor creasing, if it occurs, does not affect navigational use. If shipped with Royal Mail we use a standard round tube. If shipped with DPD we use a long rectangular box which carries a slightly higher risk of creasing. Minor creasing can usually be flattened easily with a few hours under some heavy books.
• Returns: Because every chart is printed to order, it is non-returnable unless faulty or damaged. Please ensure the chart you have selected meets your needs before ordering. We are very happy to help with any questions, so please get in touch if you need assistance.