Ensuring the Quality of Hydrographic Data on Shipping Routes and Areas

Subactivity 3.1 – Speed up re-surveys

The Bothnian Sea Survey 2011 was completed this summer/fall 2012, delayed for months, but completed about 8 500 km² for Finland and about 4 600 km² for Sweden.

New contracts for the Finnish Transport Agency survey work in the Gulf of Bothnia and Northern Baltic Proper for Finnish EEZ were signed in 2012 with the Swedish Company Marin Mätteknik and for Finnish territorial sea area with the German company Fugro OSAE GmbH. The Finnish company Meritaito Oy will provide some work based on 2012 SGEI-service order. These all will value about M€ 5.2 and cover about 10 000 km².

Swedish Maritime Administration has also signed contracts with Fugro OSAE GmbH and Marin Mätteknik for hydrographic survey work in Swedish waters 2012 covering appr. 8 800 km² and valued about M€ 4.1. SMA will also perform some surveys with own resources.

These new contracts are to be completed in August / September 2013, which can be challenging for the contractors due to some late start.

The co-operation of the Finnish and Swedish administrations has been successful and fruitful. Contracted surveys have been done based on common requirements and reference level.

In parallel with the surveys in, planning of the hydrographic surveys for years 2014-2020 shall be started, as there is a need to finalize the HELCOM route surveys to ensure Safety of Navigation and to meet the objectives of HELCOM.

Progress reports have been presented at meetings of HELCOM Maritime, Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission (BSHC), Nordic Hydrographic Commission (NHC) and of the International Steering Group of Priority Area 13 – Maritime Safety and Security – of the Baltic Sea Strategy.

Subactivity 3.2 – Baltic Sea Depths Data model

The development of a Depths Data Model for the Baltic Sea Region has progressed slowly. Two workshops have taken place, in Norrköping, October 2011 and in Helsinki, June 2012. with participants from most of the Baltic Sea countries, the following progress can be reported:
presented at the BSHC Chart Datum WG meeting in Helsinki, August 28-30, 2012 and further to BSHC 17 meeting on 18.-20.9.2012.

• INSPIRE directive sets timetable and actions to the sub-activity, as all Hydrographic Offices shall provide common national spatial data within national services (as directed on INSPIRE). Schedule due 15.12.2012.
• A pilot project on common depth data generalization rules on Finnish and Swedish chart data will commence in 2013.
• Subactivity 3.3 – Harmonized vertical reference
• To be able to present a proposal for a harmonised vertical reference for the Baltic Sea area, the following actions has been taken:
• Progress report at BSHC 16th Conference 19-21 September 2011 in Norrköping Sweden and report to BSHC 17th Conference 18-20 September 2012, Helsinki, Finland. All Baltic Sea countries will report during 2012 in writing their plan to start using a common vertical reference.
• Participated to INSPIRE Evaluation meetings in 2011 and 2012.
• Cooperation with IHO Tidal and Water Level Working Group, report in Capetown meeting in May 2012, next meeting in Helsinki, May 2013.
• Study on effects of vertical reference change with Pilots;
• Slow progress due to lack of expertise resources (other tasks have priority) in national Hydrographic Offices.