From the national Societies: Hydrographic Society Russia

Laser Bathymetry Conference

On 13th November 2006 in Saint Petersburg the companies Chart-Pilot Ltd and GeoLIDAR held a scientific-practical conference on the theme of the opportunities for use of a space laser bathymetry complex SHOALS 1000T for detailed survey of bottom relief and creation of navigation charts. About fifty specialists from organisations and enterprises engaged in hydrographic and cartographic work in Saint Petersburg took part in the conference. The participation of the new chief of the Head Department of navigation and oceanography (HDNO), Rear Admiral Sergey Kozlov gave the meeting special significance. As usual, HSR members were among the participants, and HSR vice-president Dr Nikolay Nesterov was chairman.

Representatives of Optek, GeoLIDAR, GEOCOSMOS, Okeangeologija, and the cartographic division of the HDNO presented company reports. After discussion, the offer of an opportunity to carry out bottom-relief survey for the purposes of chart creation using equipment submitted by Optek and GeoLIDAR was accepted. Participants have still to consider a site for this.

The natural conclusion of the conference was a reception arranged by Chart Pilot: another chance for participants to discuss problems of laser bathymetry.

Participation in School Club

HSR continues to support the activity of this historical-geographical club named after Boris Vil’kitskiy at Saint Petersburg school 43. On 4th December a conference devoted to activity of Admiral of the Russian fleet Gennady Ivanovich Nevel’skoy (23/11/1813 – 17/04/1876) took place at the school. The admiral won fame due to his research in the Far East Russia in 1848 – 1854, when he worked on Kamchatka in the Okhotsk Sea, on the River Amur. He was the first to establish that Sakhalin Island was in fact an island. More than ten geographical points in the Japanese and Okhotsk seas are named after Admiral Nevel’skoy. During this meeting, pupils of the school presented reports, messages and poems in which they have described the life and work of the admiral. HSR member Rear Admiral Vyacheslav Solodov also delivered a speech.

The next day, on 5th December, unveiling of a memorial plaque dedicated to admiral Nevel’skoy took place at the house where he once lived in Saint Petersburg. Here teachers and pupils of school 43, cadets of the Saint Petersburg naval institute, HSR members and representatives of city and municipal authorities gathered for a ceremony led by HSR secretary and Captain of the First Rank Valentin Smirnov. People took the floor not only to note feats attained by the admiral, but also the fine work of the head of the club, geography teacher Elena Nazarenko, school director Liudmila Rastorgueva and the director of sponsoring company Visko, Vitaly Chashechkin. To the accompaniment a naval orchestra, the unveiling took place and cadets performed a solemn march-past. Flowers were laid at the memorial to complete the ceremony.