APOMAB Celebrates One Year Of Activity

The A.PO.MA.B. gave birth to a unique Italian project with great prospects. Born in the heart of the Mediterranean in Sicily, the Academy characterises itself as an independent organisation, not-for-profit, non-governmental and providing a forum for all those involved in activities related to the disciplines of marine positioning and bathymetry who live or work anywhere in the world. "The A.PO.MA.B. is like the tip of a iceberg that lurks beneath the ocean," according to president Darius S. Miceli. The organisation has been founded to promote the study and development of techniques for bathymetry and marine positioning for scientific means of contact. "We have come together in partnership to deepen the study of cultural techniques for the bathymetric survey, positioning and underwater marine area and to investigate the best all technologies related to them. The goal is to give life to a project of high-tech science and technology. A comprehensive approach that has allowed A.PO.MA.B. after careful research in the field of offshore services to note the lack of personnel specialised in the Italian register of geodetic data."

An important consideration that led to the establishment A.PO.MA.B, filling a gap, a course in collaboration with some companies. Miceli, who is a member of the Hydrographic Society of America, continues: "The training comes from an analysis of the needs for innovation and training in the world of offshore work. Sector entrepreneurs reported difficulties in finding workers because the techniques are specialised, able to assume responsibility with the government and control of marine construction activities related to installation and maintenance. The young graduates, which come mainly from a technical institute for surveyors, are entering the professional world with a good technical-theoretical, but with little preparation on the operational professional abilities. Why companies cannot easily find technical staff with medium-high profile in a short time able to take important decision-making roles within a construction site. As a result, some companies continue to seek and experienced staff already busy trying to 'withdraw' from other local companies, so without ever being able to balance the demand and supply of skilled technical personnel." The training aims to train the best of the 'offshore surveyor' which must have a diversified role within the company offshore services. It is for this reason that the training is organised according to training units to provide students with knowledge.

The programme modules follow a number of guidelines, in particular IMCA C004 S30 and S31 Rev2 November 2009, which would be the minimum standards IMCA charged for 'SURVEYOR GRADE II'. These were added such as additional training modules to support English and offshore construction. "Our primary source of innovation and development," says Miceli. "We are given from research done in books, scientific publications, sources of IHO standards: International Hydrography Organization based in Monaco, or through the direct exchange of scientific and technological institutions which made the A. PO.MA.B. is in contact. Our guidelines follow those set by the Hydrographic Society of America."