UKHO and IHO Officials Join Maritime Administration for Safer Navigation and Port Operations

On January 12-13, 2026, the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) hosted senior representatives from the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) for a high-level working visit, a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to strengthen hydrographic capacity, maritime safety, and port operations.

The two-day engagement served a dual strategic purpose. The UKHO delegation returned to assess progress on Sierra Leone’s Hydrographic Action Plan (HAP), a nationally endorsed roadmap created following the National Hydrographic Governance Workshop, which SLMA hosted with UKHO facilitation in March 2025. At the same time, an IHO official took advantage of the opportunity to discuss the requirements and pathways for Sierra Leone’s potential accession to the IHO.

Dr Daniel Kaitibi, SLMA’s Executive Director, welcomed the visiting teams and emphasised the critical role of hydrography in safe navigation, marine environmental protection, and port development. He acknowledged UKHO’s ongoing technical assistance and emphasised the importance of continued collaboration with both UKHO and IHO to build national hydrographic capacity. Dr Kaitibi reiterated the government’s commitment to pursuing IHO membership, stating that formal accession would increase national capacity, improve compliance with international standards, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s integration into the global hydrographic and maritime safety community.

Dr John Nyberg, representing the International Hydrographic Organisation, emphasised the need for coastal states to adopt modern hydrographic technologies and foster institutional cooperation in order to meet international obligations. He emphasised the importance of regional and international collaboration in hydrographic data management and capacity building, especially for developing coastal states looking to modernise their maritime infrastructure and safety regimes.

On behalf of the SLMA, Deputy Executive Director Mr Emmanuel B. A. Lansana thanked the UKHO and IHO teams for their participation and ongoing technical assistance. He reaffirmed SLMA’s commitment to fully utilising the results of hydrographic surveys and governance processes to improve maritime safety, navigational systems, and port operations, emphasising that practical application of hydrographic data would be central to these efforts.

On the second day, the Seabed Mapping Committee (SMC) hosted a technical working session that was the highlight of the visit. The SMC was established as a direct result of the Hydrographic Action Plan and brings together a wide range of maritime stakeholders, including SLMA, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), the Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Navy, the National Minerals Agency (NMA), the Sierra Leone Meteorological Department, the Sierra Leone United Boat Owners Association, the University of Sierra Leone.

During the working session, the UKHO delegation presented updates to Sierra Leone’s nautical charts based on currently available survey data. The UKHO team emphasised the importance of gathering hydrographic information that meets International Hydrographic Organisation standards and sharing that data with charting authorities so that navigational charts can be updated. They emphasised that accurate, standards-compliant hydrographic data is critical not only for safer navigation, but also for protecting the marine ecosystem and promoting maritime commerce.

The session emphasised the SMC’s role as the primary national coordination platform for seabed mapping and hydrographic data management. Committee members discussed ways to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, improve data-sharing protocols, and develop long-term capacity-building programs to ensure that institutions throughout the maritime sector can contribute to and benefit from improved hydrographic services.
In his closing remarks at the SMC meeting, Mr Lansana praised committee members for their dedication and urged continued engagement and consistent reporting among participating agencies, stating that such coordination was critical to the HAP’s successful implementation. He also praised UKHO for the updated charts and their commitment to improving the SMC’s technical capacity.
The visiting delegation also paid a courtesy and technical visit to Sierra Leone’s Ports and Harbour Authority. The discussions there centred on the practical application of hydrographic data to port operations, navigational safety within port boundaries, and ongoing port infrastructure development. Participants emphasised the importance of coordinated planning among maritime institutions in ensuring that port expansion and maintenance projects are based on accurate seabed mapping and current navigational charts.
Overall, the visit bolstered Sierra Leone’s momentum in improving hydrographic governance and technical capabilities. It outlined a clear path to safer navigation, more resilient port operations, and improved coastal and marine environmental protection, based on international collaboration, adherence to IHO standards, and strengthened national coordination.