What are the three main types of charts used in maritime navigation?

The three main types of charts used in maritime navigation are nautical charts, general charts, and topographic charts. Nautical charts are specifically designed for marine navigation; they include all the necessary information for safe passage at sea, such as depths, hazards, aids to navigation, and coastal features. General charts cover broader areas and focus more on geographical features rather than navigation-specific information, while topographic charts provide detailed information about landforms, elevations, and other land-based features.

Other types of charts, such as pilot charts and aeronautical charts, focus on specific navigation purposes for pilots and mariners, but they do not constitute the primary categories used for maritime navigation as defined by standard navigational practices. Additionally, while coastal surveys and depth soundings are vital for understanding specific areas, they do not represent a distinct category of charts in the way that nautical, general, and topographic charts do.