UKHO opens office in Singapore

26 January 2009, 9:12pm

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has opened an office in Singapore, a global hub port and international maritime centre. The local office is based in the British High Commission.

The initiative is backed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – a key long-standing partner and influence in the region – and is staffed by a member of UKHO’s International Partnering team, Chris Thorne.

UKHO Chief Executive, Mike Robinson, said: “We already have a member of staff stationed in Washington and this has brought us much closer collaboration with the United States, so we know the model works.

“Extending our reach to the Far East will help to build relationships in this area and help us to improve the service we provide to our international marine and defence customers.”

Mike added that the initiative is a further commitment by UKHO to support the Far East and is an indication of the importance this area of the world plays in the maritime industry.
Chris Thorne, who has worked for UKHO for 33 years, has a wide range of skills and experience that he is bringing to his role in Singapore including training, cartography, geodesy, hydrographic data processing and negotiation of bilateral cooperation arrangements with foreign hydrographic offices and other data providers.

Chris, who took up the post on 23rd January, said: “I am very much looking forward to living and working in Singapore. I have been working with my counterparts in the Far East for some time and being based in Singapore should strengthen our relationships further.”

The UKHO’s Singapore office will be a springboard for capacity building in the region and delivery of training to foreign government hydrographic offices as well as a base for gaining an insight into the needs of mariners, distributors and product specialists in this busy maritime trading area. The training facility will be delivered and managed jointly with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Mike Robinson concluded: “Ultimately mariners stand to benefit through improved availability of data and therefore safer, more frequently updated products.”

UK Hydrographic Office

Geo: International