On 2 October, BIMCO published an article titled “Watchkeeper: What is under the keel?” discussing safety issues related to the accuracy of chart data. During last week’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) symposium on the Sustainable Maritime Transportation System, some warnings were issued by Mr. Robert Ward, President of the International Hydrographic Organisation, who warned of the risks arising from the “shipping industry’s enthusiasm for bigger and bigger ships and new trade routes on which to run them was actually outstripping the ability of the world’s hydrographers to provide up to date charts”. The figures are astonishing. According to the article, 80% of West African and Caribbean waters, 40% of the US coasts, 65% of the Australian coasts, 30% of UK waters and 95% of southwest Pacific waters are unsurveyed, or have charted depths that were sounded before the arrival of modern methods. The conclusion to be drawn is, that while the hydrographic surveyors work under pressure to remedy these deficiencies in time, it is important to remember those deficiencies and realise that “while the presentation of the data on our amazing ECDIS systems might give the appearance of the utmost precision, ships should be operated in a prudent manner […] and mindful that the actual position of some obstruction may be at variance from that on the chart, in some parts of the world, more than others!” To read the full article, follow the link: https://bimco.org/en/news/2013/10/02_watchkeeper_week_40.aspx
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 07:58:08 +0000