Seabed mapping to update navigational charts

Guernsey's east coast and the west and south coasts of Herm are being surveyed

Guernsey's east coast seabed is being surveyed for depths and contours to update electronic map charts.

The survey has been commissioned by Navionics, a manufacturer of electronic navigational charts, and facilitated by Guernsey Ports.

A 6.5 metre Cheetah cat craft called Shoreline is conducting the hydrographic survey with multi-beam equipment, which uses sound waves to map the seafloor.

Guernsey Ports said the survey was expected to take a week and asked mariners to give the vessel, callsign 2EUL9, a wide berth and reduce to a slow speed when passing.

Guernsey's Harbourmaster Captain Jerome Davis said: "Shoreline is visible on Automatic Identification Systems and will be listening to VHF channels 12 and 16 at all times while carrying out survey operations."

He added: "We have asked them to share the survey data with the UK Hydrographic Office so they can also update their products with the latest information".