56 survey operations in force

Hydrographic and scientific survey vessels, often towing long arrays.

What the archive shows

The available survey operations archive contains 13,017 messages across 30 issue years, from 1997 to 2026. The year links below provide the source and sea-area breakdowns for each period.

The current list includes messages issued from 2024-01-03 to 2026-10-02. A warning can remain in force for an extended operation, so this list is not a list of new incidents.

nga_inforce accounts for 41 of 56 recorded messages (73%), the largest source in the current list group in this selection.

The NGA archive froze in 2024-05; live collection began 2026-08-17. Counts near that gap are incomplete. Separate messages may describe updates to the same activity.

  1. NAVAREA IV 1430/252025-12-31 16:45Z
    Underwater operations by vessel Aldemir Souza Tide continue until 31 Dec 2026 in the North Atlantic; wide berth requested.
    North Atlantic
  2. HYDROLANT 2010/252025-11-28 01:13Z
    Underwater survey operations by vessel Fugro Vaquita off Brazil daily from 10:00 to 20:00 UTC until November 2, 2026; wide berth requested.
    South Atlantic · Brazil
  3. HYDROPAC 1357/252025-05-24 17:56Z
    Underwater operations are underway by vessel HYSY289 in the Persian Gulf off Qatar, within coordinates 26-41.99N 051-53.26E to 26-37.70N 051-53.23E, wide berth requested.
    Persian Gulf · Qatar
  4. HYDROLANT 2607/242024-12-30 12:38Z
    Underwater operations in the Black Sea off Romania from 5 January 2025 to 31 December 2026, wide berth requested.
    Black Sea · Romania
  5. HYDROARC 283/242024-12-17 08:58Z
    Four scientific moorings established in Beaufort and Chukchi Seas off Alaska at various positions and depths.
    Beaufort Sea · Chukchi Sea · Alaska
  6. NAVAREA IV 12/242024-01-03 19:16Z
    Underwater operations are in progress by vessels Bourbon Calm and Bourbon Sapphire in the Western North Atlantic; wide berth requested.
    Western North Atlantic

Archive by year · 13,017 since 1997

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08
09
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26

Terms used in surveys warnings

Seismic survey
A survey that maps the rock beneath the seabed with sound pulses from air guns, recorded on streamers kilometres long.
Towed array / streamer
Equipment towed a long way behind a vessel — sonar, a hydrophone cable, a sampling sled — invisible at the surface.
Survey operations
A research or survey vessel is mapping the seabed or water column, often while towing equipment.
Scientific mooring
Instruments anchored to the seabed and held up by floats, sometimes just below the surface, left for months to measure the ocean.

All warning terms →

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