The UKHO has once again successfully delivered another of its internationally accredited marine cartography course s to six overseas hydrographic officers.
The six delegates from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan and Philippines completed the 15 week marine cartography course in December, delivered in support of the Japan Capacity Building Project and funded by the NIPPON Foundation.
The course provides the delegates with the skills and knowledge to produce and maintain navigational charts (paper and digital) during an intense but highly practical 15 week programme.
This is the third course of a five year commitment by the NIPPON Foundation, supporting the aims of the IHB and NIPPON Foundation, in developing human resource and hydrographic organisational capacity through training and development. The delegates were joined by an officer from the Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department for the first part of the course.
In addition to completing numerous practical assignments, the students benefited from field trips to the Bristol Port Authority, Britannia Royal Naval College, Brixham Coastguard and ABP Southampton.
The course was also honoured to receive a mid-term visit from Captain Hugo Gorziglia, Director of the International Hydrographic Bureau, who presented certificates and reminded the students of their responsibilities within the hydrographic community and the role they can play in sharing their knowledge and experience through international collaboration.
Peter Westcott, Cartographic Training Manager , said: “The feedback on the course has once again been excellent and the students, who showed great commitment and camaraderie, will now return to their respective organisations where they will put into practice what they have learnt and share the knowledge gained. The UKHO is honoured to continue to support such capacity building initiatives and to work with our Japanese partners and the IHB in providing such developmental opportunities all of which enhance international navigational safety.”
Comments from students included: “This is the best institute in the world for this type of training with such highly skilled and experienced instructors.”
The students were presented with their certificates at the closing ceremony by the UK National Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert, who highlighted the importance of their achievements and wished them every success in their future careers.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , January 18, 2012; Image: UKHO