Hydrographic Survey in Luanda Bay – Angola, as part of the Open Sea campaign 21.2

A team from the Hydrographic Brigade (BH), consisting of 5 soldiers, carried out a hydrographic survey in Luanda Bay from 29 November to 17 December 2021, as part of the Mar Aberto 21.2 initiative.

The main objective of the survey work was to update the CN360, nautical chart for the Port of Luanda, whose current edition is from February 1971.

The second objective was to collaborate in the operationalization of the Kilamba vessel belonging to the Angola Hydrographic and Maritime Signaling Institute (IHSMA), equipped with an EM2040C multi-beam sounder system and to provide on-the-job training to three IHSMA technicians and 2 Angolan Navy officers.

BH used the hydrographic boat Mergulhão, equipped with a high-resolution multibeam system, aboard the NRP Dom Carlos for the drilling work inside the port of Luanda. This medium was available from the 5th to the 14th of December, during the ship's stay in Luanda. The NRP Dom Carlos carried out surveys in the outer area of ​​the port.

In addition to the survey work, the following activities were also carried out:

• Installation and operation of the multibeam drill system on the Kilamba vessel;
• Pier topography in two different locations, in order to support the topography georeferencing work to be carried out using satellite images;
• Coordination of navigation aids in the drilling area;
• Coordination of a support point, with geometric leveling, to study the undulation of the geoid for 6 hours, installation of a reference station by GSM NTRIP and expeditious coordination of a local leveling mark;
• Study and comparison of the tide observed in tide gauges and with astronomical forecasts.

In the end, the team felt completely fulfilled for having managed to complete the entirety of the mission assigned to it, in a very short period of time, despite the setbacks.

There was also time to complement the survey in the work area assigned to NRP Dom Carlos and dedicate a morning just to training the Angolan teams, which were always well integrated and participative.