Continental Platform

In Portugal, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a mission structure called the "Mission Structure for the Extension of the Continental Platform" (EMEPC) was created in order to investigate and present a proposal for delimitation of the continental platform of Portugal, beyond the current limits of the 200 nautical miles.
One of the objectives of the EMECC comprises "Knowing the geological and hydrographic characteristics of the offshore submarine fund, so that it can support Portugal's claim to extend the limits of its continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles, in accordance with Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNFCCC) (...)" (Resolution of the Council of Ministers No 9/2005).
In this context, in cooperation with the Hydrographic Institute (HI), the Hydrography Division shall carry out the hydrographic surveys in the areas of interest for the proposed delimitation. In addition to the surveys of the baptismal data, the Hydrography Division processes and validates them, as recommended by the International Hydrographic Organization.
The Hydrographic Institute also has a Batometric Information Database System that allows systematic integration of existing information with data to be collected during hydrographic surveys.

In the film presented here, by EMECC, the participation of the IH in the scope of this project is mentioned, in particular with regard to hydrographic surveys carried out on board Portuguese hydrographic vessels NRP “D. Carlos I” and NRP “Admiral Gago Coutinho”, as well as with regard to the acquisition of the dynamic positioning system.