The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has built its bank of Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs) within the Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS) with the addition of Indonesia.
Close collaboration between the UKHO and the Indonesian Hydro-Oceanographic Office has formulated a partnership to produce and maintain a total of more than 100 ENCs in the globally significant sea lanes within this region, fortifying the drive towards full global coverage.
Currently comprising over 9500 ENCs across the world’s major trade lanes, Indonesia, as a major trading nation, is a valuable addition, with the Indonesian Hydro-Oceanographic Office responsible for charting a vast archipelagic state which stretches over 45 degrees of longitude and three time zones.
Recognised as a significant step forward in the new ENC coverage for the international mariner, these islands straddle the primary shipping lanes to and from the Indian Ocean and Western Australia to the main producer nations of the Far East, and with heavy shipping concentrated into these Archipelagic Sea Lanes, navigational safety is paramount.
Rear Admiral Ian Moncrieff of the UKHO said: “With new regulations relating to mandatory use of ECDIS in the near future in addition to environmental concerns, the demands of vessel security, and a constantly changing marine environment, there is increasing pressure on marine superintendents and mariners.
“They deserve to have this aspect of their lives made easier and clearer through the best integrated official data from a single source in which they can put their complete trust.”
He stressed that enhanced safe navigation through yet another of the world’s major shipping regions is an imperative step for global navigation, and the UKHO is working hard to provide a fully compliant and consistent global ENC service that will support the mariner in meeting the new landmark legislation.
