Bathymetric Survey of Western Dover Approach, 2013-2014

704 square kilometers of seabed were surveyed in the Western Approach to the Dover Traffic Separation Scheme. The survey was conducted for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency by contractor MMT UK from December 2013 to March 2014, adhering to IHO S44ed5 Order 1a standards. Data samples and associated geological information are curated by the British Geological Survey.

Use Cases

• Analyze bathymetric depth data to model seabed topography and identify potential navigational hazards in the Western Approach area.
• Correlate geological sample data with bathymetric readings to study sediment distribution and composition in a 704 sq km maritime zone.
• Use the IHO S44ed5 Order 1a standard survey data for validating or updating nautical charts of the Dover TSS approaches.
• Assess survey coverage and data density across the specified 704 square kilometer area for hydrographic quality assurance.

Strengths

• Survey conducted to the recognized IHO S44ed5 Order 1a hydrographic standard, ensuring a defined level of positional and depth accuracy.
• Covers a substantial 704 square kilometer area in a critical shipping lane approach.
• Provides a temporally specific snapshot from a defined period (December 2013 to March 2014).

Limitations

• The specific data structure, column names, and sample formats are not provided, complicating immediate analytical use.
• Data is over a decade old and may not reflect current seabed conditions due to natural sedimentation or human activity.
• Lack of metadata on point density, resolution, or specific instrumentation limits understanding of data granularity.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS), holding data for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Collection Method

Bathymetric survey conducted under the MCA's Civil Hydrography Programme by contractor MMT UK.

Time Range

09/12/2013 to 01/03/2014

Freshness

The dataset itself is from 2013-2014; the catalog record was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Western Approach to the Dover Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), covering 704 square kilometers.