The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the Executive Agency within the UK Department for Transport committed to preventing loss of life, continuously improving maritime safety and protecting the marine environment. It has overall responsibility for ensuring delivery of the Civil Hydrography Programme, which is the systematic surveying of the waters around the UK coast.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), a government agency with trading fund status, is the world’s premier supplier of navigational charts and publications and other hydrographic information which contribute to protecting safety of life at sea.

In the sprit of increasing interest in environmental matters particularly in the coastal zone, and in order to demonstrate the advances that both agencies have made in bringing related products and services to the international hydrographic community, the two agencies have joined forces to host the 4th International Conference on High Resolution Surveys in Shallow Water, Shallow Survey 2005, which will attract delegates from throughout the world.