Raymarine has formed a strategic partnership with The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) to contribute to the Seabed 2030 project, an ambitious global effort aimed at mapping the entirety of the ocean floor by 2030. Currently, only about 25% of the world’s seabed has been mapped to modern standards, and this initiative seeks to address that gap. The data collected will play a crucial role in marine conservation, climate modeling, tsunami forecasting, and sustainable management of ocean resources.
Launched in 2017 and endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, Seabed 2030 intends to gather all existing bathymetric data into a freely accessible global map. Raymarine’s involvement will include providing a unique dataset derived from crowd-sourced bathymetric recordings. This data, collected from thousands of vessels equipped with Raymarine sonar systems, will significantly enhance the resolution and coverage of existing maps, particularly in less surveyed coastal and offshore areas.
Grégoire Outters, General Manager at Raymarine, expressed pride in supporting the initiative, emphasizing the company’s commitment to safer navigation, improved scientific understanding, and a sustainable future for the maritime industry.
