The Minister for Transport, Mr Kweku Ofori Asiamah, has charged players in the maritime industry to collaborate effectively to bring together, all existing data in the industry for the update of Ghana’s nautical chart.
According to him, the country’s nautical chart at the moment, comes mainly from the port and patrol activities, a situation which requires an improvement.
Nautical Chart, according to Oceanservice, is a map that depicts the configuration of the shoreline and seafloor.
It provides water depths, locations of dangers to navigation, locations and characteristics of aids to navigation, anchorages, and other features. It is one of the most fundamental tools available to the miner.
Mr Asiamah, who made this observation in his keynote address at this year’s World Hydrography Day in Accra, gave the assurance, especially, to the international community of Ghana’s commitment to continue putting in place the necessary mechanisms to build national hydrographic capacity and implement the recommended practices of international hydrographic organizations.
This year’s Hydrography Day was celebrated by players in the maritime industry in Accra on Monday, June 21, 2021.
“Fortunately, activities such as exploration of oil and gas in our maritime domain generate hydrographic data, hence, the need to consolidate all existing data for the update of Ghana’s nautical chart”, he noted.
“We must acknowledge the enormity of the task and equally be motivated by the overwhelming benefits we stand to gain through the availability of relevant hydrographic data for the emerging blue economy”, he said.
The event was under the theme “100 years of international cooperation in hydrography”, and was meant to highlight the past, present, and future of hydrography.
The Transport Minister commenting further, said the knowledge of the shape of the ocean basin and the nature of seabed for instance, is critical to understand water movement within the ocean basin which affect climate and weather patterns as well as tidal and wave action, segment transport and underwater geo-hazards.
“Therefore, it is evident and obvious that the absence of relevant hydrographic information may result in negative consequences”, he stressed.For example, he said, without hydrography, ships cannot sail safely, port cannot be built and operate, no coastal infrastructure can be developed, exploration activities cannot be attempted, no maritime boundary can be delineated.”
“There is no doubt that hydrography has played and will continue to play significant role in the development of our marine resources”, he stated.
He lauded hydrographers for their enormous contribution to national development.
“I believe when it comes to the exploration of marine resources for national development, the important role of hydrography cannot be downplayed.
Throughout the work of hydrographers you are able to measure and describe the physical features of oceans, seas, lakes and rivers as well as the prediction of their change overtime to facilitate navigation and safety and support other marine activities including security and defense, scientific research and environmental protection”, he professed.
Ratification
Touching on Ghana’s status with regards to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), Mr Asiamah said, the former British Colony, as a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has taken steps to ratify the Convention in International Hydrographic Organization since March, 2019.
According to him, Ghana is the 92nd member state to have ratified the IHO Convention and the 11th on the African continent.
“This is further boosted by the opening of the National Hydrographic Office (the local chapter of the IHO) under the auspices of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) in 2020 following the establishment of the National Hydrographic and Oceanographic Committee in 2015”’ he stated.
Mr Asiamah explained that the functions of the NHO is to collate and process all hydrographic information for the production of charts and dissemination of maritime safety information for member organizations such Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Volta River Authority, Ghana National Petroleum Commission, Petroleum Commission, Fisheries Commission, Lands Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, as well as academic institutions.
Source: MyPublisher24.com