3545 - Johnstone Strait, Port Neville to Robson Bight Nautical Chart

The Whale Way: 3545 - Johnstone Strait (Port Neville to Robson Bight)

Navigate the heart of the world’s premier orca habitat with the professional authority of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS). Chart 3545 is the definitive 1:40,000 scale "road map" for mariners, providing the high-resolution data required for safe transit through the central and northern reaches of Johnstone Strait.

Precision for Marine Sanctuaries and Technical Currents

The stretch between Port Neville and Robson Bight is a high-traffic maritime corridor where commercial shipping lanes intersect with sensitive ecological zones. CHS Chart 3545 provides the "ground-truth" data required for safe pilotage:

• Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve: Clearly defines the boundaries of this globally significant killer whale sanctuary, ensuring mariners can maintain legal distances and avoid entry into restricted waters.

• Essential Current Awareness: Provides bathymetry for areas notorious for 5-8 knot currents and "wind-over-tide" conditions, essential for safe passage through the narrowing waters between Vancouver Island and West Cracroft Island.

• Port Neville and Coastal Shelter: Features detailed mapping for the historic Port Neville area and the surrounding inlets, offering critical data for those seeking anchorage or refuge from the strait’s unpredictable afternoon westerlies.

• Advanced Bathymetry: Explicitly marks the deep-water trenches and shallow rocky benches characteristic of the northern island mountains, ensuring situational awareness for both deep-sea vessels and coastal cruisers.

The Professional Standard for North Island Safety

As the primary link for vessels heading toward Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill, and the Broughton Archipelago, the reliability of Chart 3545 is paramount. Whether you are a professional pilot managing heavy vessel traffic or a recreational boater exploring the rugged beauty of the BC coast, this official CHS chart delivers the accuracy and detail needed to navigate with total confidence.