United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

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The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is the government agency that provides hydrographic and marine geospatial data to mariners and maritime organisations around the world. It is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and is based in Taunton, Somerset, with about 900 staff. The UKHO supports the Royal Navy and other defence customers and also serves the commercial shipping industry to help keep seas safe, protect the marine environment, and support global trade.

What UKHO does
- Produces Admiralty nautical charts and related publications, plus digital services for ships trade internationally
- Creates and distributes a wide range of marine publications, including tide tables, sailing directions, lights and fog signals, and other reference works
- Develops and provides marine geospatial data and services, bathymetry, oceanography, geodesy and data science expertise
- Advises on maritime law, limits and boundaries, and offers training in marine cartography
- Supports international work, including programs to help developing island nations grow their marine economies

A brief history
UKHO’s work goes back to the late 18th century, evolving from traditional chart making to modern digital products and services. It has continually advanced with new technologies to support safe navigation and ocean science.

Licensing and access
- The UKHO licenses its data with six different license types
- Most non-navigational or low-value uses are free
- Commercial uses require a licence fee
- The organisation follows the Information Fair Trader Scheme and aims to promote responsible data reuse

Funding
UKHO is funded through its trading activities, selling charts, publications and licensing data, and it operates as part of the MoD while serving both defence and civilian maritime needs.