Uk Hydrographic Office News

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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.

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) together with the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) have co-hosted an event on “The Future of the Maritime Industry in Nigeria” at Marlborough House in London on September 28. The event brought together investors, business leaders and government officials – representing maritime interests from across the Commonwealth – in a bid to stimulate discussion, increase cooperation and forge partnerships around the myriad opportunities of Nigeria’s maritime sector. The event was hosted as part of CWEIC’s Commonwealth Maritime Initiative (CMI), which aims to promote the maritime industry as a key driver of economic growth and trade (cargo carried by sea is set to quadruple by 2050)…

Ice ship HMS Protector is heading for waters no Royal Navy vessel has visited in 80 years as she begins a marathon deployment to Antarctica. The Plymouth-based icebreaker and survey vessel will ensure the world’s fishermen are not stripping the largely-unspoiled waters of the Ross Sea of marine life. This part of Antarctica – it’s where Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen began his successful attempt to become the first person to reach the South Pole – has not seen a Royal Navy or UK Government vessel for around eight decades. The sea contains valuable fish stocks and Protector will help to ensure fishing vessels comply with the strict environmental rules that ensure this remains a sustainable resource.

The U.K. Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has worked with Kongsberg Maritime to ensure the latest K-Bridge ECDIS and K-Nav ECDIS software includes AIO, making additional chart information available to the mariner when using its Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) models. In the past, navigators have relied on the ADMIRALTY T&P NMs to manually update their paper charts. AIO is a free service included with the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS). The overlay contains worldwide ADMIRALTY Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners (T&P NMs) to be used in conjunction with ENCs.

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) sees an increase in the number of counterfeit versions of its Admiralty charts & publications. Counterfeit documents do not satisfy SOLAS carriage requirements, as they have not been issued by an officially approved government body or authorised hydrographic office. They may also fall foul of Flag State Authorities and Port State Control rules, as well as increasing the safety risk for vessels, crews and cargoes. UKHO's John Dawson said: ‘We urge purchasers, users, inspectors and regulators to be vigilant for counterfeit Admiralty charts and publications. Because counterfeit versions have not been through the same rigorous checking procedures as official charts and publications, they cannot be trusted for voyage planning or navigational purposes.

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has released stunning images from a survey of the underwater remains of an artificial harbor used in World War II that was used to facilitate rapid offloading of cargo onto the beaches during the Allied landings in Normandy. The images of Mulberry B, which was one of these portable temporary harbors developed and built in total secrecy by the British in World War II, have been created from a detailed 3D map that will allow archaeologists to assess the rate of deterioration of the remains.

The UK Hydrographic Office has unveiled the first dates of 2013 for its renowned Digital Integration Workshops, the first of which will take place in Limassol, Cyprus on 31 January. These free-to-attend workshops have been designed for anyone involved in managing the integration of digital navigation into their vessels in order to meet the revised SOLAS regulations on the carriage of ECDIS. The workshops will look at the practical issues faced by shipping companies when it comes to integrating ECDIS into bridge operations and provide expert advice on achieving ECDIS compliance and maximising the benefits that ECDIS can deliver in supporting safe and efficient navigation.

Offshore Marine Management (OMM) completes a feasibility study for Forewind’s planned North Sea wind energy development. The study was undertaken to assess route feasibility options along one of the development’s 160km long export cable corridors. The scope of work required OMM to analyse survey data, establish a Burial Protection Index (BPI) and carry out a burial assessment to recommend cable burial depths along the route. This was used to advise on the potential need for corridor widening and cable protection measures, including advising on appropriate techniques for cable burial and protection along the route. OMM used its in-house Esri GIS facilities to assess the data provided for geology…

RES Offshore has signed an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services contract with Forewind for two met masts in the Dogger Bank Round 3 zone. These met masts are the furthest offshore of any in the UK and RES will be delivering scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for the structures and instrumentation systems including all work on the masts together with project management and procurement of vessels and subcontractors. The Dogger Bank Zone is in the North Sea, located between 125 and 290 kilometres off the east coast of Yorkshire.