The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has deployed a survey vessel, The Sea Rentiy 
II and team, to the waters of Montserrat until the end of August 2017.
The Soviet vessel involvement in the Montserrat waters is aimed at improving navigation supporting sustainable economic development and protecting the marine environment.
Using state-of-the-art multibeam sonar equipment to map key areas of the seabed, the survey team will enable the production of accurate, modern navigational charts for ships using Montserrat’s waters. This will dramatically improve the safety and efficiency of navigation in the territory’s waters, as well as helping to protect the environment.
The project, undertaken as part of the UK Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programme (OTSMP) and funded by the UK Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), is co-ordinated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will be the most comprehensive seabed mapping survey of the seas surrounding Montserrat to-date.
Alongside applications in improving safety and efficiency, the data can also be used to support other activities such as fisheries management and coastal inundation modelling.
David Parker, Hydrographic Development Assessor at UKHO welcomed the survey: “A good understanding of the ocean is increasingly important in continuing to help island territories like Montserrat realise their economic potential within their marine exclusive economic zone. As Primary Charting Authority for Montserrat, this programme gives UKHO the chance to systematically survey the ocean surrounding the island and ensure that the territory is fulfilling its international maritime safety obligations under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.
“The new data, gathered using state-of- the-art technology, will enable the production of comprehensive nautical charts for the island’s waters. This, in turn, will give Montserratians more tools to help unlock the huge potential in a sustainable manner that conserves their waters and marine resources in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
The survey team will comprehensively map the island’s west coast waters over the course of a month, before moving on to conduct similar surveys in the British Virgin Islands.
Minister Hogan was to express praise for the UKHO team: “: This wonderful team from the U.K Hydrographic Office are wrapping up their mapping of the coast and sea on the West Coast of Montserrat …I want to thank you team of five for coming on the direction …I’m very pleased that in six weeks of response and mobilization here,” he said, adding that the Port Authority of Montserrat has also been able to respond to your coming and been able to actually put this together.
