Important Legal & Ethical Note:
CM93 v2 charts are proprietary, copyrighted material originally produced by C-Map (now Navico/JEOTECH) . They are no longer officially sold or supported for consumer use. The version widely available online is an unauthorized, decade-old dataset (circa 2010–2016).
This report is for legacy/educational purposes only. For legal navigation, you must use official, up-to-date charts from your hydrographic office or authorized vendors (e.g., C-MAP, NV Charts, Navionics, Official ENCs).
First, a technical distinction: CM93 refers to C-MAP’s cartographic database format, a vector chart standard used in many marine GPS plotters and software. Version 2 (v2) is a specific edition from the early 2000s that became widely circulated, covering the entire world with detailed vector charts. Unlike raster charts (scanned images of paper charts), vector charts allow users to toggle data layers (e.g., depth contours, buoys, lights), search for ports, and obtain real-time ship positioning.
The version’s popularity stems from its comprehensive global coverage in a single, relatively compact file set (approx. 1.5–2 GB). For long-distance cruisers crossing oceans, having a unified chart set for the entire planet—from the South Pacific atolls to the Norwegian fjords—is invaluable. Many open-source navigation platforms, most notably OpenCPN, were designed or adapted to read CM93 v2 charts. cm93 v2 charts download install
Note: CM93 datasets are large; ensure sufficient disk space (several GBs depending on coverage).
| Risk | Explanation |
|------|-------------|
| Outdated data | Many ports changed since 2015; new buoys, dredged channels missing |
| No official support | Cannot be used for commercial navigation under SOLAS or local regulations |
| Legal liability | If an incident occurs using CM93 v2, your insurance may be voided |
| Corrupted copies | Common CRC errors in .A/.B/.C files cause missing cells |
| Cell boundary jumps | Discontinuities at chart cell edges due to old compilation | Important Legal & Ethical Note: CM93 v2 charts
Now that you have the chart folder on your hard drive, "installation" is just telling your chart plotter software where to look.
If you’ve spent any time in the open-source marine navigation world, you’ve heard the legend: CM93 v2. A single folder of vector charts that supposedly covers the entire globe, from the Suez Canal to a remote Polynesian atoll. For years, it has been the unofficial standard for cruisers using OpenCPN. What is CM93 v2
But here’s the truth no one tells you: CM93 v2 is abandonware—obsolete, legally grey, and riddled with quirks. This guide will show you how to install it, where to find it (ethically), and why you might want to move on.
SAS.Planet plugin for OpenCPN.