Initial target areas for SeaZone will be energy, sea-bed exploration and coastal zone management markets. It will provide these sectors with authoritative baseline data for use in asset management, decision- making and environmental modelling applications.

The new joint venture marks a continuation of the close working relationship between the two organisations following Metoc's appointment as the UKHO's first partner under its Licensed Partnering Programme launched in 2002.

The Board of the new company comprises Kevin Deeming and Dr Mike Osborne of Metoc, and Robert Moss, Director of UKHO and Admiralty Holdings Ltd.

Meanwhile, the UKHO itself has just published the 5th edition of its Ocean Passages of the World for planning of ocean voyages, which first appeared as long ago as 1895. Designated NP136, it can be used for planning, background research and as a reference guide.

With updated information on weather and illustrated in full colour, it includes comprehensive geographical positions of major ports and will be particularly useful for plotting routes on electronic chart systems with ARCS.

Leading Scottish rental company, Ashtead Technology has placed its largest-ever order worth £1.5m with Sonardyne International of Yateley for supply of Fusion wideband acoustic positioning systems.

Fusion is designed to overcome the limitations of traditional acoustic positioning systems by integrating raw acoustic data with that from other sensors such as those for position, attitude, heading and velocity.

The equipment ordered includes a variety of MF and EHF frequency Compatt 5 transponders, many of which will be supplied with instrumented endcaps for specialist subsea tasks including structure placement and spoolpiece metrology. These will be operated in conjunction with a number of RovNav 5 LBL (Long BaseLine) transceivers and USBL (Ultra-Short BaseLine) transceivers. Accompanying topside equipment comprises a single control unit which eliminates the need for separate on-board acoustic hardware traditionally required for different subsea positioning and navigation operations. Deliveries of the new equipment have already begun to Ashtead's Aberdeen base from where it will also be distributed to the company's other offshore centres in Houston and Singapore.