UKHO conducts seabed mapping survey in Cayman islands

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) will support maritime trade and economic growth in the Cayman Islands as it embarks on a new programme of seabed mapping surveys in November 2021, the organization has announced.

The surveys will unlock vital new information about the waters around the Cayman Islands and will enable safe navigation and the continued development of the islands’ sustainable blue economy.

Under the UK government’s Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programme (OTSMP), UKHO will collect a range of geospatial data in waters around the islands to a depth of 40 metres. The survey will also have its estimated carbon impact offset by Fugro, who have been awarded the contract to conduct the data gathering.

The survey will be conducted by a small aircraft using Lidar data gathering techniques. The aircraft will fly twice daily for periods of up to four hours at a time over the islands, operating at a height of around 300m. While it is airborne, the aircraft’s onboard survey equipment will gather information on water depth and land heights, as well as high-resolution images of both land and sea.