Fugro Academy Receives World-class Cat B Accreditation

Fugro’s Applied Hydrographic Survey training course has achieved world-class Cat B (S-5B) accreditation from the International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). With this internally developed 24-week programme, run by Fugro’s in-house training team Fugro Academy, the company joins the group of organisations offering industry Category B hydrographic training programme that have achieved this internationally recognised certification.

The standards were developed by the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and the International Cartographic Association (ICA).  Administered by the IBSC, accreditation ensures that the courses have been independently validated and approved. In developing this programme Fugro Academy have complied with these standards whilst leveraging Fugro’s expertise gained from over fifty years of experience in collecting offshore data.

Completion of a Category B qualification indicates that the qualified individual, with appropriate experience, has the appropriate professional technical knowledge and skills to prepare and deliver hydrographic products and services.

Programme details

The programme is scheduled to run from January 2019 at the Fugro Academy Training Centre in Plymouth, UK. Open to Fugro staff and external applicants who meet the course prerequisites, the course will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of dedicated and experienced Fugro training staff.  Permanently based at the facility to provide training, they also assist the company with research and development, software and hardware trials and testing, and standardisation.  This ensures that the high-quality training and teaching material remains focussed, relevant and up-to-date and that delegates are exposed to proven modern techniques and equipment. The accreditation mean that training programme meets the requirements of FIG/IHO/ICA S-5B Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors.

The standards recognise two levels of programme. Category A introduces content and learning outcomes primarily from the underlying principles level, Category B introduces these principally from a practical level. Therefore, with appropriate experience, a Category A qualified individual, could be classed as a senior professional in their chosen field (government, industry, academia). Category B qualified individuals, with appropriate experience, would be professional technical practitioners preparing and delivering products and services.

Historic location

Fugro’s Plymouth site has dedicated computer suites, lecture rooms, workshops, equipment, and vessels in addition to year-round access to Plymouth Sound. This historic location has allowed Fugro Academy to develop strong relationships with local organisations and companies, including Plymouth University and the Royal Naval Hydrographic School. Our collaborative approach ensures a wide range of expert guest lecturers and site visits, enriching the course experience and allowing participants to build a broader understanding of the subject.

Detailed information on the programme, including course fees and entry requirements, are available by emailing the course team at [email protected].