Calling all Captains! Help Map our Oceans!
Do you want to help map our oceans? As of September 2023, a staggering 75% of the seafloor remains a mystery, uncharted and unknown. Urgent action is needed.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is leading the charge, collaborating with vessels, including yachts, to collect crucial depth measurements. This isn't just a project; it's a race against time to uncover the hidden secrets of the ocean floor.
Your yacht can make a difference. The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is aiming to map the entire world's ocean floor by 2030. To collect the data and assist, there are 3 main ways to participate in collecting depth data for the mapping of the oceans, depending on the software or hardware you have on board your yacht. The submission of data can be entirely anonymous and most importantly, no yacht will bear any responsibility or liability for the data that it collects and uploads.
- INSTALL A DATA LOGGER – A Data Logger can be installed free of charge, that easily connects to the ship's GPS and echosounder and uploads directly to the Seabed 2030 You won’t even know it’s there.
- Use your own navigation software - Depth data can be shared through participating navigation software systems (eg: Rosepoint, Navico-CMAP. GEC AquaMap, seaID, Mussel, WAASP, FarSounder). Upload to Seabed 2030
- USE VDRS SYSTEM -Larger vessels that have Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) already record depth information and may be able to automatically transmit depth data to the IHO.
What's at stake? The very regions you love to navigate—Greek waters, Turkish territories, and the Caribbean—are among the areas still in the dark. Yachts are uniquely positioned to be the heroes of this mission.
Join the global effort to map the oceans before it's too late. Your participation is not just about navigation; it's about saving our oceans and contributing to critical scientific knowledge. Climate change, biodiversity conservation, and hazard identification are at the forefront. This is a call to action for responsible yachting practices.
Your yacht's involvement could be the key to unlocking new discoveries and ensuring the safety of future seafarers. Seize the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself.
Contact the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) immediately at bathydata@iho.int to apply your yacht and be a beacon of hope in the urgent mission to map our oceans.
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