What is one disadvantage of raster charts compared to vector charts?

Raster charts are digital images of paper nautical charts, meaning they represent information in pixel form. While raster charts can be detailed and display traditional chart symbols effectively, they generally do not offer the same level of detail and scalability as vector charts.

Vector charts are constructed using geometric shapes and objects (points, lines, and polygons), which allows them to provide interactive features such as zooming in on specific areas without losing clarity or detail. This enables users to view intricate navigational details at various scales. As a result, when comparing raster charts to vector charts, one significant disadvantage of raster charts is that they may not maintain the same level of detail when users attempt to zoom in or require specific navigational information.

The other options pertain more to different aspects of chart production and usage. For example, the costs associated with producing raster versus vector charts, the availability of data globally, and the software requirements primarily relate to user access and convenience rather than the inherent detail provided by the chart types themselves.