MPA Celebrates World Hydrography Day

In celebration of World Hydrography Day themed “Hydrographic Information Driving Marine Knowledge” this year, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) hosted the East Asia Hydrographic Commission working committee meetings in Singapore.

The World Hydrography Day celebration event was held at Fort Canning, Singapore on June 28, 2019.

 "Singapore’s port is over 700 years old. Our rich history dates back to the early 14th century when Singapore was establishing itself as a free trade port. Today, we have grown into a global hub port, the largest transshipment port in the world. But this would not have been possible without hydrographers and the work they do. Our hydrographers connected the dots, using charts to map out the waters in and around Singapore, so that ships could navigate to our shores safely," said Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health.

"A day in the life of a hydrographer is never dull. Our hydrographers work tirelessly to collect data of sea depth, shape of the sea bed, tides and currents. They process the data, synthesise the information and present it in a useful way on navigational charts. Unlike hydrographers of days past, our hydrographers today use high-tech gadgets such as multi-beam sonar and a sound velocity probe which measures the speed of sound to determine the water depth," he said.

Representatives from 10 Member States discussed various ongoing hydrographic projects, including the proposed development of a regional Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure network.

MPA held an exhibition at the Fort Canning Lighthouse on the potential uses of the GeoSpace-Sea initiative: from how bathymetric surveys are conducted to the production of nautical charts to the overlay of geospatial data and other information on the charts.

The exhibition also showcased hydrographic and cartographic artefacts that have historically contributed to Singapore’s development as an entrepôt.