Recently the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and six partner organisations hosted the close out meeting of the Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland Hydrographic Survey (INIS Hydro) project at the Belfast Titanic Building. Over 50 delegates attended from stakeholder organisations around the UK.
![The INIS Project team The INIS Project team](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline/public/images/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/news/Drupal%201_0.jpg?itok=Ax-HVPbr×tamp=1453896771)
INIS Hydro, which received £3.2 million from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, produced a standardised hydrographic survey specification and accurate high-resolution bathymetric datasets for seven important seabed areas to the east of Ireland/Northern Ireland and off the west coast of Scotland. A total of 1400 km2 was surveyed by the partner organisation’s research vessels fitted with multi-beam sonar technology.
To deliver this project the MCA teamed up with the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland, the Geological Survey of Ireland, the Irish Marine Institute, the Scottish Association for Marine Science, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the UK Hydrographic Office.
INIS Hydro follows on from the successful European Union funded Joint Irish Bathymetric Survey (JIBS) project and receives some match funding from the MCA, the UK Natural Environment Research Council and the Northern Lighthouse Board.
![Professor Laurence Mee (Scottish Association of Marine Sciences) unveiling the permanent display board in the Titanic Builiding. Professor Laurence Mee (Scottish Association of Marine Sciences) unveiling the permanent display board in the Titanic Builiding.](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Drupal%202_4.jpg?itok=eCWV63zF)
![James Strong (AFBI Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch) and Michelle O’Neill (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development NI) pictured in front of the DARD FPV Banrion Ulladh which was used during the survey. James Strong (AFBI Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch) and Michelle O’Neill (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development NI) pictured in front of the DARD FPV Banrion Ulladh which was used during the survey.](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Drupal4_5.jpg?itok=lpE1eFH4)
![Walter Crozier (Head of AFBI Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch), Seamus Kennedy (AFBI CEO), Laurence Mee (SAMS) and Andre Coccucio (MCA INIS Project Head). Walter Crozier (Head of AFBI Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch), Seamus Kennedy (AFBI CEO), Laurence Mee (SAMS) and Andre Coccucio (MCA INIS Project Head).](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Drupal%204_0.jpg?itok=y94PqRso)
Other speakers presented results of the project showing details of the previously un-surveyed seabed below the Corryvreckan Whirlpool in Scotland, the vast number of wrecks discovered and the habitats of Dundrum Bay in Northern Ireland.
![INIS Survey areas INIS Survey areas](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Drupal%203_2.jpg?itok=n1Kix-qq)
The meeting was closed with a reception and Laurence Mee (Director of the Scottish Association of Marine Science) unveiled a permanent display panel in the display area of the Titanic Building.
Notes to editors:
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