Nautical charts are the main results of marine surveys, surveying, and research, and they are also important data for marine development and utilization. Nautical charts are widely used in navigation, marine engineering construction, marine surveys and scientific research, marine resource development, marine demarcation, and marine military activities. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially in recent years, nautical chart research and nautical chart production have developed rapidly; the rapid progress of modern science and technology has brought profound changes to nautical chart technology.

According to the relevant provisions of the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China, the Naval Hydrographic Survey Bureau compiled and published a full set of standard navigational charts of various scale series in the Chinese sea area, with a total of more than 400 pictures. The main purpose of these charts is to ensure the safety of ships at sea, and it is also an important reference for national marine resource management and scientific research.

In order to make the charts published by the Naval Hydrographic Bureau reflect the changes in the sea area in a timely manner, the Survey Bureau regularly compiles and publishes the “Navigation Notice”. Users can correct the corresponding chart content in time according to the changes in the sea area published in the "Navigation Notice".