Established in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland, the BSHC is a Regional Hydrographic Commission of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), providing a longstanding framework for cooperation among hydrographic offices across the Baltic Sea region. Its work encompasses hydrographic surveying, nautical charting, and the exchange of maritime information.

The new partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the 31st Conference of the BSHC in Klaipėda, Lithuania, on behalf of the Commission’s collaborating hydrographic offices.

Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), accelerating the complete mapping of the world’s ocean, and working to compile all the data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. The Project is formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint program of the IHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and is the only organization with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.

Building on the BSHC’s established regional framework, the partnership creates opportunities to strengthen coordination among participating hydrographic offices, encourage the sharing of bathymetric data, and draw on the region’s collective hydrographic expertise in support of Seabed 2030’s mission.

Commenting on the announcement, Seabed 2030 Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips said: “We are delighted to welcome the BSHC to our growing global network. The Baltic Sea region has a longstanding tradition of hydrographic cooperation, and the Commission’s work in coordinating surveying activities and bringing together expertise from across the region provides a strong foundation for this partnership.

“By building on these established efforts, we hope to encourage the wider sharing of bathymetric data and help ensure that the valuable information being gathered across the region can contribute to a more complete picture of the ocean floor.”

Chair of the BSHC Mindaugas Zakarauskas said: “We are pleased to partner with Seabed 2030 and join this important global initiative. The BSHC is committed to advancing hydrographic cooperation across the Baltic Sea, and we see this collaboration as a valuable opportunity to contribute to an effort that extends far beyond our region.

“We look forward to working with Seabed 2030 and supporting its mission to improve our understanding of the world’s ocean floor.”

The BSHC’s work includes coordinating hydrographic re-surveys and facilitating the exchange of hydrographic information among its members. The partnership builds on these established activities, creating further opportunities for regional knowledge and expertise to contribute to international ocean mapping efforts.

All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.