Seabed 2030: Mapping Earth’s unseen oceans at FOS Future Lab

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is answering this call, spearheading a global coordination effort with groundbreaking technology to map the entire seabed by… you guessed it, the year 2030.

At the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, Seabed 2030 will unveil more about its mission to uncover the mysteries of our subaquatic world as part of FOS Future Lab presented by Randox.

Seabed 2030’s success hinges on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) navigating depths of up to 6,000 meters, using multibeam sonar to create 3D seabed maps with centimetre precision. This also includes equipping survey vessels on the surface with remote sensors to map while in transit, slashing costs and emissions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates data analysis, identifying underwater features in seconds. Even crowdsourced data from commercial ships is turning every voyage into a mapping mission.

The project is providing freely available, critical bathymetric data — like a topographic sketch of the hidden hills and valleys of the underwater world — to protect marine ecosystems, manage sustainable fisheries and predict natural disasters. As well as being fundamental for understanding ocean circulation and climate models, knowing the seafloor’s shape also helps with vital infrastructure, such as pipeline routing.

Discoveries made so far, with the help of project partners the Schmidt Ocean Institute, include a 6.4-million-acre coral reef off the US coast and four uncharted underwater mountains. Since 2017 the project has boosted mapped ocean coverage from six per cent to 26.1 per cent — around 4.34million square kilometres, equivalent to the EU’s landmass.

The reef discovery alone is mesmerising. An area larger than Vermont stretching from Miami, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina, comprising coldwater coral has been deemed the largest deep-sea habitat of its kind ever found. 

Attenborough’s Ocean is a clarion call. “The seas are collapsing under human pressure,” he warns, citing bleached corals, dwindling fish stocks and 11 million metric tons of plastic entering our waters annually, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. His impassioned plea emphasises that understanding the seabed is key to reversing this crisis, so the project aims to produce a free, high-resolution digital map of the Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, North Pacific, South/West Pacific, and Southern Ocean floors. 

If that sounds too exotic for you, don’t fret; Seabed 2030’s operations are situated right here in Britain as part of a wider global network of hubs. A stone’s throw from Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, to be exact.

Follow signs to the FOS Future Lab's ‘Our Big Blue Dot’ area to experience this epicentre of oceanic exploration for yourself, no scuba gear needed. Visitors to FOS Future Lab will also discover how ocean mapping fuels a sustainable “blue economy.” For example, seabed data can optimise shipping routes, reducing fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent, and inform offshore wind farm placements, cutting environmental impact. 

Mapping the remaining 74 per cent of the seabed by 2030 is a colossal task. Remote regions like the Arctic and the deep Indian Ocean pose logistical hurdles. Yet, as Project Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips says, “Every dataset is a step forward.” Crowdsourced data and AI-driven analytics are closing gaps, while partnerships with the likes of the Schmidt Ocean Institute amplify efforts. 

“Seabed mapping has proven to be a powerful tool in advancing our knowledge of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and the impressive discoveries made this year alone highlight the critical importance of our mission,” adds McMichael-Phillips. 

“Commendable progress has been made since Seabed 2030’s inception in 2017, with over 94 million square kilometres of bathymetric data acquired through global partnerships, data mobilisation and advancements in technological innovation, but much of the ocean still remains a mystery.

“The discoveries made over the course of the past year serve as a striking reminder of how much of our own planet we have yet to understand and, in turn, safeguard.” 

“The achievements made to date would not be possible without the concerted efforts of our global network of partners and the international maritime community. Now, as we strive towards the end of 2030, we need the collective support of all stakeholders — governments, industry, academia and even the public — to help us realise our ambitious, yet necessary, goal of a fully mapped planet.”

By 2030, it's hoped that a complete seabed map will empower science-based solutions, from protecting biodiversity to building climate resilience, honouring Attenborough’s legacy.

Randox is a global leader in diagnostics, revolutionising patient outcomes through innovative technologies, including its patented biochip technology. This pioneering diagnostic platform allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers from a single sample, delivering faster, more accurate, and comprehensive results. Operating in over 145 countries, Randox develops advanced laboratory instruments, high-quality reagents, and innovative testing solutions to improve global healthcare.

Randox Health brings this cutting-edge technology directly to individuals, offering bespoke, preventative health testing programs. With world-class laboratories and personalised health insights, Randox Health enables early detection of a wide range of conditions, helping individuals take control of their health.

Together, Randox and Randox Health are redefining diagnostics and preventative healthcare. For more information, visit www.randox.com and www.randoxhealth.com.

The 2025 Festival of Speed takes place on 10^th-13^th July. Thursday tickets are now limited. A small batch of extra tickets for Friday–Sunday have just been released, exclusively for members of the GRRC.