British Oceanographic Data Centre
The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is the UK's National Oceanographic Data Centre, managing and preserving over 130,000 marine and oceanographic data sets for researchers, UK government agencies, and international ocean observing programmes. Operated by the National Oceanography Centre under NERC, it provides free self-service data access under the UK Open Government Licence.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersLiverpool, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What British Oceanographic Data Centre does
The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is the UK's designated National Oceanographic Data Centre (NODC), established in 1969 and operated by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) as part of NERC's (Natural Environment Research Council) Environmental Data Service (EDS). BODC manages and preserves over 130,000 unique marine and oceanographic data sets, including CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) profiles, current meter series, glider inventory, samples data, wave data, and historical tide gauge records, alongside a cruise inventory covering 15,867 cruises from 751 ships dating from 1947 to the present. Its core technical infrastructure comprises the BODC self-service database, the NERC Vocabulary Server (NVS) for controlled parameter vocabularies, the NVS-based BODC Parameter Codes (P01), the Deployment Catalogue for UK glider and autonomous platform missions, the GLOSS (Global Sea Level Observing System) Station Handbook covering 300+ tide gauge sites, and software/web services including the GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Grid Display, QXF2MAT MATLAB function, and the Marsden Square translator. Data is distributed in multiple formats (BODC ASCII, Ocean Data View (ODV), QXF netCDF, CF netCDF, and historical AXF) and accessed via self-service web tools, a dedicated submission portal, and integration with international partner platforms.
BODC serves three primary user segments: the UK marine research community, international oceanographic programmes (Argo, GEBCO, GLOSS, SeaDataNet, EMODnet), and UK government environmental monitoring bodies (notably the Clean Safe Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP)). The organisation is publicly funded through UKRI/NERC grant-in-aid and operates as a non-commercial research infrastructure — all data is provided at no charge under the UK Open Government Licence (OGL), with no disclosed pricing model, no paying customers, and no commercial marketing activity. Its distribution model is entirely self-service: researchers register on the website, retrieve data via web tools, and submit data through an online portal, with no sales motion or direct revenue generation. Certifications include CoreTrustSeal for trustworthy data repositories, and BODC is a designated Data Assembly Centre (DAC) for UK Glider, Autosub, and Argo float deployments.
British Oceanographic Data Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- British Oceanographic Data Centre
- Legal name
- British Oceanographic Data Centre
- Website
- https://bodc.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is the UK's National Oceanographic Data Centre, managing and preserving over 130,000 marine and oceanographic data sets for researchers, UK government agencies, and international ocean observing programmes. Operated by the National Oceanography Centre under NERC, it provides free self-service data access under the UK Open Government Licence.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
British Oceanographic Data Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Data Management Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services (TLAHAFAE)
Keywords
Where British Oceanographic Data Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Liverpool
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
British Oceanographic Data Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Public Data Infrastructure Service: BODC operates as a publicly funded data centre within the UK National Oceanography Centre and NERC's Environmental Data Service. Data is provided under the UK Open Government Licence (OGL). No commercial revenue model is apparent - the organization appears to be government-funded research infrastructure.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels3 records
British Oceanographic Data Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The British Oceanographic Data Centre manages over 130,000 unique marine and oceanographic datasets, providing a national repository of historical and recent ocean data. It delivers this through self-service web tools, standardized data formats, web services, and hosted data systems, while developing controlled vocabularies and software utilities for the marine science community. The centre operates as part of NERC's Environmental Data Service within the National Oceanography Centre, serving UK and international marine researchers, government agencies, and partner organizations.
Product overview
The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) operates a comprehensive marine data management platform offering over 130,000 unique data sets. The core infrastructure consists of the BODC Database (self-service access to CTD profiles, currents, samples, waves, and glider data) and Hosted Data Systems (sea level, Argo floats, GEBCO bathymetry). Supporting infrastructure includes the NERC Vocabulary Server (NVS) for controlled vocabularies and parameter codes, the Cruise Inventory catalogue of UK research vessels, and the Deployment Catalogue for glider/autonomous vehicle missions. BODC provides software products including GEBCO Grid Display, Carter's Tables, and QXF2MAT function, plus web services such as the GEBCO Web Map Service and Marsden Square translator. Data is delivered in multiple formats (BODC ASCII, ODV, QXF/netCDF, CF-netCDF, AXF). As the UK's National Oceanographic Data Centre and part of NERC's Environmental Data Service, BODC participates in international networks including SeaDataNet, EMODnet, and MEDIN.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50 years of continuous operation as UK marine data centre since 1969
Companies that use British Oceanographic Data Centre
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
British Oceanographic Data Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature5 records
British Oceanographic Data Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ArgocoreArgo aims to deploy a global array of profiling floats for systematic measurement of the physical state of the upper ocean. BODC acts as the UK Argo Data Centre and the Southern Ocean Argo Regional Centre.
- MERMANcoreMarine Environment Monitoring and Assessment National database - national database holding data collected under the Clean Safe Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP), formerly the National Marine Monitoring Programme (NMMP).
- GEBCOcoreGeneral Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans - provides authoritative, publicly-available bathymetry for the world's oceans. BODC hosts GEBCO gridded bathymetry data.
- MEDINcoreMarine Environmental Data and Information Network - UK network for marine data. BODC provides links to MEDIN resources.
- SeaDataNetcoreEuropean network for marine data. BODC provides links and integration with SeaDataNet portal.
- EMODnetcoreEuropean Marine Observation and Data Network. BODC provides links to EMODnet portal for European marine data access.
- Environmental Data Service (EDS)coreNERC's Environmental Data Service. BODC is the marine data centre within EDS, operating as part of this UK government data infrastructure.
- National Oceanography Centre (NOC)coreBODC is managed and operated by the National Oceanography Centre. NOC provides organizational infrastructure and support.
- GLOSScoreGlobal Sea Level Observing System. BODC maintains the GLOSS Station Handbook with details of over 300 tide gauge stations worldwide supplying data to PSMSL.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
British Oceanographic Data Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI): NCEI is the US equivalent national environmental data centre, providing archive, access, and stewardship of oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical data. Directly comparable to BODC in mandate, scale, and role as a national data assembly centre for international programmes.
- Argo Data Management Team: Argo is a global array of profiling floats, with national Data Assembly Centres (including BODC as UK DAC). Comparable as part of the same data-management ecosystem, sharing float data through a common infrastructure.
- Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC): JODC is Japan's national oceanographic data centre under the Japan Coast Guard, providing marine data management services. Directly comparable to BODC as a national NODC with long historical archives, international programme participation, and government mandate.
- PANGAEA – Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science: PANGAEA is a data publisher for earth and environmental science, providing archiving and dissemination services for marine, atmospheric, and climate research data. Comparable to BODC in operating a trusted data repository with DOI assignment, controlled vocabularies, and international research community focus.
- SeaDataNet: SeaDataNet is a pan-European network of national marine data centres providing standardised access to marine data. Directly comparable to BODC in participating as a UK node and in providing vocabulary and metadata infrastructure for oceanographic data sharing.
Regional players
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN): IMOS/AODN is Australia's federated marine observing network providing integrated access to ocean data. Comparable to BODC in hosting autonomous platform data, vocabularies, and serving a national research community with international programme integration.
Others
- World Data System (WDS): WDS is an ICSU-affiliated network of trusted data repositories across disciplines. Comparable as an umbrella trust framework (CoreTrustSeal lineage) that BODC participates in, rather than a direct service peer; useful as an ecosystem-level adjacent organisation.
Broad incumbents
- Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea): Ifremer hosts SISMER, the French national oceanographic data centre, and operates as a broader marine research institution. Comparable to BODC in marine data hosting and French SeaDataNet participation, though Ifremer's scope extends well beyond data management into marine science research.
- ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea): ICES is an intergovernmental marine science organisation managing oceanographic and fisheries data across the North Atlantic. Comparable to BODC in marine data stewardship and international programme hosting, with a broader remit covering marine ecosystem advice.
- EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network): EMODnet is the EU's portal for marine data, aggregating data from national data centres across Europe including BODC. Comparable as an aggregator and discoverability layer for marine datasets, with broader pan-European scope than any single national centre.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
British Oceanographic Data Centre social profiles
Digital presenceBritish Oceanographic Data Centre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
British Oceanographic Data Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
British Oceanographic Data Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
British Oceanographic Data Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
British Oceanographic Data Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about British Oceanographic Data Centre
What does British Oceanographic Data Centre do?
The British Oceanographic Data Centre manages over 130,000 unique marine and oceanographic datasets, providing a national repository of historical and recent ocean data. It delivers this through self-service web tools, standardized data formats, web services, and hosted data systems, while developing controlled vocabularies and software utilities for the marine science community. The centre operates as part of NERC's Environmental Data Service within the National Oceanography Centre, serving UK and international marine researchers, government agencies, and partner organizations.
Is British Oceanographic Data Centre a public or private company?
British Oceanographic Data Centre is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was British Oceanographic Data Centre founded?
British Oceanographic Data Centre was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is British Oceanographic Data Centre based?
British Oceanographic Data Centre is headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does British Oceanographic Data Centre make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Data Infrastructure Service.
Who are British Oceanographic Data Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Argo Data Management Team, Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC), PANGAEA – Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science and SeaDataNet. Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN) is listed as a regional player. World Data System (WDS) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) and EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network).
Does British Oceanographic Data Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for British Oceanographic Data Centre.
What industry is British Oceanographic Data Centre in?
British Oceanographic Data Centre's product category is Marine Data Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAI, Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines), with a secondary code of TLAHAFAE, Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 7374.