HYDRO’06

HYDRO’06, the fifteenth international congress of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS), took place at Provincial House, Antwerp, Belgium from 6th to 9th November 2006. The event attracted 270 delegates and twenty visitors from thirty countries, while 35 exhibitors from nine countries manned a stand. All participants can look back on a successful event. Conference
The conference committee had taken as theme ‘Evolutions in Hydrography’. Gert Jan Kramer, until recently Fugro CEO, in his keynote speech highlighted evolutions and the future of commercial hydrographic activities. A major step forward had been taken in the early 1950s when the search for energy and solving of the positioning problem by the Decca system/company led to independent companies offering survey services. Mr Kramer remarked that small companies had come and gone, as had their names, but the faces behind them remained the same. This human capital in high expertise was also needed to ensure the bright future of the industry: e.g., requirements of the O & G, offshore mining, renewable-energy developments, threats coming from the sea for coastal states, governments outsourcing hydrographic activities etc. The industry that followed/follows requirements for both shallow and the deep, although relatively small (an estimated seven hundred survey ships and 18,000 persons directly employed in the survey industry), was a vital one. Mr Kramer also noted that not only evolution in equipment (development and testing) nowadays demanded big companies with large resources but also the future of the industry needed, both for small and large companies, good and excellent people. It was therefore also important to pay special attention to motivation and education.

The conference theme implied a wide range of subjects being touched upon, and papers gave an interesting update on the present state of technology in hydrography. Subjects of sessions included Data Management, Charting, Multi-Beam, Dredging Support etc. The number of papers on multi-beam aspects, both survey and work with data, showed this still to be a developing aspect of hydrography.

The Best Paper Award was presented to Yves Pastol from the French Hydrographic Service (SHOM) for his paper on LITTO3d, while the Best Student Paper Award was presented to J. van den Ameele from Delft Technical University, The Netherlands. The idea behind this student award is to motivate students to write papers and was in sharp contrast to the high cost of student registration. This had frightened off students with limited financial elbowroom from attending the conference and gave reason for grumbling by those who did manage to attend. A pity, as in this industry we need to attract youngsters, arouse their interest and keep them motivated.

Changing daily poster presentations attracted the interest of delegates.

The conference programme included a technical visit to visiting ships like the Dutch HO’s Hr. Ms. Luymes, the Belgica, the Ter Streep and the Veremans of Flemish Hydrography. These visits enabled delegates to keep in touch with ships collecting data. The documentation on HYDRO’06 was of a good standard: a list of participants, exhibitors, final programme etc., and the proceedings, were all published in separate booklets. The conference proceedings can be ordered from Reed Business - Geo  for the price of EUR32.00 (equivalent US$39.82), plus VAT and postage.

Exhibition
Alongside the conference an exhibition was held in at Provincial House buildings surrounding the conference room. The majority of exhibitors were not only satisfied with commercial results but also with the opportunity to talk to users of their products.

Social Events
An icebreaker party hosted by the exhibitors proved why Belgium is so well known for its great choice in excellent local beers. A reception offered by Dredging International, (another sector that earns Belgium a fine reputation), was held in the old Town Hall on the Market Square. And the concluding conference dinner took place at the famous Antwerp Zoo, with its stylish Marble Hall and Winter Garden.

During the conference dinner a MoU was signed between the International Hydrographic Organisation represented by Admiral Maratos, president of the directing committee, and the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies represented by their re-elected chairman Paul Hornsby.

And, yes … to loud applause the conference dinner tradition continued as Admiral Steve Ritchie led his dance partner, Pamela Sanabria, to the dance floor to prove that despite his age he still enjoys and is capable of dancing much more vivaciously than just a slow foxtrot.

Fringe Events
The occasion of this meeting of so many from the surveying profession was used for some fringe events, like the annual meeting of the IFHS, which, as already remarked, re-elected chairman Paul Hornsby. Also held were an open meeting on proposed revisions to S-44 (the IHO Standards for Hydrographic Surveys publication), and a meeting of the IHO working group on this S-44 publication.

Next Year
The next IFHS-conference is planned in Cairns Australia from 22nd to 24th November 2007.