Papua New Guinea is set to improve its maritime safety and inform development across the nation’s 5,000 kilometres of coastline, thanks to a new hydrographic surveying program.

The nation’s National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) has awarded a total of six contracts to international hydrographic survey specialists, Fugro.

The surveys will be conducted utilising a combination of Fugro’s Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry (ALB) and multibeam echo sounder sensors to deliver a seamless dataset to NMSA.

Fugro will the same use multibeam echo sounder (MBES) sensor technology used in the search for missing Malaysia Aircraft MH370.

Fugro will undertake hydrographic surveying across Papua New Guinea, a nation with some 5,000 kilometres of coastline.

“As a pioneer of ALB development, Fugro has a solid track record in applying this advanced technology for mapping shallow water environments safely and cost-effectively,” commented Paul Seaton, Fugro’s Regional Business Development Manager for Asia Pacific.

“The surveys in deeper waters will be performed by vessel and Fugro will also conduct a comprehensive tides campaign throughout the survey area,” he said.

The contracts are part of the Asian Development Bank-funded Maritime Waterways Safety Project that aims to improve the safety and efficiency of Papua New Guinea’s international and national shipping in coastal areas and waterways.

By improving the maritime environment and making coastal shipping safer, Fugro believe the project is also expected facilitate travel, trade and tourism for rural communities.