Reliable surveyed shipping routes are a major pillar of the marine transport infrastructure and a precondition for the safety of navigation at sea. The FAMOS project aims to improve the safety of marine transport by improving the depth data in the Baltic Sea. With improved bathymetry information transport routes can be better optimized for fuel efficiency. Under Keel Clearance awareness is improved by more reliable depth calculations.

The FAMOS project consists of four activities: Extensive hydrographic surveys are done in activity 1 and the infrastructure for these surveys is improved in activity 3. Activity 4 improves the production chain from survey to navigational chart.

The FGI is involved in activity 2, where the foundation is laid for high accurate vessel navigation in the future. In this activity, shipborne gravity measurements are carried out in various parts of the Baltic Sea in order to check existing marine gravity data, collect new data and develop a new accurate geoid model covering the whole Baltic Sea by 2020. In addition, various real time GNSS methods are tested to improve vessel navigation. GNSS navigation data are also used to validate the vertical datum (geoid).