Sailing Directions

(1) The branch of navigation concerned with the study of water basins from the standpoint of navigation conditions.

(2) The name of manuals containing a detailed description of the navigational features of water basins (coasts, bottom configu-ration, navigational hazards and warning systems, hydrological and meteorological conditions, and so on). Sailing directions provide instruction for navigating in the area described (for instance, the Black Sea Sailing Directions). They are issued by the government hydrographic establishments of the various countries.