Collaboration between the UK Overseas Territories hydrographic community
As a world-leading centre for hydrography, we support other nations with their hydrographic understanding and capabilities to support safety of life at sea.
Delegates from Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies at the UKHO headquarters.
Billions of people worldwide rely on the oceans for food, work and leisure, this is collectively known as the blue economy. The good governance of our oceans and the sustainable use of sea resources is of importance to the UK and its Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies, who together are custodians to the fifth-largest marine estate in the world. There is a responsibility to ensure effective and long-term use of this ocean resource.
Key to good governance and blue economic development is developing and maintaining a good understanding of the oceans. However, due to the remoteness, small populations and land masses of the UK’s Overseas Territories, hydrographic data has historically proven challenging to gather, and resources have been lacking to invest in the level of seabed mapping required.
These factors are what drove the UK government to create the Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programme (OTSMP) in 2016. The programme has been funded by the UK government and exists to improve the safety of navigation through hydrography and developing hydrographic capability.
Activity under this programme has increased compliance with international maritime obligations and supports blue economic development for the UK’s Overseas Territories. With many of the Overseas Territories being islands, most goods are brought in by sea. Ensuring accurate navigational charts helps mariners to navigate safely into port and maintains safe transport links to and from the islands.
Developing hydrographic understanding to support safe navigation
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is proud to support a number of Overseas Territories through the OTSMP. This includes conducting a number of hydrographic surveys under the survey programme, such as the one conducted in the Cayman Islands in 2021, supporting Montserrat authorities with equipment and training to undertake seabed mapping, and over the past eight years working alongside the government of Anguilla to help improve the safety of life at sea around the island.
The latest milestone for the OTSMP came in January, when the UKHO’s hydrographic programmes team hosted 22 delegates from 13 Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies at the organisation’s headquarters in Taunton.
The weeklong workshop covered a range of topics. This included hydrographic governance, international obligations, and a day focused on maritime safety information including how Overseas Territories can continue to develop their own hydrographic capabilities. Later in the week, they discussed hydrographic surveying and sharing data. They focused on the future of navigation and identifying areas of risk to prioritise surveying in the future.
Speaking about the workshop, and the OTSMP more broadly, Nathanael Knapp, Head of Partnering and Engagement (East Atlantic and Caribbean), UKHO, said that the week was critical for
raising awareness within the Overseas Territories of the importance of their obligations under Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS), but also provides them with the capability, capacity and infrastructure to be able to deliver on those obligations. This leads to wider benefits, such as improving their economy and other environmental, sustainable benefits
Supporting the long-term future for hydrographic capacity in the Overseas Territories
The workshop helped the Overseas Territories delegates gain a greater understanding of hydrographic governance and how it assists them to improve compliance with their international maritime obligations. For the UKHO, hosting the workshop enabled strong engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.
Darren Kelly, Chief Surveyor for the Cayman Islands Government, said that the week of workshops helped to promote
capacity building that ultimately provides surveys to give us a better understanding and improve safety of navigation in the waters around the Cayman Islands.
Anguilla’s Director of Maritime Affairs, Sharmer Fleming, pointed out that beyond the immediate SOLAS benefits of the OTSMP, the programme
also contributes to a number of areas such as environmental management, disaster awareness and building resilience to climate change.
And on the long-term future for hydrographic capacity in the Overseas Territories, Lavern Ryan, Geographic Information System Manager for the Government of Montserrat, added that thanks to the OTSMP, Montserrat now has a
a team of eight people that are trained to perform hydrographic surveys.
She also pointed out that
hydrographic surveying is a vital part of our existence… it’s a continual effort because the seabed changes so often.
Overall, the week of workshops provided a fantastic opportunity for collaboration and partnerships across the UK’s Overseas Territories. Hydrographic capacity building is an ongoing process, but over time the improved survey data from the UK’s Overseas Territories will power improved sustainability, economic and, most importantly of all, safety benefits for locals, regulators, mariners and vessels.
As a world-leading hydrographic office the UKHO will continue to work with friends and partners across the globe. Supporting in the development of hydrographic capability to enhance understanding, management and protection of the marine environment.
Learn about the advantages of the OTSMP and collaboration with the UKHO from attendees at hydrographic data governance workshops. Watch our video: