In response to pressure from the Colonial Office and whaling interests for improvement of the Admiralty charts of South Georgia, the Hydrographer of the Navy despatched a surveying ship to operate there during the 1960–61 summer season. Priority was given to a thorough survey of the waters surrounding the western extremities of the island in order to facilitate the shortest passage between the whaling grounds in the west and the whaling stations on the north-east coast. Other commitments were the landing of scientists in co-operation with the Administration and, as opportunity offered, general improvement of the existing charts with particular reference to the coastal shipping routes.