Annan
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Name of Point Where Meridian Zero Intersects with Equator, has now been named Anker's Point (please note the spelling).
In connection with my work on a new maritime dictionary I have ascertained that the point where the equator intersects with meridian zero in the southern Atlantic Ocean has no name.
I feel a point of this importance should have a name. Those I have been in contact with so far are of the same opinion.
Below you will find the development of my investigations and the reasons for my choice of name:
1 The Point Has No Name:
1.1 The Danish Language Council (Dansk Sprognævn) was the first organization I contacted. They informed me that according to their investigation the point had no name and that this surprised them.
1.2 The National Survey and Cadastre (Kort & Matrikelsyrelsen) informed me by e-mail SOE@kms.dk that they were of the opinion that the point did not have a name.
1.3 An e-mail from Copenhagen University (Københavns Universitet) Geography & Geology Hbm@geogr.ku.dk,informed me that the point did not have an official name. The university was wondering why the point had not been given a name.
1.4 An e-mail from The Royal Danish Embassy in Ghana, camchr@um.dk informed me that the Embassy had investigated the matter and been in contact with Mr. Foster Mensah, who is connected to the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services (CERSGIS), university of Ghana, he also had no knowledge of a name for this point. The Embassy found my pursuit of trying to obtain a name for this point interesting and my choice of name for it excellent.
1.5 An e-mail from Troels Kloevedal, troelskloevedal@yahoo.com, did not give a name for this point either. This man is one of the best known global navigators.
2 How Does a Point Get a Name?
2.1 On contacting the National Survey and Cadastre (Kort & Matrikelsyrelsen), mail SOE@kms.dk, I was informed that there are strict rules on how objects in international waters are named. The organization dealing with this is IHO (International Hydrographic Organization). A private person must complete the required standard forms and send them to the Danish Maritime Administration (“Farvandsvaesnet”) who will then pass the application on to IHO.
2.2 I completed the forms and sent them to the Danish Maritime Administration (“Farvandsvaesnet”). A week later they informed me via e-mail LHA@frv.dk that when an unnamed point is involved then your goodselves, UNGEGN, are the organization to contact and not IHO.
2.3 The United Nation of Experts on Geographical Names was then contacted. Their email reply came from ChairUNGEGN, Prèsidente du GENUNG Helen Kerfoot Helen.Kerfoot@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca
Ms. Helen Kerfoot (email) stating that they were not in the position to make such a decision. They wrote: ”although I would doubt that there is any process for formally naming grid points on the spherical coordinate system!"
However, Ms. Helen Kerfoot was so kind to put me into contact with Senior Lecturer Mr. Peder Gammeltoft with the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Copenhagen and Chair of the Nordic Division of UNGEGN.
After Senior Lecturer Mr. Peder Gammeltoft at the Copenhagen University has been investigating this matter for another 2, 5 month he has now reached the same conclusion as Ms. Helen Kerfoot.
My suggestion for the name of this point is Anker's Point (please note the spelling) and my reasons for this choice are as follows:
(A) This point is basis for determining any point on our planet.
(B) The name ought to relate to something maritime. The anchoring of ship seems a fitting symbol.
(C) The name "Anker" is the Danish word for the English word "anchor" and happens to be the name of the person who first realized that this important point has no name and he has been moving force to get a name for it.
As no one seems to be able to decide what a given point of this nature could be called – any one can make that decision. And as stated I have decided that this particular point where the Meridian Zero Intersects with Equator, should be named Anker's Point. (please note the spelling).
I would like to emphasize my gratefulness towards all the help and effort I have received throughout this investigation.
Yours sincerely,
Anker W. Lauridsen,
Naval architect,
Baekken 6,
9300 Saeby, Denmark.