The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (or UKHO) is an organisation within the UK government responsible for providing navigational and other hydrographic information for national, civil and defence requirements. The UKHO is located in Taunton, Somerset on Admiralty Way and has a workforce of approximately 1000 staff.
The office is a Trading Fund of the Ministry of Defence and is directly responsible to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans. The current minister is Andrew Robathan, MP. The Chief Executive of the agency is Ian Moncrieff, BA, CBE who took over in October 2011 after the previous CE, Mike Robinson, left following five successful years at the head of the organisation. The agency is self-funding and its Trading Fund status allows protection of the copyright in its publications.
Rear-Admiral Nick Lambert is the current UK National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive (Hydrography). He took up post in August 2010.
In December 2007 the UKHO announced a downsizing exercise codenamed 'project AMBER' aimed at reducing overheads by allowing large numbers of staff to leave under an early release arrangement. The UKHO launched the Admiralty Vector Chart Series in April 2008.
Read more about United Kingdom Hydrographic Office: History, Publications, Access To Data and Criticisms
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