Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics, 2020, Vol. 8, No. 1, 25-34 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jgg/8/1/4 Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jgg-8-1-4 Navigational Hazard Analysis of Part of Bonny River, Rivers State Nigeria D. M. J. Fubara, Lawrence Hart, Golden Ibinabo Otasanya * Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria *Corresponding author: goldendipo@yahoo.co.uk Received February 16, 2020; Revised March 18, 2020; Accepted March 25, 2020 Abstract Bonny River is arguably the most important river in Rivers State because it registers per season high volume of vessel traffic compared to other rivers in the state and also has infrastructures, major cities, companies and institutions along its banks. This high vessel traffic on the channel comes with mishaps that can render a once navigable channel unsafe which can lead to loss of property, resources, life and cause environmental pollution. This research sought to provide analysis of navigational hazards on about 15Km of the study area using a positioning device and some acoustic sensors. It yielded the following findings. The upstream end of the research area had a depth range of 1.5m to 15.1m and its navigable channel with depth range of 3.2m to 15.1m while the Port Harcourt Wharf axes about 12Km farther downstream had a range of 0.1m to 18.7m and its navigable channel with depth range of 10.1m to 18.7m. The maximum depth being downstream was 18.7m. The upstream area was noticed to have the presence of all wrecks (visible and submerged) in the study area. The percentage space occupied by the wrecks (partly submerged and completely submerged) in relation to the entire research space was less than one percent. Although the magnetometer detected several isolated ferrous presence, the side scan sonar representation of the riverbed suggest the ferrous presence are all buried debris. These findings upstream suggests the need for maintenance of the section. Keywords: bathymetry, hydrography, navigation, seabed profile, wreck Cite This Article: D. M. J. Fubara, Lawrence Hart, and Golden Ibinabo Otasanya, “Navigational Hazard Analysis of Part of Bonny River, Rivers State Nigeria.” Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics, vol. 8, no. 1 (2020): 25-34. doi: 10.12691/jgg-8-1-4. 1. Introduction There has always being the need to convey, in large quantities, goods and supplies from source location to customers or end users. The marine transport system arguably happens to be the main avenue of transporting this in huge quantity. The entire expense of waterbody is always not navigable as unseen debris could be lurking beneath water surface [7], hence the need to have knowledge of parts in the wide expense of water that will aid safe navigation. The term navigation stems from Latin (navigationem) and was coined from Latin words navis meaning “ship”, and agere meaning “to drive” (Wikipedia accessed: 20191025). The term was thus solely for marine travel, however, it is now used in air, land, marine, and space travels. Navigation is attentively and consciously controlling, ordering and monitoring the movement of a vessel, craft, barge or any object from a point to another over a predetermined route. Hazard is a behaviour, object or situation that has the latency of causing damage, ill health, or injury to persons, to property or to the environment (Oxford Dictionary). Bonny River, the subject of discuss has along its banks important towns and organisations as the loading and turning basin of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, the bay of Federal Light and Ocean Terminals (FLT & FOT), Port-Harcourt Wharf, Saipem Contracting Limited and Aveon Offshore Limited quayside amongst other companies. This makes Bonny River one of the most important shipping route into Rivers State, Nigeria. As a requirement of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), study to ensure it is safe for navigation [9] is required. The river forms part of the delta section of the River Niger. As shown in the tidal prediction tables the river is a semi diurnal tidal river, (two alternating crests (High Water (HW)) and troughs (Low Water (LW)) within 24 hours cycle [11]). The river is characterized with bends and turns, a typical character of a river at its final phase [1], and has on most of its banks mangrove vegetation cover. The river is heavily used for servicing the oil and gas mining industry located offshore the coast of Nigeria. Also on this river is one of the Nigerian Naval Docks. With regular activities such as fishing and transportation of people and goods along the river comes mishaps. There is need to monitor the changes that may occur as a result of these activities or mishaps that can