Mauritius Hydrographic Service (MHS)​

 Content Editor ‭[2]‬

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​​​​Abo​ut the Unit

Need for Hydrography

Objectives

Hydrographic  Surveys

Resources​​

Notices to Mariners

Sale of Navigational Charts

Contact Us​

       ​


 About the Unit

The Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning takes responsibility for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting in Mauritius. In order to develop hydrographic infrastructure and expertise, the Unit was set up at this Ministry in 2013. Being nodal agency for hydrography, the Unit has capacity to survey coastal areas critical for shipping and surface navigation, carry out underwater search operations for wreck/ obstruction detection and survey extremely shallow lagoons surrounding Mauritius. In addition, the Unit also provides hydrographic support to stakeholders dealing with ocean related matters. Under assistance provided by the Government of India, Commander Ankush Sachdeva is heading the Unit. ​

Need for Hy​drography

Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in support of all other marine activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection. 

Covering nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface, marine and coastal waters are the Earth's largest and most vital resources, influencing global energy cycles and biological processes upon which all life depends. Concurrently, ocean and coastal waters serve as the most efficient and hence economical means to move goods. Ultimately the economic and social well-being, including domestic production and competition in the global market, affordability of goods and services, and national security, are dependent on a country's ability to maintain efficient and safe navigation routes into territorial waters where well managed ports and support infrastructure keep waterborne commerce and tourism flowing.  

This safe navigation requires an accurate and up to date navigational chart, the basic and indispensable instrument of marine navigation. The navigational chart is an end product of a Hydrographic survey and here in lies the importance of hydrographic surveying.​

Objectives

The objectives of the Mauritius Hydrographic Service are as follows:- 

(a)  Provide credible hydrographic services in Mauritius for efficient & safe maritime transport, coastal zone management, exploration & exploitation of marine resources, tourism, environmental protection and scientific research. 

(b)   Create organized database of bathymetric data through surveys for production of nautical charts. 

(c)        Provide hydrographic support to outer islands. 

(d)      Strengthen Maritime Safety Information Services Framework and meet deep sea survey requirements through international collaboration.

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Furthermore, Hydrographic surveying is not restricted to the production of navigational charts only. Any developmen​tal activity in a marine environment, either inland or offshore, must be preceded by a detailed hydrographic survey. Some important app​lications of Hydrography are as follows:- 

(a​)​
P​roduction of Navigation charts and allied nautical publications
(b) Port design, development and maintenance
(c)
Dredging operations
(d) Construction of offshore structure
(e) Offshore oil and mineral exploration​
(f) Offshore pipeline and cable laying operations
(g) Coastal Zone Management
(h) Maritime Boundary Delimitation
(i) Offshore scientific research
(j) Inland navigation and flood management measures, including de-silting of dams and other inland water bodies
(k) National security, border protection an​d humanitarian support

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Further information regarding the need for hydrographic services is outlined in the document published by the International Hydrographic Organisation which may be accessed at:-​

https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/misc/M-2_3.0.7_E_06142018.pdf​  

Hydrographic Surveys 

(a)  Hydrographic Surveys undertaken by Indian Naval Survey Ships

Cooperation of the Government of India has been obtained under the provisions of an MoU to carry out hydrographic surveys in Mauritius waters.  For this purpose, Indian Naval Survey Shi​ps have visited Mauritius on fifteen occasions since 2006, and have successfully completed 40 hydrographic surveys. This has resulted in the production of 12 Nautical Charts and 14 Electronic Navigation Charts of Mauritius EEZ. 

(b) Surveys Undertaken by the Mauritius Hydrographic Service

Since its inception, the Unit has continued its incessant march towards charting the waters in Mauritius and building the indigenous capacity for hydrographic surveying. A broad spectrum of surveys that have been undertaken by this Unit that include delineation of the entire coastline of Mauritius, surveys for demarcation of mooring zones, surveys for deploying FADs, wreck investigation surveys, underwater archaeological site surveys, surveys for embarkation points for pleasure crafts, identification and survey of navigable passes around Mauritius etc. The metadata of each survey of navigable pass has been compiled as a compendium and can be accessed by clicking on the link below:-

 ​'Compendium of Survey of Navigable Passes of Mauritius' ​​​

Resources

In order to undertake hydrographic surveys around the Island of Mauritius, the following resources are available at the Unit:- 

             (a)         Multibeam Echo-sounder 

             (b)         Single Beam Echo-sounder 

             (c)          Differential GPS system

             (d)          Automated Data Logging System

             (e)          Side Scan Sonar with software

             (f)           Motion Sensor

             (g)          Sound Velocity Profiler

             (h)          Automated Tide Gauge

             (j)          Digital Sea Thermometer

             (k)          Bottom sampler

             (l)          Current meter

            (m)         Data Processing Software Suites

            (n)          Geodetic GPS​

Notices to Mariners​

 Click the link for Notices to Mariners: 

https://hydrobharat.gov.in/indian-notices-to-mariners/

Click here for Reporting Navigational Dangers / Chang​es observed at Sea by Mariners  

Click here to download the Merchant Shipping Notice 2 of 2022 on New Navigational Charts of Mauritius and its Outer Islands

https://blueconomy.govmu.org/Pages/Departments/Shipping%20Division/Marine-notices.aspx

Sale of Navigational Charts 

India is the Chart Producer nation for Mauritius and a protocol for the sale of navigational products has been signed between the Government of Mauritius and the Government of India. Till date, 12 navigational charts and 14 Electronic Navigational Charts have been produced by the Indian National Hydrographic Office (INHO). The list of charts is as follows:-​

 

No.​ ​Shee​t No. Sheet Description Date of Publication
1. 2503 (INT 77391) Approaches to Cargados & Carajos Shoals Dec 16
2. 2504 (INT 77392) Mathurin Harbour Dec 20
3. 2505 (INT 77393) Approaches to Mathurin Harbour Dec 20
4. 2506 (INT 77394) Grand Bay and Grand Riviere Noire Bay Jan 17
5. 2507 (INT 77395) Grand Port Feb 20
​6.
​2508
​Agalega Jetty
​Mar 23
7. 2512 (INT 77396) Agalega Islands Jan 17
8. 2514 (INT 7739) Port Louis and Approaches Oct 18
9 2527 (INT 77397​)​ Mauritius Oct 19
10. 2529
Northern Islets of Mauritius Dec 18
​11.
​2530
​Approaches to Grand Port
Mar 20
12. 2531
Rodrigues Island Dec 20


 

The above charts are on sale at 33 US Dollars at the Cartography Section during office hours. The ​address of the Cartography Section is: ​

Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning

Level 3, Ebene Tower,

Plot 52, Cybercity, EBENE.

Tel: 468 1755, Fax: 454 6608 

A catalogue of Paper Charts and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) was released on the occasion of World Hydrography Day-2016 on 22 June 2016. The catalogue has been updated for charts and ENCs up to September 2021. The catalogue aims at informing all stakeholders in Mauritius about availability of nautical products and the source of procurement.  The pdf document can be printed back to back on A-3 size paper to form a four page (A4 size) catalogue.

To download the chart catalogue as at May 2023, please click here​​​​​

​​Contact Us

​​Commander Ankush Sachdeva​​ ​  ​​
​Officer in Charge   ​​
​Mauritius Hydrographic Service ​​
​Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning ​​
​Level 5, Ebene Tower, Cybercity   ​​
​Ebene   ​​
​​Republic of Mauritius   ​​
Ph +2304013802 Mob +230 5899​0980 Fax +230 4681173
Email oic_hydrounit@govmu.org hydrounit@govmu.org

   


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