HYDROGRAPHIC equipment totalling $68M were handed over by the United Kingdom’s Hydrographic Office to the Guyana Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the Harbour Masters’ Boathouse on Thursday.

The donation is in support of Guyana’s commitment to the safe and sustainable use of its marine resources. Among the equipment is a multi-beam echo-sounder that will be installed on the MT Aruca.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, noted that many countries, including Guyana, lack the scientific data that explains the oceans’ role concerning sustainable development.

“Much of the topography of Guyana’s ocean floor remains unknown and unmapped,” the High Commissioner said.

He, however, noted the progress Guyana has made in mapping its ocean floor since partnering with the Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme.
He urged that mapping be done consistently. “Going forward, work will have to be undertaken to map the constant changes which happen in a dynamic environment such as the ocean,” he said.

He explained that efficient nautical navigation and related marine activities such as scientific research, security and defence and environmental protection are some of the areas that would stand to benefit from consistency in mapping the changes.

In his closing remarks, the British High Commissioner praised Guyana’s admission to the International Hydrographic Organisation as its 90th member, effective May. “In its own small way, the equipment we are giving today will help Guyana to meet its obligations of membership,” the high commissioner said.

Representing the Ministry of Public Infrastructure at the handing over ceremony was MARAD’s Director-General, Claudette Rogers, who spoke on the significance of staff being trained to properly use the hydrographic equipment. Ms Rogers said the training, “would facilitate the compilation of modern navigational charts of the priority areas, and will improve access for commercial shipping, ultimately reducing the cost of both import and export by sea.”

Cruise tourism and its associated economic benefits are some of the prospects of having trained staff, she said, adding: “The work will also reduce risk to life and the environment.”
Also speaking at the ceremeony was Hydrographic Programme Manager within the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), Ian Davies, who highlighted the UKHO’s commitment to helping build capacity in Guyana’s maritime sector.

“UKHO will continue to provide advice and guidance to the survey team and the National Hydrographic Committee on the planning and conduct of surveys to ensure that the data collected meets international standards, and contributes not only to the safety of navigation through updated navigational charting, but also provides information to be used across government to support the development and management of your [Guyana’s] coastal waters.”

Fisheries, disaster management and climate change mitigation are some of the areas that can benefit from use of the hydrographic equipment.

In 2017, the UKHO assisted Guyana in surveying the mouths of the Essequibo and the Demerara Rivers. And, coming out of the exercise, two nautical charts were updated, and a new chart was created after four decades of using old and outdated ones. With the handing over of the equipment, eight persons will be trained in surveying for three weeks by the UKHO. Those persons will be selected from both MARAD and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

The donation of the equipment will help Guyana uphold its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 14, the aim of which is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. (DPI)