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The Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Yankuba Askia Bio, has engaged officials of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), the primary authority responsible for conducting nautical chart surveys in Sierra Leone.
The UKHO delegation was accompanied by representatives of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA).
The engagement was aimed at formalising the UKHO’s mandate in Sierra Leone, which includes conducting nautical chart surveys along the country’s riverine and coastal waterways, as well as providing technical training and equipment to support hydrographic survey activities.
Welcoming the delegation, Bio said operations at the Freetown Port have recorded a significant increase in volume due to improved operational efficiency and productivity. He noted that the growth has prompted plans to expand port infrastructure through the construction of additional berths and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) across the country to accommodate the increasing number of discharged containers and ease congestion at the Freetown Port.
The meeting featured a round-table discussion involving officials from SLPHA, SLMA, and UKHO. Key areas of collaboration identified during the discussions included the collection and provision of hydrographic and marine geospatial data; collaboration with SLPHA and other maritime authorities to enhance global standards in hydrography, cartography, and navigation; contributions to marine safety and environmental protection in Sierra Leone; and the provision of technical and infrastructural support, including training and equipment, to facilitate nautical chart surveys.
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is the United Kingdom Government’s authority on hydrography, providing essential marine data, nautical charts, and guidance to ensure safe navigation for the Royal Navy, merchant shipping, and other maritime users worldwide. The UKHO fulfils international safety obligations under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and contributes to maritime security and efficient global trade through high-quality geospatial data and internationally recognised standards.
Based in Taunton, Somerset, the UKHO operates as a Ministry of Defence Trading Fund and maintains one of the world’s largest hydrographic archives. It also plays a leading role in setting global standards for hydrography and cartography and is currently the designated primary authority conducting nautical chart surveys in Sierra Leone.
