Libyan Waters Surveyed
On the second visit to Libya of the UK Navy’s ship HMS Echo, following a successful trip in 2012, the crew surveyed 46.8 square nautical miles – the equivalent of just under 20,000 football pitches. Significant discoveries included a number of uncharted wrecks in shipping lanes which could have posed a danger to shipping. All of the survey data will be shared with the Libyan Hydrographic Office in order for charts of the area to be updated.
Specialists from the ship passed their expertise onto members of the Libyan Navy who spent several days onboard. The sailors learned the modern surveying methods including side scan sonar, satellite positioning and electronic data collection to allow the Libyan Navy to take responsibility for mapping their waters in the future.
The survey cruise has unveiled a couple of wrecks that have not been charted before. One is a 150m vessel on the sea floor below 22m of water, according to additional reports in the Lybian Herald.
The visit of HMS Echo is the latest demonstration of UK support for Libyan authorities since the UK supported the Libyan people in the revolution in 2011. At their summit in June the G8 announced a multinational effort to train 7,000 members of the Libyan Armed Forces in basic infantry skills in order to help with the Government’s reintegration programme.
During its visit HMS Echo served as the venue for high-level talks between Chief of the General Staff General Sir Peter Wall and counterparts in the Libyan Armed Forces on 4 July 2013 to discuss the UK’s pledge to train troops as part of this work.
