In November, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) will conduct seabed mapping surveys of the Falkland Islands coastal waters to support safe maritime trade and the development of a sustainable blue economy. The collection of hydrographic data is vital to supporting safe trade, sustainable economic growth and the protection of coastal communities from the effects of climate change, says the UKHO. As part of the UK government’s Overseas Seabed Mapping Program, the UKHO will lead the collection of this data through vessel-based seabed mapping surveys of the Falkland Island coastal waters.
Data from these surveys will initially be used to update nautical charts to support safe and efficient navigation for ships using the Falkland Island waters. In the November/December issue of Hydro International, UKHO's Phil Payne talks about the Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Program. As Survey Delivery Manager, Payne is in charge of contracting out and organizing surveys around the world, which his organization undertakes as part of the UK Government’s Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) and Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programs.
This forms part of the work carried out by the wider Hydrographic Programs team to support blue economic growth and help territories to fulfill their international maritime safety obligations under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. So far, we’ve covered more than 19,500km2 throughout these programs and have conducted surveys in Commonweal.
