Dubai: Dubai Municipality celebrated World Hydrography Day 2018 on Thursday under the theme ‘Bathymetry — the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways’.
Organised by the Geodetic and Marine Survey Section of the Survey Department, the celebration included an exhibition of the latest hydrographic surveying devices, programmes and techniques with the participation of a group of companies specialised in the field, a press release said.
Dawood Al Hajiri, director-general of Dubai Municipality,
honoured the companies that participated in the exhibition as well as senior employees of the Survey Department.
The municipality also conducted a 3D presentation on the comprehensive marine survey project for the emirate to share experiences and best practices.
The exhibition was in line with the local law No. 6 of 2017, which entrusted the Survey Department with the responsibility of producing and publishing marine navigation maps, both paper and digital, for navigational use by 2021.
Eman Al Falasi, head of Geodetic and Marine Survey Section, stressed the importance of the hydrographic survey system for all activities in marine areas and the pivotal role it plays in providing navigational safety as stipulated in the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
“Hydrography is one of the most important sciences that has gained importance in the relentless pursuit of governments and countries to activate their leadership and sovereign roles in their marine areas in order to advance their economies by diversifying their national income sources,” said Al Falasi.
“Marine bathymetric data are the basis of marine infrastructure for the production of marine navigation maps, which contribute to the establishment and development of ports, ensuring the protection of the marine environment, maritime security and safety, marine economy, which is involved in the planning and development of the coasts and support the early warning and emergency system and other marine activities.”
The official said the process of providing hydrographic information and data through navigational maps and other means to all users is one of the most important hydrographic services offered to all sectors concerned with maritime affairs.
“Considering that the seas and oceans cover 75 per cent of the total area of earth, it is natural for shipping to be of paramount importance as the artery of the global economy, which accounts for 90 per cent of the total volume of world trade.”
She pointed out that the navigational map is an official document that is used in marine navigational operations because it contains topographic data with detailed hydrographic data such as the depth, benthic hazards and other information related to navigational aids that provide navigational safety.
“It is necessary to be updated regularly through periodic navigational announcements due to the importance of these data and their accuracy, which must be linked to international standards and specifications compatible with those recommended by the International Hydrographic Organisation to ensure maximum degree of navigational safety,” Al Falasi added.
