The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) handed over marine geospatial data to the Guyanese Government after a campaign of hydrographic surveying. The data, which was collected for four months between 2016 and 2017, will initially be used to update nautical charts of the Demerara River.
At first, the data will initially be used to update nautical charts of the Demerara River. This will help ships to reduce under-keel clearance and enhance cargo-carrying capacity, paving the way for increased import and export activity.
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At the same time, UKHO will present Guyana with other key data sets, like information about the composition of the seabed, to support disaster management and maritime infrastructure.
Rear Admiral Tim Lowe CBE, National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive, UKHO, noted:
The extremely shallow waters around Guyana’s coastline and rivers have previously proven a real barrier to maritime trade and prevented the nation from fully benefiting from its considerable natural economic and environmental resources.
What is more, the data could scope out possible coastal developments, support the protection of the marine environment and help establish disaster models. These will help Guyana prepare for extreme weather events and mitigate the risks of oil and pollution spills in the area.
