Welcome to the South African Navy Hydrographic Office

Since its establishment in 1955, the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO) has played an essential role in supporting safe navigation at sea in the South African region. The SANHO is recognized as the Centre of Hydrographic excellence in Africa by the International Hydrographic Community through its proven professional conduct, products, innovation and supreme service

The SANHO is the national producer of paper charts, electronic navigational charts (ENCs) and publications, with a folio of 109 paper charts, 57 ENCs and 9 publications. The mission of the SANHO is to meet National, Defence and Commercial customers' needs for navigational charts and other hydrographic information, in support of safe navigation.

The SANHO is based at Tokai, Cape Town and comprises of five sections, namely:

  • Paper Charting

  • Electronic Navigation Charting

  • Tidal

  • Maritime Safety Information and Nautical Publications; and

  • Detached Survey Operations and Survey Training