The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is pleased to announce a new partnership with Exail, a world leader in robotics, navigation, and subsea imagery solutions. This collaboration aims to advance the global effort in pursuit of a complete map of the ocean floor by the end of the decade.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), which seeks to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030, and to compile all the data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. The Project is formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint programme of the IHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and is the only organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
Through this partnership, Exail and Seabed 2030 will work together to promote each other’s initiatives and share knowledge and best practices in ocean mapping and bathymetric data management. As part of the agreement, Exail will contribute bathymetric data, promote the Seabed 2030 vision through its advanced technologies and solutions and actively engage in promoting Seabed 2030 to the users of its sonar, navigation, and autonomy solutions.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project,” said David Vincentelli, autonomy business developer for the hydrographic market, at Exail. “This partnership reflects our commitment to advancing ocean exploration and our belief in the importance of a complete and accurate map of the world’s ocean floors. By joining forces, we can accelerate progress toward a fully mapped ocean by 2030, benefiting not just our industry, but the entire planet.”
“This partnership with Exail represents a significant milestone for Seabed 2030 as we continue to drive forward our mission of inspiring a complete map of the world’s ocean floor,” commented Seabed 2030 Project Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips. “Exail’s innovative solutions and expertise will not only enhance our technical capabilities, but also help raise awareness of the critical importance of ocean mapping. Together, we are committed to a better understanding of the ocean’s depths.”
The memorandum of understanding underscores both organisations’ dedication to the UN Decade of Ocean Science in Support of Sustainable Development (2021-2030), aligning their efforts with global initiatives to enhance ocean knowledge and management.
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.
Source: Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project
