Deepening hydrographic collaboration
UK and Ghana explore opportunities
GHANA: In a step towards enhancing maritime safety and economic development, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) visited the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), to discuss potential areas of collaboration and shared hydrographic challenges.
The delegation from the UKHO, a world leader in marine geospatial data and nautical charting, met with managers of GMA at their offices in Accra. The meeting underscored the mutual recognition of hydrography's critical role in underpinning safe navigation, port development, environmental protection, and unlocking the vast potential of the Blue Economy.
Marilyn Eghan, a Principal Maritime Officer at GMA who heads the Authority’s Hydrography Unit, provided the visitors with a comprehensive overview of the current state of Ghana's hydrographic sector. This included ongoing surveying activities, technological capabilities, data management practices, and the specific challenges faced in charting Ghana's strategically important 550km coastline, vital ports like Tema and Takoradi, and the increasingly active offshore oil and gas exploration zones, such as the Jubilee Field.
The UKHO delegation presented their extensive capabilities and global initiatives, emphasising their commitment to supporting the International Hydrographic Organisation's (IHO) objectives of achieving comprehensive, high-quality, and timely hydrographic information worldwide. They highlighted advancements in data collection technologies, data processing, and electronic navigational chart (ENC) production.
Both countries aligned on core objectives, including improving navigational safety in the busy Gulf of Guinea region, supporting sustainable maritime economic activities, and protecting the marine environment. Discussions focused heavily on aligning with IHO standards and best practices, crucial for ensuring data interoperability and global usability.
PHOTO: Ghana Maritime Authority’s Facebook page.
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