Study of the Role of Hydrographic Surveying in Supporting Safe Navigation in Nigerian Coastal Waters

Accurate and current hydrographic data are the foundation of safe maritime navigation, informing the nautical charts, sailing directions, and tide tables used by mariners worldwide. This study examines the role, capacity, and output quality of hydrographic surveying activities in Nigerian coastal waters, focusing on the operations of the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office and their adequacy for supporting current traffic volumes. A professional review methodology was adopted, using structured interviews with ten hydrographic survey officers and chart production specialists, review of published chart update records, and comparison of chart cell coverage and update frequency against the standards of the International Hydrographic Organization. Findings indicate that Nigeria's coastal hydrographic chart coverage is incomplete relative to IHO standards, with several economically important port approach channels last formally surveyed more than fifteen years ago. The Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office operates with a limited fleet of survey vessels and has experienced personnel shortfalls that delay survey programme completion. Chart update publication cycles lag behind the rate of morphological change in dynamic coastal areas such as the Niger Delta and Lagos Bight. Nautical publications including tide tables and sailing directions are not consistently updated and distributed. Recommendations include increased funding for the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office survey programme, adoption of multi-beam echo sounder technology for coastal re-survey operations, and a formal agreement with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office for chart production capacity support. Keywords: hydrographic surveying, nautical charts, Nigerian waters, IHO standards, coastal navigation