NLA Observing World Hydrography Day on June 21

The National Land Agency (NLA) will be highlighting the importance of hydrography, as the entity marks World Hydrography Day 2024 on Friday (June 21).

Hydrography is a branch of applied sciences dealing with the understanding, measurement and mapping of seabed topography and coastal features.

The Day will be observed under the theme ‘Hydrography: Information Enhancing Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability in Marine Activities’.

The NLA will erect a display booth at its head office at 8 Ardenne Road in St. Andrew that will provide clients and other stakeholders with information on hydrography and its importance at the community and national levels.

Acting Manager for the NLA’s Topographic and Hydrographic Branch, Diego Billings, told JIS News that the Unit’s work is crucial to, among other things, providing navigational aid for cargo and other naval/maritime vessels wishing to dock in Jamaica.

“If the port is not adequately mapped and is deemed unsafe, a ship will not come into the harbour. Ninety per cent of trade is done by sea. So, in terms of trade in oil, food and appliances… that would be difficult if we don’t carry out our work,” he said.

Mr. Billings informed that the Branch is also part of Jamaica’s disaster preparedness framework, providing tsunami modelling data as well as mapping for coastal defence.

In line with this year’s theme, the NLA is also undertaking improvements in the Branch’s work and activities focusing on safety and sustainability.

“We now have new products that we are streamlining; we are moving away from paper charts to electronic navigation charts. In terms of sustainability in marine activities, you cannot manage what you don’t know about… for example, overfishing. Our data is used for habitat mapping… so [that] we can locate the different species of fish, where they are… and the classification of the sea floor, whether it is the sand, rock or gravel,” Mr. Billings said.

The theme for World Hydrography Day is observed globally by all members of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

Jamaica officially joined as the 69th Member State when it acceded to the IHO Convention in April 2000.