UK Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP)
Information on past, present and future UK CHP survey plans, how to access and share hydrographic and seabed mapping data, and how to collaborate with the MCA
Overview: UK Civil Hydrography Programme
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has overall responsibility for the UK바카라 사이트檚 hydrographic obligations under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS). The MCA manages a multi-million-pound budget to systematically survey the waters around the UK. This programme is known as the 바카라 사이트淯K Civil Hydrography Programme바카라 사이트� (UK CHP). Under the UK CHP, commercial contracts are let to ensure accurate hydrographic information is gathered for updating the nation바카라 사이트檚 nautical charts and publications.
The UK CHP prioritises areas of highest navigational safety risk and surveys and maps UK home waters - defined by the boundaries of the UK바카라 사이트檚 Exclusive Economic Zone, an area in excess of 720,000km2 - in order to keep our nation바카라 사이트檚 nautical charts and publications current, safe and fit for purpose.
The MCA makes extensive use of geographic information systems (GIS) to prioritise survey areas using a contemporary risk analysis methodology capable of reflecting the changing pressures of the maritime sector.
The hydrographic survey work commissioned for the UK CHP is undertaken by contractors, who gather and report seabed data using their own personnel, equipment and vessels.
The UK CHP workscope is divided into the following streams:
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Routine Resurvey Programme - navigationally critical shallow water areas with mobile seabed;
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Shallow Water surveys - predominantly 0m to 40m water depth; and
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Medium Water surveys 바카라 사이트� 0m to 200m water depth.
To support the requirements of the UK CHP, the MCA specifies state-of-the-art survey technologies including high resolution multibeam echosounders (MBES) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to ensure accurate high-quality hydrographic information is gathered. Additionally, more focused work includes high-resolution wreck investigations, water column data collection and seabed grab sampling.
Prior to final data being accepted from contractors, it passes through a rigorous quality assurance process at the UK Hydrographic Office, where checks are made against items such as data density, interline consistency, geodetic parameters and tidal observations.
Once data has passed validation, it is archived to the UKHO바카라 사이트檚 bathymetric database ready for inclusion in their nautical charting products.
Where the MCA is surveying
The following graphics show the high priority areas that the MCA are surveying. These are the Shallow Water and Medium Water areas. Further surveys may be added, depending on available MCA budget, collaboration opportunities and survey capacity.
Future surveys
The following graphic shows the high priority areas that the MCA are considering taking forward in future years, or that may be brought forward to the current year, depending on available MCA budget, collaborative opportunities and survey capacity.
How the MCA gathers hydrographic and seabed mapping data
The details the requirements for hydrographic surveys undertaken on behalf of the MCA, and has been prepared in accordance with the
This specification has evolved over time from previous iterations, with technical input and support from the UKHO, and contributions from other Maritime Administrations, Hydrographic Offices, contractors and other MCA and CHP stakeholders.
The UK CHP Survey Specification is also shared widely with MCA바카라 사이트檚 survey partners and other collaborative public sector organisations to increase survey efficiencies under the 바카라 사이트榞ather once, use many times바카라 사이트� philosophy.
All surveys are conducted to the IHO Order 1a survey standard, as defined by the latest Edition of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) publication 바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트痺ith바카라 사이트痶he exception of single-beam echosounder (SBES) check lines which are undertaken on the Routine Resurvey바카라 사이트疨rogramme.
Technical requirements:
Multibeam Echosounder (MBES)
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Multibeam bathymetry is collected during all UK CHP surveys.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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The MCA usually require 100% bathymetric coverage in all areas they survey.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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System detection capability is defined by IHO requirements. Contractors are required to detect objects whose size is greater than a cube measuring 2m3, in water depths of up to 40m, and a cube with sides equal to 10% of depth in deeper waters.바카라 사이트�
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A minimum of 9 soundings per minimum detectable object are required.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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Sound velocity measurements are routinely taken throughout the survey바카라 사이트痠n order to바카라 사이트痯osition the soundings correctly.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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Contractors are often required to conduct tidal-stream observations at바카라 사이트痯articular locations.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Data quality control
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In addition to QC procedures employed by UK CHP survey contractors, technical personnel from both the MCA and UKHO routinely visit contractors바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트痸essels throughout survey operations to verify data quality.바카라 사이트�
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Prior to final survey data being accepted from contractors, it passes through a rigorous quality assurance process at the UKHO, where checks are made for items such as data density, inter-line consistency, geodetic parameters,바카라 사이트痶idal observations바카라 사이트痚tc.바카라 사이트�
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Contractors are asked to provide error budgets prior to and after every survey so that the contribution of individual error sources are tightly defined. This ensures rigorous quality control of the final survey dataset.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Additional measurements
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Rigorous tidal reduction is required on all UK CHP surveys.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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Depths are reduced to Chart Datum (CD).바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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Seabed grab samples are typically taken at 5km intervals to ground-truth multibeam backscatter observations.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
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MBES water column data is collected over all found wrecks to support an assessment of their condition and ensure바카라 사이트痵hoalest바카라 사이트痙epth is found.
How to access UK Civil Hydrography Programme data
UK Civil Hydrography Programme data is freely available from the Data Archive Centres listed below, but if you require highest resolution full density datasets, please contact the MCA directly: hydrography@mcga.gov.uk
The UK Hydrographic Office hosts the Marine Environment Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre (DAC) for bathymetry data. Bathymetry data collected through the UK Civil Hydrography Programme are freely available
The British Geological Survey (BGS) hosts the MEDIN DAC for geology,바카라 사이트痝eophysics,바카라 사이트痑nd backscatter data. Backscatter data collected through the CHP are freely available
Routine resurvey programme
The Routine Resurvey Programme is a fundamental element of the UK Civil Hydrography Programme. Each year, the MCA undertakes numerous hydrographic surveys in shallow water areas of high seabed mobility which are critical to the safe navigation of vessels.바카라 사이트�
These surveys are predominantly on the east and south coast of the UK and also in the Bristol Channel but can be in other areas where the seabed is highly mobile and there is a navigational risk to seafarers.
Analysis of these surveys is undertaken by the UK Hydrographic Office on behalf of the MCA and the reports are available here.
CHP survey contracts
The MCA procure hydrographic survey services to deliver the UK Civil Hydrography Programme. The MCA does not hold a mailing list of potential suppliers but interested parties can sign up to the 바카라 사이트 Contracts Finder portal to receive notifications of when any tender exercise in your area of interest is advertised.
How to propose a survey
Should you know or be aware of any areas of UK seabed that require updates to the nautical charts and publications that cover them, please contact the MCA. The MCA assess UK CHP survey areas using a contemporary risk-based methodology, but we are keen to receive any information that can aid us in our responsibilities to the mariner and the safety of life at sea. E-mail your suggestions for hydrographic survey to:바카라 사이트�hydrography@mcga.gov.uk.바카라 사이트�
Typical indications of an area requiring re-survey are:바카라 사이트�
- Old underlying survey data (check using the 바카라 사이트淪ource Data Diagram바카라 사이트� on the latest chart).바카라 사이트�
- A change in traffic patterns (e.g.,바카라 사이트痠ncreases in cruise ship visits).바카라 사이트�
- An accident occurring due to inaccurate or incomplete survey data; or바카라 사이트�
- Changes to the seabed due to바카라 사이트痵andwave바카라 사이트痬ovement / channel migration. 바카라 사이트�
- Offshore wind farm cumulative impacts on ship바카라 사이트痳outeing바카라 사이트痺ithin the UK EEZ and바카라 사이트痑butting with바카라 사이트痭eighbouring바카라 사이트疢ember States,바카라 사이트痵earch and rescue planning,바카라 사이트痗ross-border바카라 사이트痠ssues,바카라 사이트痜uture marine developments,바카라 사이트痚tc.바카라 사이트�
Sharing data with the MCA
If you are considering performing a hydrographic survey and are willing to share your data with us, we can pass it on to the UK Hydrographic Office to help them compile new or updated nautical charts and so help improve safety for mariners.바카라 사이트�
Your survey does not need to be carried out to full charting standards to be of use. Even without a full search for dangers, a modern survey can improve on our knowledge of the seabed. There will be no legal liability on you for the way that바카라 사이트痶he바카라 사이트痙ata바카라 사이트痠s used.바카라 사이트疕owever, data which fully complies with all aspects of IHO Order 1a would be ideal.바카라 사이트�
The MCA are always happy to give help and advice on hydrographic data gathering requirements바카라 사이트痠n order to바카라 사이트痠ncrease the usefulness of hydrographic survey data. Ideally bathymetry data would be rendered and delivered in digital form, with:
- Data in one of the following바카라 사이트痜ormats: CARIS바카라 사이트疨roject바카라 사이트疍irectory,바카라 사이트疩imera바카라 사이트疨roject Directory,바카라 사이트痮r바카라 사이트疓eneric Sensor Format.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
- Spurious data cleaned from the final, delivered, dataset with rejected soundings included, but flagged as deleted.바카라 사이트�
- Details of the method used for data-cleaning.바카라 사이트�
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Digital data as full density (i.e.바카라 사이트痯rior to any gridding or바카라 사이트痓inning being applied), though if gridded datasets have been created then please include these too.바카라 사이트�
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The soundings reduced using observed tides (not predicted tides from Tide Tables).바카라 사이트�
- Depths referenced to바카라 사이트疌hart Datum for the area.바카라 사이트�
A report of the survey that describes how the data was gathered and processed would be of use, especially if it includes:바카라 사이트�
- A list of the equipment and software바카라 사이트痷sed;바카라 사이트�
- How positioning equipment was set up, calibrated and바카라 사이트痷sed;바카라 사이트�
- How the echo-sounder transducer was set up and levelled, together with all sensor바카라 사이트痮ffsets;바카라 사이트�
- Details of the horizontal datum to which the positions are referred (or the grid, if appropriate);바카라 사이트�
- How tides were measured, how the tide pole or tide gauge was levelled and how depths were reduced to chart datum.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
How to collaborate with the MCA
As the largest commissioner of civil hydrography and seabed mapping in UK home waters the MCA recognises its responsibility to lead initiatives to improve co-ordination and co-operation between funders of 바카라 사이트 hydrography.바카라 사이트疶he MCA are always exploring opportunities to collaborate with other organisations바카라 사이트痠n order to바카라 사이트痜urther increase efficiencies under the 바카라 사이트済ather once, use many times바카라 사이트� philosophy.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Within the hydrographic community, effective바카라 사이트痗ollaborations have been established바카라 사이트痓etween public sector organisations, government departments and with research and industry partners.바카라 사이트疭haring medium-term survey programmes and working together through partnerships and바카라 사이트疢emoranda of Understanding (MoU)바카라 사이트痟as enabled survey capability to be taken forward within and between organisations whilst maximising the leverage of public-funded survey assets and resources.바카라 사이트�
If you are interested in collaborating with the MCA on a hydrographic survey project, please contact us: hydrography@mcga.gov.uk
The Civil Hydrography Annual Seminar
The MCA convene the Civil Hydrography Annual Seminar (CHAS), which바카라 사이트痠s the only 바카라 사이트-led marine event of its kind that opens its doors to the UK hydrographic survey and seabed mapping community.바카라 사이트�
The primary aim of CHAS is to provide an open forum for 바카라 사이트 and industry to come together to share their hydrographic data gathering and seabed mapping바카라 사이트痯rogrammes바카라 사이트痜or the forthcoming years to enable longer-term survey planning integration.바카라 사이트�
The aims of CHAS are:바카라 사이트�
- To provide an open forum for public sector바카라 사이트痮rganisations바카라 사이트痶o come together to share data gathering바카라 사이트痯rogrammes바카라 사이트痜or the forthcoming years바카라 사이트�
- To encourage co-operative working and survey planning integration바카라 사이트�
- To바카라 사이트痳ealise바카라 사이트痶he financial benefits of co-funding such work.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
The MCA advocate a coordinated and integrated approach to the longer-term survey planning, which hopefully will enable바카라 사이트痶he바카라 사이트痟ydrographic sector to manage funding streams more effectively, develop new partnerships and strengthen existing collaborations between바카라 사이트痵takeholders.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
If you are interested in attending CHAS, please e-mail hydrography@mcga.gov.uk
How to contact the MCA Hydrography team
If you have any queries relating to the UK Civil Hydrography Programme or seabed mapping, please contact hydrography@mcga.gov.uk
Documents
Routine resurvey programme analysis reports
Related content
Offshore Wind Energy & Shipping Safety
With the increased growth of offshore windfarm developments in the North Sea, the countries around the North Sea need and want to co-operate on where wind farms are sited, especially those proposed near the borders of the EEZ.
Strengthening the existing relationships between the various Member States has resulted in greater focus to:
- better co-ordinate planning and development of offshore and onshore electricity grid expansion to facilitate the expansion of offshore wind;
- collaborate on maritime spatial planning;
- develop an integrated approach to assessing cumulative impacts on navigation; and
- comment on proposed policies on surveying in and around windfarms, for navigation safety and meeting SOLAS obligations.
These areas of mutual interest will continue to be discussed and advanced at the North Sea Hydrographic Commission Resurvey Working Group and the forum for Offshore Wind Energy and Shipping Safety in the North Sea.
Guidelines for Offshore Renewable Energy Developers
The MCA has issued guidelines which are intended to aid developers when submitting development consent applications that impact upon hydrography. These guidelines should be read in conjunction with Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 654.
The MGN 654 guidance note highlights issues that need to be taken into consideration when assessing the impact on navigational safety and emergency response (search and rescue, salvage and towing, and counter pollution) caused by offshore renewable energy installation developments. It applies to proposals in UK internal waters, Territorial Sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
All hydrographic surveys should provide full seafloor coverage that meets the requirements of the IHO Order 1a survey standard. Particular attention should be given to horizontal and vertical sounding accuracy, together with target detection requirements. It is requested that all data and reports are passed to the MCA for forwarding to the UKHO for the update of the UK바카라 사이트檚 nautical charts and publications.
Updates to this page
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UK CHP Yearbook 2024 Civil Hydrography Programme 2024_25 바카라 사이트� Shallow Water Areas Civil Hydrography Programme 2024_25 바카라 사이트� Medium Water Areas CHP 2025_28 provisional survey areas latest edition of the IHO Special Publication S-44 Standards for Hydrographic Surveys
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First published.