MARITIME AND
COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Press Notice: 138_07) issued by The
Government News Network on 25 May 2007
The Hydrography
Unit of the MCA's Navigation Safety branch have released a
selection of files for download to the general public which
provide information regarding some of the MCA's bathymetric
multibeam surveys.
Rob Spillard, Hydrography Manager, says:
"All seabed data that the MCA gathers is used to keep UK
nautical charts and publications up-to-date to support safety of
navigation in UK waters. However, our data can be used for many
other purposes and we are hoping that, by publishing the data on
our web site in a special layer, viewable in "Google
Earth", we will encourage other government and non-government
organisations to share seabed data with us, thereby saving costs
for everybody. In addition, we are also pleased to show the
public where their money is being spent and hope that, by doing
this, we may also receive suggestions regarding new areas that
should be considered for surveying so as to further improve safety
for the mariner."
The files can be viewed by downloading free Google Earth
(http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html) and show extensive
information about the areas the MCA has surveyed in recent years.
Each file includes an image of the surveyed seabed.
Download files from the continually expanding database at the
Hydrography website at http://www.mcga.gov.uk/hydrography.
The files are not to be used for navigation.
Press releases and further information about the Agency is
available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk