Wise investment in hydrographic services capacity building needed
World Hydrographic Day (WHD) is celebrated on the 21 {+s} {+t} June each year to commemorate the establishment of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) at Monaco in 1921 by Prince Albert, an ardent Oceanographer. IHO is an inter governmental consultative and technical organization and recognized as a competent international authority on hydrography and nautical charting services.
Every activity at sea
These are executed through more than 25 strict IHO Standards by the 80 member states, which has ensured uniformity in the sea sapping and related subjects.
Hydrography impinges on every activity at the sea, the most important being provision of nautical charts and publications for worldwide navigational safety with 24 X 7 updating service under the IMO /IHO/UN Conventions. Major impact of hydrography is on navigational safety, offshore maritime development (Oil/Gas/Energy/Fisheries/Minerals/Tourism/Environment) and coastal zone management, to name a few. IHO has estimated that the cost benefit ratio for investment in hydrography as a national service is 1:10.
Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers. It also seeks to provide prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in support of all other marine activities.
These include economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection.
Hydrographic surveying is a top notch profession for development of any maritime nation. This along with the “National Spatial Data Infrastucture” organization has provided “mountains to deep seas” seamless data base. Now, there is an imperative need to dovetail the established hydrographic training facilities at the National Institute of Hydrography at Goa. Also this need is felt in the private sector to cover offshore human resources needs of the hydrographic industry as well and evolve credible dissemination methodology to the end users.
Vast improvements
It is significant that the hydrographic technology is seeing vast improvements, both in hardware and software terms, especially in the management of voluminous 3D digital data. Keeping hydrographic experts current in their profession is a necessity to meet many user needs.
Marine Cartography to international Standards will enable the Nation to translate the voluminous processed 3D field survey data into many user-friendly nautical products and services.
The modern equipment fit in the new catamaran design six survey vessels, coupled with well trained manpower, will enable the Indian National Hydrographic Office (INHO), to achieve 100 per cent insonification with 3D surveys within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone. This is possible even if requested for foreign waters, with products and services to meet end users' needs with better revenue earnings.
INHO has a great responsibility on their shoulders and duty to perform on hydrography and related fields, on which some key resources shall come from the Indian juridical waters, since “the 21 {+s} {+t} century will be the Century of the Seas”.
Wise investment on hydrographic capacity building (assets and human resources ) by the Indian Government is needed.
Autonomous status
This should be coupled with a restructured autonomous status for the INHO for more effective functioning in predominantly civil applications oriented domain. These measures shall facilitate higher professionalism and profound strategic and economic returns in the years to come.
K.R. SRINIVASAN
Formerly Rear Admiral,
Indian Navy
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