Baltic Sea Activities Under EU TEN-T MonaLisa Project

Baltic Sea Activities Under EU TEN-T MonaLisa Project

The Baltic Sea, surrounded by nine European countries, has been designated as a Particular Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA), recognising its unique ecological and economic importance. With approximately 60,000 - 65,000 commercial ships passing through annually, and another 30,000 entering and exiting via the Kiel Canal, ensuring the safety of navigation is crucial.

To achieve this, hydrographic surveys have been conducted extensively, providing full coverage bathymetric information and ensuring adequate water depth. The re-surveys, carried out in areas that had not been surveyed with modern methods and according to international standards before, covered about 50,000 km² of HELCOM CAT I and II areas, larger than the size of the entire land area of the Netherlands.

The Finnish Transport Agency (FTA) and the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) have been at the forefront of these efforts, requesting that each vessel proves its complete survey system fulfils the requirements by surveying over a fixed geodetically surveyed manmade bottom object prior to commencing the survey.

The procurement process for these hydrographic surveys is complex due to specific legislation in Finland and Sweden. In some cases, a "fixed sum" has been used, and tenderers have put in offers for the size of the areas they were willing to survey for that sum. Good cooperation was established in the procurement process for the re-surveys, benefitting both FTA and SMA.

The surveys have contributed significantly to maritime safety, with an excellent record on avoiding groundings, and have also promoted environmentally friendly shipping. The data collected is also used for base data for all activities and utilised for ice-breaker routing.

The MonaLisa project, established from 2010 to 2013, aimed to update hydrographic surveys to current standards. The project focused on ensuring the quality of hydrographic data on shipping routes and areas in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea, with the SMA as the lead partner.

All surveying has been carried out using traditional tidal corrections, and both FTA and SMA have requested that tables of dynamic draft/squat should be used. The overall experiences show that ensuring depth data delivery in time and with a quality in accordance with the S-44 requires experienced senior staff surveyors familiar with the latest technology.

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission - Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) was established in 1974 to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. However, environmental problems in the Baltic Sea have become very serious due to the almost closed sea basin, limited passage of sea water from the North Sea, and lack of environmental protection measures in the mid-20th Century.

The number of ships has increased over the last 10 - 15 years, and the number of companies within the hydrographic surveying market is fairly limited, with many involved in the offshore oil and gas industry. Despite these challenges, the commitment to maintaining the safety and health of the Baltic Sea remains strong, ensuring its continued vitality for future generations.

While the current status of the MonaLisa project is not available, it is a testament to the ongoing efforts to improve hydrographic surveying in the Baltic Sea. For the latest details on the MonaLisa project, it is recommended to check official sources such as the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), the Baltic Sea regional research programs, or project-specific websites and press releases.

1. The hydrographic surveys conducted in the Baltic Sea, which cover a significant portion of HELCOM CAT I and II areas, are essential for ensuring the safety of navigation, contributing to the excellent record on avoiding groundings and promoting environmentally friendly shipping.
2. Due to the increasing number of ships and the limited number of companies involved in the hydrographic surveying market, the commitment to maintaining the safety and health of the Baltic Sea is of immense importance to ensure its continued vitality for future generations.
3. The MonaLisa project, established from 2010 to 2013, aimed to update hydrographic surveys to current standards, focusing on the quality of hydrographic data on shipping routes and areas in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea.

4.For the latest details on ongoing and past efforts to improve hydrographic surveying in the Baltic Sea, including the MonaLisa project, it is recommended to check official sources like the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), the Baltic Sea regional research programs, or project-specific websites and press releases.

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