Chilean Navy's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) inaugurates a fresh shallow water hydrographic survey mission
The Chilean government has acquired a state-of-the-art hydrographic launch, the "LH-02", as part of its commitment to ensuring safe navigation and supporting economic growth along its extensive coastal areas.
The total cost of the "LH-02", including trailer, survey systems, and additional equipment, was 325 million dollars CLP. The hydrographic launch, acquired from SAFEBOATS International Company, is an aluminum boat, 8.2m in length and 2.6m maximum beam. It boasts a maximum speed of 46 knots and a cruising speed of 35 knots, ensuring prompt arrival to the working area and efficient bathymetric surveying operations.
The "LH-02" is designed to investigate the marine bottom in areas near the coast, between depths of 10 and 200 meters. Equipped with hydrographic equipment of the latest generation, it can support a side scan sonar (SSS) and is equipped with a Multibeam Sonar, Motion Sensor, Profiling probe, and the capacity to operate a portable SSS system.
The "LH-02" plays a crucial role in Chile's socioeconomic development and safe navigation, especially along its extensive and complex coastal areas. Its main significance lies in conducting detailed hydrographic surveys that map seafloor topography, identify hazards, and update nautical charts, thereby ensuring safe maritime navigation.
Specifically, the LH-02 provides precise hydrographic data that helps prevent maritime accidents caused by uncharted underwater obstacles, contributing to the safety of both commercial and fishing vessels operating near Chile’s coast. By enabling safer and more efficient marine transport routes, the launch supports Chile’s export-driven economy—especially in sectors like fisheries, shipping, and tourism—that rely heavily on unhindered access to coastal waters and ports.
Accurate mapping from the LH-02 aids in sustainable coastal development planning and environmental conservation efforts by providing essential data on seabed characteristics and water depths. This information is vital for coastal trade, fishing industries, port activities, and environmental management, all vital components of Chile’s economy.
The "LH-02" complements SHOA's existing means for hydrographic surveys, primarily focusing on areas close to the coast between depths of 10 to 200 meters. SHOA commissioned the "LH-02" Hydrographic Launch on 11 December 2015, and it has no operational seasonal limitations, actively participating in the annual programming of hydrographic surveys.
Though specific publicly available detailed reports on the LH-02 itself in Chile are limited, the general role of hydrographic launches in such contexts is well established in maritime practice worldwide, highlighting the strategic importance of vessels like LH-02 in a country with Chile’s extensive shoreline and maritime activities. This is aligned with the broader goals of hydrographic services mentioned in analogous contexts related to safety and socioeconomic development.
- The financing of the acquisition of the "LH-02" hydrographic launch was a significant investment in Chile's science sector, as accurate hydrographic data is crucial for sustainable coastal development, environmental conservation, and economic growth.
- The "LH-02" hydrographic launch, equipped with search and rescue capabilities, not only ensures safe navigation but also plays a vital role in emergency response and rescue operations along Chile's complex coastal areas.
- Advancements in technology, such as the Multibeam Sonar and side scan sonar systems aboard the "LH-02," have revolutionized sports like scuba diving and underwater exploration, offering researchers and recreational divers unprecedented insights into Chile's marine ecosystems.
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