The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has gone out to tender with a contract for hydrographic survey services with an estimated total value of £17 million.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport which is responsible throughout the UK for implementing and developing the UK Government’s maritime safety and environmental protection policy. That includes coordinating Search and Rescue at sea through His Majesty’s Coastguard 24 hours a day, and checking that ships meet UK and international safety rules. The MCA work to prevent the loss of lives at the coast and at sea, to ensure that ships are safe, and to prevent coastal pollution.

The MCA also plays a unique role within Government in discharging the UK's statutory hydrographic obligations under the United Nations’ Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. The MCA funds, manages and delivers the UK Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) - a multi-million-pound MCA-led Government initiative to prioritise, survey and map UK waters in order to keep UK nautical charts and publications current, safe and fit for purpose.

This multi-disciplined marine data gathering programme is targeted at areas of highest navigational safety risk. The contract for CHP work is being tendered in the following five Lots:

Lot 1 Shallow Water – typically water depths 0-200m, predominantly depths less than 40m (£6,500,000)

Lot 2 Medium Water – typically water depths 0-200m (£6,500,000)

Lot 3 Routine Resurvey – navigationally critical shallow water areas with mobile seabed (£2,000,000)

Lot 4: Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, Section 2 Surveys - SS Richard Montgomery (£200,000)

Lot 5: Supplementary Hydrographic Survey Services (£N/A)

Proposed end date is 31 March 2026 – further possible extension options up to 24 months are available

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 23 February 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.