Seychelles establishes Hydrographic Office to manage maritime domain

The Seychelles Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Seychelles Hydrographic Office (SHO) as a specialized department within the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA). The new office is designed to create a national framework for managing the country’s vast maritime domain, which spans approximately 1.4 million square kilometers.

The SHO will coordinate, manage, and preserve hydrographic data collected from government sources and international partners. This information will serve as a national asset to support various sectors, including safer navigation, search and rescue operations, marine planning, environmental management, and the development of the Blue Economy.

According to SMSA Chief Executive Officer Captain Daniel Adam, the office aims to build essential knowledge of the maritime environment, specifically regarding the depth and shape of the seabed. While a 2024 partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office successfully mapped 650 square kilometers around Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue, the new office addresses the ongoing challenge of surveying the nation's extensive waters.