Since 2014, the Baltic Sea has been hydrographical surveyed in the project Famos, this summer the Swedish Maritime Administration got the green light for further financing of the project.

- It is very gratifying that we now have financing so that we can continue with this unique cooperation project and to ensure that the Baltic Sea is surveyed in a modern way for more efficient shipping. The knowledge base with these deep data may also be beneficial for the environment mapping, marine planning and other commercial ventures in the marine environment, says Benjamin Hell in a press release from the Swedish Maritime Administration.

The Baltic Sea is one of the world's busiest seas and approximately 2000 ships sails there on a permanent basis. But large parts of the Baltic Sea is not yet hydrographical surveyed by modern methods. In the coming years, Sweden, in collaboration with six other EU states, just under 100 000 km² of the Baltic Sea will be surveyed. The result may change the routes of the shipping across the Baltic Sea.

- There are significant economic and environmental benefits to be able to plan shipping routes based on depth data. Having deep water under the keel may be relevant to a ship's operating costs, either by using a more fuel-efficient route or that the vessel can load more. The shortest route across the Baltic Sea do not need to be the most effective way, Benjamin Hell says.

Last year Lighthouse arranged a seminar on route planning and here you can read about another seminar, organised in February this year by the World Maritime University.

• Routeing – the way towards energy efficient and environmental friendly shipping?
• Routing – why, when and how?