About Us
American Nautical Services is a family-owned South Florida nautical chart agent business that is known globally and ships worldwide. We pride ourselves in our highly personalized customer service and fast, accurate shipping. We also have a friendly, bilingual staff to serve our Spanish-speaking clients.
From the very beginning in 1977, we have been dedicated to maritime training, safe navigation, and compliance for all of our clients. We love being part of the South Florida maritime community — and we are constantly sharing our knowledge through educational classes and special on-site training events at our store. On a global scale, we are known for our proprietary e-Navigation software SPICA, expert marine surveying services, and our wide range of nautical charts and publications.
American Nautical Services specializes in e-navigation and SOLAS chapter V ECDIS navigation requirements for vessels over 500GT. Digital navigation is essential in eliminating mistakes, increasing efficiency, and improving operations — ultimately saving shipowners, management companies, captains, and crew both time and money.
We are currently ranked top among American IMO Publishing distributors and carry all IMO publications in English, as well as our best selling publications in Spanish. We have a contract with the General Services Administration (GSA) to supply nautical charts and maritime publications to the Federal Government. We pride ourselves in stocking the most up-to-date marine publications, including those from the British ADMIRALTY.
Our team at ANS is always eager to help. If you have any questions, please contact our sales team at [email protected], or call 1-877-999-3321.
History
American Nautical Services was established in Miami in 1977 by a father and son — Edward L. Hays and Ed Hays. Edward began the family’s legacy in the maritime industry by graduating from King’s Point U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Ed Hays soon followed in his father’s footsteps by attending and graduating from King’s Point as well. After working in the maritime industry for some time, the father and son decided to start American Nautical Services (ANS) together.
ANS got its start as a marine surveying firm and training school. ANS offered license preparation classes and training for captains of small boats all the way up to commercial vessels. As business grew and students needed nautical book resources, ANS expanded into becoming a nautical chart agent for the U.S. Government.
At the height of its marine training program, ANS employed seven instructors and conducted training in five states along the East Coast. Eventually, the training program was converted into a self-study program and ANS focused on consulting, marine surveying, and selling nautical charts and publications.
Ed Hays took over the family business in 1983 as business continued to thrive and the ANS team started to grow. In 2004, ANS moved their offices from the port of Miami to its current location by Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
As it stands today, three generations of the Hays family have graduated from King’s Point and served in the U.S. Merchant Marines. Multiple family members have personal oversight over ANS business operations and all employees work together as a family to bring the best of maritime training, safe navigation, and compliance to our clients.
American Nautical Services is founded on a family legacy of involvement in the maritime community. We continue to work with commercial fleets and shipowners around the world to offer comprehensive navigational data, marine tools, and up-to-date charts and publications for a successful voyage. We hope to serve our clients with excellence for years to come. Thank you for choosing us!
