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Hydrographic Office News

26 Feb 2024

UK Chamber of Shipping names Hatcher Chief Executive

Rhett Hatcher (Photo: UK Chamber of Shipping)

The UK Chamber of Shipping announced the appointment of Rhett Hatcher as its next chief executive, replacing Sarah Treseder.Hatcher has recently retired from the Royal Navy. He brings with him a broad wealth of experience. His last role was as the UK National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive at the UK Hydrographic Office. He gained a thorough understanding of Whitehall while in senior appointments at the Ministry of Defense, where he was responsible for global strategy…

17 Aug 2022

UKHO Appoints Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair

Marion Leslie (Photo: UKHO)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) confirmed the appointment of Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair. Leslie will chair the UKHO Board in this independent position after a year as interim Non-Executive Chair and six years as a Non-Executive Director at the UKHO.The Board supports, challenges and validates the UKHO business strategy and oversees the organization's performance. Leslie leads the Board as Chair, acting in the interests of the Ministry of Defense and key stakeholders…

26 Jul 2022

UKHO to Stop Paper Chart Production in 2026

Copyright dvoevnore/AdobeStock

The death of the paper chart may finally be coming to fruition, as the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced its intention to develop options for the withdrawal from global paper chart production by late 2026, as commerical and pleasure boating use of electronic charts continues full steam ahead, and theADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions digital navigation portfolio can be updatedin near real-time, greatly enhancing safety of life at sea (SOLAS). The phased withdrawal of paper…

28 Oct 2021

UKHO Launches ADMIRALTY Small Craft Charts Service

(Image: UKHO)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has launched its ADMIRALTY Small Craft Charts service - formerly known as ADMIRALTY Leisure Chart Folios – to bring important safety, quality and flexibility benefits to all marine users who depend on these charts.The launch of this new service follows the announcement in May 2021 that UKHO will withdraw the regional folio structure for these charts. Instead users can purchase only those charts that are relevant to their needs without being required to purchase the full regional folio.Through this updated product…

09 Jun 2021

Need a Survey? There’s a USV for That

Blue Essence hybrid USV. Image courtesy Fugro

While the adoption of unmanned/uncrewed surfaces vessels (USVs) was initially in defence, use of these low footprint systems has spread into other sectors, not least survey, and now the race is on for greater capability, endurance and autonomy. Elaine Maslin reports.After starting small, in inland waterways, use of USVs for survey operations has moved into coastal and now offshore waters. Given the extensive amount of seabed and rapid growth in offshore wind, there’s plenty of work out there for them to do.With the travel restrictions posed by Covid and increasing awareness of climate change…

04 May 2021

UK Hydrographic Office Appoints Peter Sparkes as Chief Executive

Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes (Photo: UKHO)

The U.K. Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes as the new chief executive and accounting officer. Sparkes will be leaving the Royal Navy to take up the role.As chief executive, Sparkes will continue to lead the organization’s important work in supporting safe, secure and thriving oceans. This includes the UKHO’s work in support of Defense and merchant shipping. Working in close collaboration with national and international partners…

02 Feb 2021

Geollect Wins ADMIRALTY Maritime Insurance Innovation Challenge

© harlequin9 / Adobe Stock

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced geospatial intelligence technology provider Geollect as the winner of the second ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Program challenge.Launched last year in collaboration with RE_SET, the program aims to help start-ups and innovators develop new solutions that support safe, secure and thriving oceans. The program’s second innovation challenge focused on ‘Transforming Maritime Risk & Insurance’, with entrants tasked with identifying, trialing and proving how marine geospatial data can be used to enhance maritime insurance products.For this challenge…

07 Dec 2020

Paramount Launches another Boat for S. African Navy

Photo: Paramount Maritime

Paramount Maritime launched its second of three next-generation Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) for the South African Navy in a move that will enhance the capabilities and infrastructure of the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO). This follows the launch of the first Survey Motor Boat to the South African Navy in August 2020.Veecraft Marine, a subsidiary of Paramount Maritime, had been tasked with the design and manufacture of the three Survey Motor Boats, all of which having taken place in their shipyard in Cape Town…

25 Aug 2020

New Survey Boat Launched for South African Navy

(Photo: Paramount Maritime)

Paramount Maritime, a Paramount Group company, said it has launched the first of three next-generation Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) to the South African Navy in continued support of its programs to enhance the capabilities and infrastructure of the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO).In addition to the three Survey Motor Boats to be delivered to the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO), this program also provides for the delivery of a Hydrographic Survey Vessel and a Sea Boat as well as a third…

17 Aug 2020

Fugro's New USV to Chart Waters Off South Australia

Fugro will use its new uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to chart the waters of South Australia’s Gulf St Vincent and Investigator Strait as part of the Australian Government’s HydroScheme Industry Partnership Program (HIPP).The Dutch-based offshore survey services company will carry out  the 998 km2 survey will be conducted on behalf of the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO), which will use the data to update nautical charts for safer navigation. Data will also be shared with scientific agencies…

13 Jul 2020

UKHO Taps Sparkes as Acting Chief Executive

Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes (Photo: UKHO)

The U.K. Hydrographic Office has announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes, the current U.K. National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive, to the position of acting chief executive and accounting officer.Sparkes will hold the position while a permanent replacement is sought for Tim Lowe CBE, the previous UKHO chief executive and accounting officer, who announced his retirement Friday.Commenting on Lowe’s retirement, Sparkes said, “On behalf of the senior leadership team and all at the U.K.

28 Aug 2019

ICS Readies for its Flagship Conference

The world's principal shipping organization  International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has added further high-level speakers to the line-up of its 2019 Conference: Setting Course for 2050: Powering Global Trade. The flagship conference will take place on September 11th at the British Library, during London International Shipping Week, informed the industry body representing around 80% of the world’s merchant tonnage, through membership by national shipowners' associations.Stuart Neil, Communications Director of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) said: “The shipping industry is facing the most important transformation since the transition from sail to steam. There are no clear solutions, no silver bullets and there will be trade-offs and new ways of working as we move towards 2050.

05 Feb 2019

UK Holds Maritime Seminar

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) yesterday (5th February) launched a five-day capacity building seminar to help UK Overseas Territories support safe maritime trade.The seminar, delivered as part of the Government’s Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programme, will focus on international regulations, with sessions on maritime safety information training, best practice governance and maritime law. This guidance, given by experts at both the UKHO and MCA, will help each of the 10 participating territories to comply with international obligations and share their own maritime safety information with ships operating in their waters.For these ships, this information, including up-to-date bathymetry (seabed mapping data), navigational warnings and observations, is essential to safe navigation.

27 Jan 2019

UK Hydrographic Office Welcomes Maritime 2050 Strategy

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has welcomed the publication of the UK government’s ‘Maritime 2050’ strategy paper, which sets out the vision for the future of the UK maritime sector.The strategy, which has been developed in consultation with agencies including the UKHO and the wider public and private sectors, sets out a series of detailed recommendations to help the UK maintain its position as a leading global maritime nation. These recommendations span themes including the environment, international trade, security and resilience, infrastructure, people and technology.A focus on the positive impact that smart shipping and use of autonomous vessels could have on the environment…

12 Dec 2018

Admiral Tim Lowe to Head UK Hydrographic Office

The UK Hydrographic Office has announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Tim Lowe CBE, the current UK National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive, to the position of Acting Chief Executive and Accounting Officer.Rear Admiral Lowe will fill the role whilst a permanent replacement is sought for John Humphrey, the current Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the UKHO, who will leave at the end of January 2019.Rear Admiral Lowe said: “I look forward to taking the helm as Acting Chief Executive, whilst we continue to transform the UKHO into a world-leading marine geospatial information agency. It is an exciting time for our team as we transition to a data centric…

23 Nov 2018

UKHO Shares Marine Geospatial Data with Guyana

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has officially handed over marine geospatial data to the Guyanese Government after a campaign of hydrographic surveying.Delegates from the UKHO presented the data to government officials at a special event to celebrate the completion of the survey. Two workshops were held to brief ministers and provide technical support for applications of the data, which will help Guyana support the development of its marine economy.The data, which was collected over a period of four months between 2016 and 2017, will initially be used to update nautical charts of the Demerara River. This will enable ships to confidently reduce under-keel clearance and maximise cargo-carrying capacity…

08 Nov 2018

UK Hydrographic Office Wins National STEM Inspiration Award

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been awarded Highly Commended at the STEM Inspiration Awards, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to encouraging young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.According to a press statement, held at the House of Lords on November 1, and attended by guests across industry, education and government, the STEM Inspiration Awards, organised by STEM Learning, celebrated the work of individuals and organisations in inspiring young people into STEM careers. Finalists in the large employer category included Nissan, Just Eat, Legrand Electrical Ltd and Amey.Speaking at the event…

01 Nov 2018

UK Funds Study on Navigation of Autonomous Ships

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), a government agency has contributed to a new UK government-funded study on navigational requirements for autonomous maritime vessels.According to UKHO, it worked together with partner organisations L3 ASV and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to identify the future data requirements for autonomous shipping, and explore how navigational and wider geospatial data can be used to enable the safe navigation of smart and unmanned autonomous vessels.The study, funded by the Department for Transport’s Transport Technology Research Innovation Grant (T-TRIG), started by exploring the characteristics of current navigational data and charts in terms of what they comprise, their structure and how they are updated.

02 Oct 2018

Unique Group to Provide Survey Vessel Package to Major Government Entity

Photo: Unique Group

Subsea and offshore solution provider Unique Group announced that its Marine & Subsea division has entered into a high value contract with the Southern African Shipyards to provide a turnkey package for hydrographic survey vessels and hydrographic office set up.The project will include multiple new build vessels - main vessel and support vessels. Unique Group will act as a technology partner to the shipyard and provide the vessel’s dynamic positioning systems and Navigational equipment package.

17 Sep 2018

UKHO Names Armour Director of Customer Division

Cathrine Armour (Photo: UKHO)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has announced the appointment of Cathrine Armour as the new Director of its Customer Division.Armour brings experience in leading data, science and technology-centric organizations, and will be instrumental in developing the UKHO as a leading marine geospatial information agency and hydrographic office.Armour joins the UKHO from Catapult’s South West Center of Excellence in Satellite Applications, a partnership led by the University of Exeter to stimulate the data economy; helping UK businesses develop new products and solutions using satellite technology.

13 Mar 2018

UKHO releases new edition of ADMIRALTY Ocean Passages

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has published a new edition of ADMIRALTY Ocean Passages for the World (NP136). First published in 1895, this publication is designed to support mariners in the planning of deep sea voyages along major trade routes, with details of weather, currents, ice hazards and other environmental features that may be met in transit. The UKHO has completely changed the way that routes are represented in response to user feedback, introducing route diagrams alongside tabulated waypoint and route data to help mariners find key information quickly. Following in-depth analysis of AIS tracking data, the UKHO has also identified the world’s busiest trade routes for inclusion in the new edition…

07 Sep 2017

Kelvin Hughes Rolls Out Its New ECDIS

(Image: Kelvin Hughes)

Kelvin Hughes has introduced its latest Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) designed for commercial ships as well as naval and coastguard patrol vessels. Available as a standalone ECDIS or as part of a truly multifunction bridge display network with multiple operator positions, the new ECDIS is type approved to meet the latest International Hydrographic Office (IHO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. It offers an optional mil-spec processor with advanced LED display hardware in a fully integrated, easy to install and retrofit, console package.

05 Sep 2017

Survey Vessels Hit the Charts

HMAS Mermaid, one of four Paluma class vessels, recently completed an intensive five and a half week training program in North Queensland waters in company with her sister ship HMAS Paluma. Photo:  Royal Australian Navy

Training to ‘fight and win at sea’ occurs across the Navy every day of the year, but how does that concept map to the hydrographic fleet and their motto ‘diligence and skill’? – step into the world of the Navy’s survey motor launches. HMAS Mermaid, one of four Paluma class vessels, recently completed an intensive five and a half week training program in North Queensland waters in company with her sister ship HMAS Paluma. The ship and her 15-person crew were put through their paces by Navy’s in-house training and assessment team – Minor War Vessel Sea Training Group.