About us
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is a world-leading centre for hydrography, specialising in marine geospatial data to support safe, secure and thriving oceans.
Who we are
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is a world-leading centre for hydrography, specialising in marine geospatial data to support safe, secure and thriving oceans.
As an Executive Agency and Trading Fund of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), we provide this information and expert advice to UK government as part of our public task.
We also source, analyse and process data from seabed to surface, to help partners around the world make the best use of our marine environment.
This includes mariners and shipping companies, who have used our ADMIRALTY products and services for 225 years for safe and efficient navigation. In the UK, the Royal Navy and other defence users also rely on this data for safe navigation and work with our staff to support operations that help promote peace on a global scale.
Working alongside international governments and commercial partners, we’re also gathering data that supports the development of our blue economy, so that our oceans can provide a sustainable source of economic growth. This, in turn, is helping to improve livelihoods and provide jobs in new and existing sectors – from renewable energy and aquaculture, to blue carbon and insurance.
Elsewhere, collaboration with the scientific community is helping us to monitor and manage the health of seas and coastal environments. When paired with cutting edge technologies, our shared data sets are helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect our oceans for the future.
Working alongside these partners and others, we will continue to innovate to provide data solutions that meet the changing needs of all those who depend on the marine environment. And together, we will make the best use of our oceans in safer, more secure and more sustainable ways.
Find out more about our ADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions
Learn about our role in government
Our framework document
Our framework document sets out the UKHO‘s purpose and role, together with the governance, policy and finance parameters that guide its day-to-day operations. It also captures MOD‘s expectations for the Trading Fund, its Top Level Objectives, and the arrangements in place to ensure the effective delivery of these expectations.
Our public task
Our public task defines those things that UKHO is required to do by statute or common administrative practice. Our public task can be found at annex A of our framework document.
Maritime safety information
We assess incoming hydrographic data immediately for vital safety information. Urgent updates are issued as Navigational Warnings or chart-updating Notices to Mariners (NMs). We issued more than 1700 Navigational Warnings and over 6000 Notices to Mariners in 2017.
We issue:
- Notices to Mariners (NMs)
- Radio Navigational Warnings
- Security Related Information for Mariners (SRIM)
We also manage secure login areas for distributors, licensees and ADMIRALTY Partners to access our safety information.
Corporate information
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Jobs and contracts
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