(CMR) The Ministry of District Administration and Lands (MDAL) has announced that Cayman's three islands are currently undergoing a seabed mapping exercise by international geo-data specialists. Over a five-day period, the visiting specialists will operate a Partenavia P68 aircraft, flying as low as approximately 1000 ft above land and covering a survey area of 382km2 on Grand Cayman, 70km2 on Cayman Brac, and 62km2 on Little Cayman.
His Excellency, Governor Martyn Roper, shared, “I am pleased that as part of the Cayman Islands/UK partnership agreement on climate change and the environment, the Cayman Islands will benefit from the UK Government's Overseas Territories (OTs) Seabed Mapping Programme. This £1m cross-OT project looks to reduce risk to the environment, life, and vessels in the OTs' waters, help support compliance with international maritime obligations and support the development of blue economies. My thanks to the Ministry of District Administration and Lands for their continued cooperation with the UK Hydrographic Office, who are taking this work forward here in the Cayman Islands.”
The majority of the available hydrographic map data for the Cayman Islands is over 140 years old. The UK Hydrological Office (UKHO) has committed to providing all OTs with up-to-date nautical charts for navigational purposes.
The survey's primary purpose is to map the seabed to identify the topography – hills, valleys, outcroppings, and other details that can be hazardous to shipping and the safety of life at seas.
Director of Lands and Survey, Jon Hall further explained, “The data collected will be used by UKHO to create new, accurate Admiralty shipping navigation charts for Cayman waters. These will be available for purchase for commercial shipping and private boating purposes from authorized outlets approved by the UKHO. Lands and Survey and the Port Authority will hold copies for operational purposes.”
Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) will also have access for storm modeling purposes. HMCI's access to spatially referenced data products supports risk assessment for improved storm surge analysis.
The Premier and Minister for Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, Hon. Wayne Panton also added, “Given the existential climate-related risk of sea-level rise across the Caribbean region, I am very delighted that HMCI, under the Ministry of Sustainability of Climate Resiliency, will also benefit from the seabed mapping survey. This initiative further contributes to this Government's efforts to prioritize action to tackle the climate crisis and will be an integral part of the overall Climate Change Risk Assessment previously announced.”
Minister for Lands, Hon. Julianna O'Connor-Connolly concluded, “This seabed mapping project further equips the Government to formulate plans on how this asset can be developed and used for the betterment of all residents of the Cayman Islands.”
The exercises began on November 12 and are expected to be finished by November 21 based on weather conditions.
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