Captain Maybourn's paper, and that which follows by Kerr and Anderson, were presented at a hydrographic symposium entitled ‘The Nautical Chart – The Future’, held during the 12th International Hydrographic Conference at Monaco, April 1982. It outlines the Merchant Mariner's requirements of the chart and speculates as to the effect of new navigation aids on both chart making and use. All the papers presented at the symposium, together with the ensuing discussion, will in due course be available in book form from the International Hydrographic Bureau in Monaco.