Survey operations in the South China Sea

Hydrographic and scientific survey vessels, often towing long arrays.

in force
1
last 12 months
1
vs previous 12 (0)
—
since 1999
135

Coverage note: the NGA archive ends 2024-05 and live collection began 2026-08-17. Warnings issued in between are here only if they were still in force when collection started, so 2024–2026 are under-counted.

In force now · 1

  1. HYDROPAC 2249/26in force2026-08-06
    Survey operations by vessel PXGEO 2 towing eight 5-mile cables continue until 31 December in Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea; wide berth requested.
    Gulf of Thailand · South China Sea · Malaysia

Longest in force

  1. HYDROPAC 2249/26in force2026-08-06 · 16 d
    Survey operations by vessel PXGEO 2 towing eight 5-mile cables continue until 31 December in Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea; wide berth requested.
    Gulf of Thailand · South China Sea · Malaysia

By year

99
00
01
02
05
06
08
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
26

By month (all years)

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Other hazards in the South China Sea

Archive · 134 cancelled

  1. HYDROPAC 1525/242024-05-07 → 2026-08-14
    Survey operations by vessel SW Thuridur towing ten eight-meter cables in the South China Sea near the Philippines began May 8 and continue until further notice.
    South China Sea · Philippines
  2. HYDROPAC 3891/232023-12-12 → 2023-12-28
    Underwater operations in progress until 27 dec by M/V ocean guardian in area bound by 16-04.71N 119-42.50E,…
    South China Sea · Philippines
  3. HYDROPAC 2716/232023-08-23 → 2023-12-06
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 12 9000 meter long cables…
    South China Sea
  4. HYDROPAC 1871/232023-06-04 → 2023-08-15
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 12 9000 meter long cables…
    South China Sea
  5. HYDROPAC 557/232023-02-18 → 2023-04-15
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 12 9500 meter long cables…
    South China Sea
  6. HYDROPAC 2703/222022-09-29 → 2022-10-13
    Salvage operations in progress until further notice in vicinity 06-42.00N 109-55.00E
    South China Sea
  7. HYDROPAC 247/222022-01-29 → 2022-03-03
    Salvage operations in progress until further notice in vicinity 17-50N 117-36E by U.S
    South China Sea
  8. HYDROPAC 244/222022-01-29 → 2022-01-29
    Salvage operations in progress until further notice in vicinity 17-50N 117-36E
    South China Sea
  9. HYDROPAC 213/222022-01-25 → 2022-04-26
    Survey operations in progress until 30 apr by M/V ramform sovereign towing 14 9500 meter long cables in area…
    South China Sea
  10. HYDROPAC 43/222022-01-06 → 2022-01-25
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 14 9500 meter long cables…
    South China Sea
  11. HYDROPAC 3763/212021-12-29 → 2022-01-06
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 14 9500 meter long cables…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  12. HYDROPAC 3089/212021-10-28 → 2021-12-29
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 14 9500 meter long cables…
    South China Sea
  13. HYDROPAC 2907/212021-10-12 → 2021-10-28
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V ramform sovereign towing 14 9500 meter long cables…
    South China Sea
  14. HYDROPAC 2624/202020-09-09 → 2020-10-11
    Survey operations in progress until 10 oct by M/V polarcus alima towing six four mile long cables in area…
    South China Sea
  15. HYDROPAC 2054/202020-07-12 → 2020-08-06
    Survey operations in progress until 15 aug by M/V elsa regent towing a six mile long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Java Sea · Indonesia
  16. HYDROPAC 352/202020-02-01 → 2020-02-14
    Underwater operations 02 thru 13 feb by M/V skandi hawk in area bound by 11-37.7N 118-56.4E, 11-37.9N…
    South China Sea · Philippines
  17. HYDROPAC 94/202020-01-08 → 2020-06-01
    Survey operations in progress until 01 may by M/V polarcus alima towing 12 five mile long cables in area…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  18. HYDROPAC 3396/192019-10-15 → 2019-12-16
    Survey operations in progress until 15 dec by M/V sw vespucci towing ten 8100 meter long cables in area…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  19. HYDROPAC 3296/192019-10-05 → 2019-11-16
    Survey operations 07 oct to 30 nov by M/V polacus asimia towing ten 8500 meter long cables in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Brunei
  20. HYDROPAC 3046/192019-09-17 → 2019-11-04
    Survey operations in progress until 03 nov in area bound by 01-20.28N 104-24.29E, 01-20.28N 104-24.79E,…
    Singapore Strait · Malaysia
  21. HYDROPAC 2996/192019-09-12 → 2022-03-18
    Survey operations in progress in area bound by: a. 12-30.67N 109-23.32E, 12-30.31N 109-17.44E, 12-29.59N…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  22. HYDROPAC 2893/192019-09-03 → 2020-07-24
    Survey operations in progress in area bound by 10-29.64N 107-49.46E, 10-29.64N 107-49.74E, 10-29.37N…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  23. HYDROPAC 2585/192019-08-10 → 2019-08-11
    Underwater operations in progress until 111200Z aug by M/V aniek in area bound by 21-37N 119-36E, 21-41N…
    South China Sea
  24. HYDROPAC 2544/192019-08-08 → 2019-08-11
    Underwater operations in progress until 10 aug by M/V aniek in area bound by 21-37N 119-36E, 21-41N 119-32E,…
    South China Sea
  25. HYDROPAC 2504/192019-08-05 → 2019-10-19
    Survey operations in progress until 31 jan 20 by M/V ramform hyperion towing 16 8100 meter long cables in…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  26. HYDROPAC 2497/192019-08-05 → 2019-09-09
    Survey operations in progress until 14 sep by M/V sw vespucci towing five mile long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Taiwan
  27. HYDROPAC 2486/192019-08-03 → 2019-08-08
    Underwater operations 04 thru 08 aug by M/V aniek in area bound by 21-37N 119-36E, 21-41N 119-32E, 21-58N…
    South China Sea
  28. HYDROPAC 2002/192019-06-19 → 2019-06-28
    Survey operations 20 thru 27 jun by M/V ptsc surveyor in 08-21.1N 108-42.5E
    South China Sea
  29. HYDROPAC 1240/192019-04-12 → 2019-06-07
    Survey operations in progress until 06 jun by M/V elsa regent towing 10000 meter long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  30. HYDROPAC 1225/192019-04-11 → 2019-06-26
    Survey operations in progress until 25 jun in area bound by 11-50.00N 109-16.00E, 11-50.00N 109-25.53E,…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  31. HYDROPAC 1217/192019-04-11 → 2019-04-12
    Survey operations in progress until 02 jun by M/V elsa regent towing 10000 meter long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  32. HYDROPAC 1211/192019-04-10 → 2019-04-11
    Survey operations 11 apr thru 02 jun by M/V elsa regent towing 10000 meter long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  33. HYDROPAC 1072/192019-03-31 → 2019-04-25
    Survey operations 05 thru 24 apr by M/V fugro equinox in areas bound by: a. 16-26.11N 108-43.18E, 16-29.85N…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  34. HYDROPAC 517/192019-02-14 → 2019-03-22
    Survey operations 15 feb thru 29 mar by M/V skandi hawk in vicinity of trackline joining 11-38.5N 118-54.3E,…
    South China Sea · Philippines
  35. HYDROPAC 3859/182018-10-24 → 2018-10-30
    Survey operations in progress until 29 oct by M/V equinox in 16-49.42N 108-24.84E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  36. HYDROPAC 3295/182018-09-09 → 2018-11-10
    Survey operations in progress until further notice by M/V polarcus naila towing ten 9000 meter long cables…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  37. HYDROPAC 3244/182018-09-04 → 2018-11-01
    Survey operations in progress until 31 oct by M/V fugro voyager in area bound by 15-29.82N 108-40.36E,…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  38. HYDROPAC 3197/182018-08-31 → 2018-09-10
    Survey operations 02 thru 09 sep by M/V ptsc researcher in 08-33.98N 108-43.33E
    South China Sea
  39. HYDROPAC 3170/182018-08-29 → 2018-10-01
    Survey operations in progress until 30 sep by M/V elsa regent towing three mile long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Indonesia
  40. HYDROPAC 2983/182018-08-14 → 2018-09-21
    Survey operations 16 aug to 20 sep by M/V cgg amadeus towing eight 5000 meter long cables in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  41. HYDROPAC 2393/182018-06-29 → 2018-07-12
    Survey operations in progress until 11 jul by M/V elsa regent towing five mile long cable in area bound by…
    South China Sea · Indonesia
  42. HYDROPAC 1859/182018-05-15 → 2018-09-07
    Salvage operations in progress until further notice in 11-07.40N 108-53.78E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  43. HYDROPAC 991/182018-03-14 → 2018-04-26
    Survey operations in progress until 25 apr by M/V cgg amadeus towing six 9000 meter long cables in area…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  44. HYDROPAC 608/182018-02-14 → 2018-03-14
    Survey operations in progress until 15 mar by M/V cgg amadeus towing six 9000 meter long cables in area…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  45. HYDROPAC 4578/172017-12-25 → 2018-09-07
    Salvage operations in progress until further notice in area bound by 01-25.99N 104-27.08E, 01-26.21N…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  46. HYDROPAC 4563/172017-12-24 → 2017-12-25
    Salvage operations in progress until 31 dec in area bound by 01-25.99N 104-27.08E, 01-26.21N 104-27.50E,…
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  47. HYDROPAC 4391/172017-12-13 → 2018-02-18
    Malaysia
    South China Sea
  48. HYDROPAC 4127/172017-11-27 → 2018-01-01
    Survey operations in progress until 31 dec by M/V cgg amadeus towing six 9000 meter long cables in area…
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  49. HYDROPAC 3780/172017-11-03 → 2017-12-16
    Survey operations in progress until 15 dec by vessel towing 5000 meter long cable in area bound by 22-33-24N…
    South China Sea · Taiwan Strait · Taiwan
  50. HYDROPAC 3613/172017-10-23 → 2017-11-28
    Salvage operations in progress until 27 nov in area bound by 01-26.0N 104-27.1E, 01-26.2N 104-27.5E,…
    South China Sea · Malaysia

Sea boundaries: Flanders Marine Institute (2018), IHO Sea Areas v3, marineregions.org (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation — follow official NAVAREA / coastal broadcasts and your national MSI service.

Survey operations in the South China Sea · seahazards