Walking the exhibition floor also made us reflect on just how far ocean technology has come - from early crewed submersibles to today’s rapidly advancing ecosystem of ROVs, AUVs, autonomous surface vehicles, and #AI-enabled mapping tools. 🌐
Learn more:
A highlight for us was hosting two dedicated #Seabed2030 sessions, bringing together partners from across industry, research, and international organisations to share perspectives on accelerating global seabed mapping.
Huge thanks to our many partner organisations who joined the discussions.
🌊 That’s a wrap from #Oi26!
This week the Seabed 2030 team joined colleagues from across the ocean technology community at Oceanology International in London - a gathering that showcased just how rapidly the tools for exploring and mapping the ocean are evolving.
📅 Tuesday, 17 March 2026
⏰ 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET
📍 Washington, DC & Virtual
🔗 Learn more and register:
In 'The Quest to Map the Global Ocean', Larry will explore the scientific and technological challenges of mapping the seafloor - and how advances in multibeam sonar, autonomous and uncrewed platforms, and satellite communications are accelerating progress. 🗺️
🌊 How can we manage and protect an ocean floor that remains largely unmapped?
Next Tuesday, 17 March, #Seabed2030 Center Head Larry Mayer will deliver the 27th Annual Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture, hosted by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The summit also provided a welcome opportunity for members of Seabed2030's Strategic Advisory Group to meet, while our BathySphere offered a visual way to explore seabed mapping and bathymetric data.
➡️ Next stop: Oceanology International this week 🇬🇧
We were pleased to host a practical "How to" workshop on building a collaborative #ocean data ecosystem, moderated by Jonathan Birdwell and featuring Vicki Ferrini, PhD, Dawn Wright, PhD, Tim Kearns and Aspasia Pastra. The session explored ways of making ocean data more accessible and interoperable.
🇨🇦 That's a wrap from the Economist Impact #WorldOceanSummit in Montréal.
It was energising to connect with colleagues across the ocean community and take part in lively discussions spanning ocean science and finance to marine protection, pollution, and the road to #UNOC4.
Participants are welcome to attend either session independently. We hope to see you there!
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🌊 Seabed 2030 at Oceanology International
Join us as we host two dedicated sessions at #Oi26, bringing together partners and experts from ocean mapping community to discuss progress in global seabed mapping and the technologies helping accelerate it.
📅 Wednesday 11 March
📍 South Gallery - Room 13
Through collaboration on data acquisition, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement, Seabed 2030 and #NMSA will work together to advance mapping efforts across the region.
🔗 Learn more:
🪸 Located within the Coral Triangle, Papua New Guinea oversees one of the most geographically and ecologically diverse #marine regions in the world. Significant areas of its seafloor remain to be mapped, presenting important opportunities to expand our shared understanding of the Pacific.
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea has joined the Seabed 2030 global network of partners.
The National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) of Papua New Guinea is our newest collaborator, strengthening regional engagement in Pacific #oceanmapping efforts.
As momentum builds under the UN Ocean Decade, this is an opportunity to help shape the collaborative frameworks that will define the next phase of global ocean mapping.
🗓️ March 4 | 12:00–1:15 pm
This session will explore how we can make better use of existing ocean data and close collection and access gaps through #innovation and cooperation. Together, we'll identify barriers to effective collaboration and co-design solutions that support more open, interoperable approaches to ocean data.
🇨🇦 Will you be in Montréal for the #Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit?
Join us for our workshop: "How to build a collaborative ocean data ecosystem."
Our interactive display drew crowds wherever it went, helping audiences visualise the value of #bathymetry in new and powerful ways.
Thank you to our partners across the Americas who made this journey possible. We look forward to continuing the tour in 2026 🌍
🇨🇦 🇧🇷 🇨🇱 From the Pacific shores of Western Canada to the beaches of #Brazil and the windswept straits of Punta Arenas, our BathySphere has travelled far and wide on its Americas tour.
Your vessels cross unmapped waters daily. Your #technology can support data collection. Your existing archives may contain essential bathymetric information the world needs.
Swipe to learn more ➡️
Know someone who may relate? Tag them in the comments 👇
Working in the #ocean industry? Your organisation may already be contributing to seabed mapping - and may be able to contribute even more.
This is what happens when sailors, #scientists, and global partners come together for the ocean.
🔗 Find out more:
A special mention to Team GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) and Team Warrant Group, who are currently leading data contributions - proof that while race positions may shift, every yacht is a leader for ocean science.
● 10 vessels actively collecting data
● 60k+ data files recorded
● 15M+ depth soundings captured
● 146.5k+ #nautical miles mapped
● 1M+ depth soundings per yacht
● Data collected across two oceans and four continents
⛵️ Across more than 40,000 nautical miles of racing, crews are collecting vital bathymetric data that feeds into the #GEBCO Grid, helping scientists, policymakers and conservationists better understand the ocean floor.
By the end of just the first three legs:
Turning a global race into a mission for the ocean 🌊
As the Official Ocean Research Partner of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, #SeaKeepers is transforming miles at sea into meaningful science - advancing Seabed 2030’s mission of a fully #mappedocean.
That said, satellite-derived bathymetry has its limits - it cannot reach the deep ocean or reliably penetrate turbid waters. But where conditions allow, it can still contribute valuable data more quickly and efficiently than traditional survey methods.
🌐 This technology typically works to depths of several tens of metres, helping fill important data gaps in remote island nations, coral reef systems, and other challenging coastal environments.
In the first episode of the year on the Seabed 2030 podcast, David joins Steve Hall to explain how Tcarta uses orbiting sensors to measure seafloor depth in clear, shallow waters around the world.
