The Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) has released HydroScheme 2027, outlining the hydrographic survey activities planned for financial year 2027/2028.
HydroScheme 2027 will deliver eight major hydrographic surveys across Australian waters as part of the AHO's HydroScheme Industry Partnership Program (HIPP). The program supports safer navigation, improved nautical charting and enhanced understanding of Australia's marine environment through the collection of modern seabed mapping data.
Planned surveys for HydroScheme 2027 include:
- Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef
- Townsville to Palm Passage (SI 1078): Extends modern survey coverage along the Inner Great Barrier Reef shipping route and the Coral Sea, via Palm Passage.
- Queensland Plateau North (SI 1079): Expands seabed mapping across the Coral Sea Marine Park and South-West Coral Sea Area To Be Avoided (ATBA).
- Allandale Island to Dome Island (SI 1087): Updates ageing hydrographic data within a key Great Barrier Reef shipping corridor.
- Western Australia
- Fremantle to Leeman (SI 1083): Surveys offshore waters along major commercial shipping routes.
- Fremantle to Guilderton (SI 1084): Improves charting and navigational safety near the Port of Fremantle.
- Approaches to Port of Dampier (SI 1085): Supports safe navigation into one of Australia's busiest bulk export ports.
- East Coast and Bass Strait
- Broken Bay to Port Botany (SI 1086): Enhances hydrographic coverage across a major maritime corridor serving Sydney and the Eastern Australian seaboard.
- Eastern Approaches to Bass Strait (SI 1088): Modernises hydrographic data across one of Australia's most significant maritime transit routes, improving navigational safety and resilience.
The surveys will strengthen maritime safety, support environmental monitoring and provide critical data for future charting and marine management activities.
