ABP Marine Environmental Research ltd (ABPmer) has been contracted by the River Hamble Harbor Authority to undertake its 2015 annual bathymetric survey.
The survey is carried out to help the River Hamble Harbor Authority to maintain its knowledge of the water depths within the river and to capture any morphological changes that might be occurring over time.
ABPmer has been undertaking hydrographic surveys of the river annually since the 1990s which nominally covers the area from the harbor entrance to the tidal reaches at Curdridge and Botley.
Different sections of the river are surveyed on a rolling program ensuring that all areas of the Harbor Authority’s jurisdiction are covered at least every 5 years. The decision on which stretch to be surveyed in any one year is determined by the requirements of the Hamble Harbor Master.
“ The surveys were originally carried out in the early summer months, however over the years, as the numbers of vessel movements have increased during this period they have been undertaken on spring tides during the autumn equinox ,” said Claire Brown, ABPmer Head of Data.
Surveying at this time of year not only provides a clearer waterway within which to work but also enables the area of survey coverage to be maximized with access to the river margins as well as the main channels.
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