COLOMBO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka inaugurated its National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) at the Welisara Naval Complex on Thursday, the navy said in a statement.
As a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), Sri Lanka is obliged to provide naval charts to ships when traversing through Sri Lankan waters, the navy said.
As a maritime hub, Sri Lanka is expected to ensure safe navigation within its waters by establishing facilities and conducting thorough hydrographic surveys, the statement said.
The South Asian country is also responsible for the production and distribution of accurate nautical charts, it added.
Historically, despite an annual passage of around 35,000 ships through Sri Lanka's sea routes, the country has remained untapped in terms of potential revenue, the navy said.
The newly-launched office will not only be tasked with overseeing hydrographic surveyors and hydrographic surveying operations, but also aims to generate revenue from the maritime sector through activities, including the production and sale of nautical charts and provision of highly reliable navigational charts to the market. ■
