Poll
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Comments (24):
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"Supply and Demand"..... There may be organisations short of staff but the wages offered are just not tempting enough! Shore based work is far more attractive than 12-18 hours per day for 4,5,6 or even 10 weeks at a stretch. Professional standards requires professional pay and offshore surveyors are at the bottom of the heap. I have an IHO CAT A qualification but I would earn 30% more as a Deck Foreman with no academic quailifications at all - I love my job but I need to put food on the table like everyone else.
Rob Morley - 13/10/2008 - 18:48
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Canada must once again become accredited at the IHO Cat A and Cat B levels. Hydrography in Canada is a dying science because the
Canadian Hydrographic Service does not understand its mandate and the Canadian Government refuses to adequately fund this most important function. The function is the creation of modern and safe nautical chart Barry M. Lusk - 02/10/2008 - 18:11 |
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The University of Otago in New Zealand is very keen to help improve the situation in education and training. Recently, more staff have been hired, and new equipment purchased to expand the base and range of the accredited IHO Category A program.
We are currently revising the content of the Hydrographic courses to remain current with new technology and theory, and increase the amount of practical training in singlebeam, multibeam and sidescan sonar. By having a multidisicpline program involving experts in Marine Science and Geodesy as well as Hydrography, we hope to continue to provide graduates with a solid foundation of knowledge, from which to base and enhance their practical experience as this is gained in industry. Australian students in particular are most welcome to apply, being considered 'domestic' students (no visa requirements). A Bachelor of Surveying Graduate should be able to complete the required courses in 1 year, and we are looking at ways to better provide training to all customers. Scott Preskett Professional Practice Fellow Hydrographic Surveying University of Otago Scott Preskett - 26/09/2008 - 01:08 |
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I feel strongly that the training situation of Hydrographic Surveyors in Australia needs resolution. Until now the Navy's Category B training course has only been available to military personnel, however I am working on having this policy changed. It requires some restructuring of the course which is being done at the moment and the course will be submitted for re-accreditation by the International Advisory Board in early 2009. The second challengs is increasing the capacity and possibly frequency of the course because we currently only have enough places to meet our own training requirements. This will require either more instructors or a partnership with a tertiary training institution to provide lecturers. I hope this can be achieved bu the end of this year, but at this stage it is not guaranteed.
Rod Nairn Commodore, Royal Australian Navy Hydrographer of Australia R. Nairn - 22/09/2008 - 00:18 |
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I am a relatively new addition to the Hydrographic industry and I absolutely LOVE IT!!! However, Currently finishing my studies as a Surveyor, I find now that most of the avenues to continue my studies to provide me with a H2 or H1 qualification are very limited. My goal to become a qualified Hydrographic Surveyor seems to me now a little out of reach as there are no systems in place for me to study Hydrography any where in New South Wales. I\\\'m sure I speak for many young keen surveyors, when i say that if ANY system that allowed us to study Hydrography together was to be put into place, it would mean that the industry would have a far longer life whilst maintaining the high standard set by our senior memebrs of the industry.. also i think that once the younger generations (like myself) realise what kind of jobs we perform, they would flock to the industry and classroom\\\'s would be packed to the rafters!!
I would most certainly be among them!! We should not give up.. Here\\\'s Hoping!! Samuel Patrick Houston - 21/09/2008 - 03:41 |
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Having spent a lifetime in all of the surveying disciplines "at the coal face" & in particular, many years on significant hydrographic projects all over the world, the academic side seems to have taken over what is essentially a hands on practical "real world" environment, where the REAL professionals take the trouble to evaluate all available technologies and adapt them to their particular locality and environment that is being evaluated. More than 30 years ago I predicted that evolving technolgy would eventually replace the human element, leaving the so called "hydrographic surveyors" of the future as nothing more than technicians - bit like the call centres of today running "marketing operations". Yet I still get calls from organisations who want to hire my services, as some realise that a lifetime of hands-on practical experience in all the major marine environments around planet earth are difficult to put in a simulator environment.
John A Jamieson - 19/09/2008 - 10:47
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It is imperative that industy, government and universities forge partnerships to address the skills shortage. Furthermore, industry must start to realise that if they wish to employ specialist staff, they should be prepared to offer appropriate scales of pay AND fully support their staff through continued professional development. This is all to rare an occurence these days and hence deters graduates and experienced staff from entering and remaining in the indsutry respectively.
A Hydro Specialist - 10/09/2008 - 10:29
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An aspect which i believe is deterring interest in the profession is the unrealistic work conditions expected by big companies. I have heard of new graduates being offered 4 weeks at sea and 5 days leave.
It seems to me that boat handlers get offered more realistic work hours because they are part of union. In australia, boat handlers get offered 1 week on duty and 1 week leave. It seems unfair that Hydro surveyors go to the effort to get an education and experience and not get paid for it. They work just as hard if not harder to collect, process data and meet deadlines. I really think a union or organisation should regulate some standards for work conditions such as include time at sea, leave and base salaries and could be for a least 4 levels Trainee Graduate IHO Cat B surveyor IHO Cat A surveyor Anon - 05/09/2008 - 01:59 |
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Yes it is true that some companies instead of hiring competent Hydrographic Surveyors, do provide or rather insist the existing Hydrographic surveyor to train deck hands, Land surveyors.
It is in the interest of the Hydrographers that the existing Hydrographic surveyors should not train unprofessional persons to be come a Hydrographer. Is it possible for IHO to take action on these unsruplus companies who indulge in such activities. Also why not start centralised institution under the IHO to give periodic updation of Hydrographic expertise to the existing H Surveyors, ofcourse which should be economical and affordable. Anil Kumar - 31/08/2008 - 08:05 |
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Its a pity to know that Big company\'s Like Great Lakes and NASS construction indulge in training unqualified people for hydrography just to save some money.
This practice in the constructional field is very prevailant and I do not find any justification to it. It not only shows that the companys are not adhering to ISO standards instead will stoop to any level to bring in profits. Mis managed - 31/08/2008 - 07:56 |
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IT IS THE RESPONSIABILITY OF ALL STATES NOT ONLY THE COASTAL STATE TO MAKE PROPER REGULATION FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES. INDUSTRY SHOULD PROMOTE EDUCATION & RECOGNITION FOR THIS PROFESSION. MARINERS SHOULD GET PRIORITY.
Abhijit, 2/Off-AESM, India - 28/08/2008 - 06:13
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IT IS RESPONSIABILITY OF COASTAL STATE TO PROVIDE PROPER REGULATION FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND INDUSTRY SHOULD PROMOTE EDUCATION & RECOGNITION FOR THIS PROFESSION.
NAVANATH RAUT,INDIA - 26/08/2008 - 19:31
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Having enjoyed a fascinating career in underwater acoustic positioning involving technical challenges, extensive international travel and meeting many interesting people, I am more than willing to make my contribution to encourage students to take up hydrography by presenting relevant lectures to schools and colleges. I would have thought that many other retired readers of your journal would have similar views, but how could this be organised?
Nigel C Kelland - 19/08/2008 - 23:00
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To maintain excellence, industry needs to stimulate the workforce
Jean - 19/08/2008 - 14:17
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hydrgraphy and its related affairs are not well known throwut the world .
people doing hydrographic activities not earnring as much in other activies such as shipping industries. i belive universities as well as organizations should have matual activities with a strategic planing to face changing world. Ali Moradi - 18/08/2008 - 12:03 |
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Just look at the payscales for accountants compared to Hydographic engineering?
Sorry but if I had my time over again, it'd be in the accountants department. Accountants hours are 09:00 17:00 Monday thru Friday, no Weekends, no out of hours calls. Comapny makes good profits and it's the accountants taking the praise, for their diligence. Losses and it's not the accountants fault.....as for the pay scales..... Jimbo - 15/08/2008 - 14:12 |
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As a Dutch student I don't see a lot of the industry during my education so I would say there are great opportunities for the bussiness to get involved in schools and universities. More in a collaborative way like investing in internships, excursions, practical assignments, guestlectures, etc.
Also get involved in related fields, students in, for example, civil engineering or CZM could follow a master in surveying. M Zandvoort - 15/08/2008 - 10:44 |
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Being old enough to remember the several collapses in our industry, with the subsequent job losses and reduced day rates, and as much as I have loved my job and still do, I must say I would be loathed to get my kids involved.
Phil Stock - 14/08/2008 - 16:03
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Whilst companies have a corporate responsibility to help train personel and assist universities and technikons, the schools need to also make sure that the content of courses ia appropriate to the market place where they expect student to be employed.
Eddie Guild - 14/08/2008 - 15:58
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With the existing energy crisis, environmental concerns, and global economic struggles, the Oceans will require our protection and in return will sustain us in more ways than we know. Skilled hydrographers are needed to ensure this valuable resource is protected and utilized appropriately for generations to come. Companies have a responsibility to support that by recruiting skilled hydrographers and promoting this exciting, challenging and rewarding career
G Dean - 12/08/2008 - 01:08
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I am a recent student of the Catergory A hydrographic program from Otago University in New Zealand.
My company recently invested in my education and sent me on the course, because I am aiming for my certification. I had to move to New Zealand to undertake the course, as there was no course for civilians in Australia, which i found to be quite amazing, considering we control large areas of water. I had studied a land survey degree piror, which didn't promote hydrography in great detail, it was more of a footnote. I asked a lecturer why this was the case and he said it was too expensive to run such subjects. I noticed that Otago was in good contact with Fugro, which hired 6-8 students post graduation. It does help having company support. Fugro also funds scholorship/grant to support school fees as well. I hope to suggest to the Port of Melbourne to do the same here with the local universities, to increase interest in the profession. AB Ternes - 07/08/2008 - 23:09 |
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Unfortunately graduate courses in Hydrography have high capital overheads and are perhaps not cost effective when compared with competing courses such as GIS and Environmental sciences. Limited numbers can undertake practical sessions on the water so classes are small, so corporate funding would be helpful to overcoe this.
However, in today’s knowledge based economy, if companies want the personnel they need to invest at both graduate level and in continuous professional development, in order to keep the personnel and their knowledge. Having a smart piece of s/w is no substitute for a knowledgeable and experienced surveyor. RG. Brown - 07/08/2008 - 16:05 |
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Universities should attract students as well. But mostly there ist not enough money for public relations. Therefore companies should support universities in a partnership programme
Lars Schiller - 07/08/2008 - 14:52
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make courses more specific, i.e.stick to surveying and dont wander off onto side subjects
hydrographic surveys ltd cork - 07/08/2008 - 14:22
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