The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) will officially release three new nautical charts covering the approaches to Calabar, Jamestown and the Port of Calabar on Oct. 1.
The NHA disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
The agency said the new chart series comprised NG5514 – Approaches to Calabar, NG5515 – Jamestown, and NG4255 – Port of Calabar.
It said that the development represented a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen and expand its national nautical chart portfolio and provide authoritative navigational information for Nigerian waters.
According to the statement, the charts will collectively provide updated navigational coverage from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits.
“The charts will provide mariners with current hydrographic information to support safe and efficient navigation along the important maritime corridor.”
The agency explained that the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to verify consistency with adjoining chart coverage, as part of the quality assurance process preceding release.
“The corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) were also independently validated by the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).
“These processes provide assurance that the products meet the applicable technical and navigational requirements for their intended operational use.
“The release of the NHA charts will coincide with the planned withdrawal of UKHO Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently provide coverage of the Calabar area.
“Accordingly, NHA and UKHO will coordinate the transition to support continuity of authoritative navigational coverage and minimise the possibility of any gap in chart availability to the maritime community,” the statement said.
The agency noted that the Calabar maritime corridor was strategically important to commercial shipping and other maritime activities within Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.
It emphasised that the availability of updated paper charts and ENCs would enhance safety of navigation, support efficient vessel operations and strengthen other maritime activities within the area.
It also said that the release was part of the NHA’s broader programme to progressively expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio.
The agency added that it would continue to conduct hydrographic surveys, produce new paper charts and ENCs while maintaining existing products through regular updates as new hydrographic and maritime safety information became available.
Commenting, the Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NHA, Rear Adm. Olumide Fadahunsi, said the charts publication represented more than the release of new navigational products.
“It demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart, as well as maintaining its waterways to internationally recognised standards.
“Our priority is to ensure that mariners operating within Nigerian waters have access to accurate, current and authoritative information required for safe and efficient navigation,” he said.(NAN)
