Charting the future of South Atlantic navigation
Report and photographs from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy
The new rules for navigation around the Tristan archipelago were in clear view as representatives of the UK Overseas Territories were welcomed to the headquarters of the UK Hydrographic Office.
Chris Carnegy with the host, UK National Hydrographer Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh.
The complex at Taunton in southern England houses the world's leading supplier of navigation charts - and Tristan's protective 'Areas To Be Avoided', for vessels in transit across the ocean, were on show as we viewed the latest versions.
Chris looking at the 19th-century chart, with Head of Archives Andrew Leitch
UKHO staff briefed us on the latest trends in digital mapping and how these can help mariners plot the most efficient courses, and on how data-sharing - including local knowledge from the Overseas Territories - helps keep charts updated for maximum safety.
The visit on 21st October 2024 also brought a chance to visit UKHO's archive centre, which holds charts of great historical significance - including one they acquired in 1874 that contained plans of Tristan, Inaccessible and Nightingale islands created by Navy Captains Denham and Nares in the mid-19th century.
Image of Tristan da Cunha from the 19th Century chart referred to above.
This sketch map of Tristan is accredited on the Admiralty Chart to Captains Denham and Nares.
Captain Denham of HMS Herald spent a day ashore on 11th November 1852 taking observations to ascertain the exact longitude and latitude of the island. Captain Denham's report is an important document which records a local population of 85. His tour of the village was led by the settler who Denham referred to as 'Governor' William Glass and the island's first resident priest Rev. William Taylor. Herald Point can be seen on the map, and this name continues to be used, eg on the 1963 BGS Geological map, but the feature is referred to locally as Hottentot Point.
Captain GS Nares of HMS Challenger was a key member of the extraordinary Challenger expedition which included extensive studies between 14th-18th October 1873. A series of four detailed articles on the Challenger Expedition were published in Tristan da Cunha Newsletters between February 2015 - August 2016. The Challenger team made many soundings from which the depths indicated on the map above were derived.