Singapore, 18 April 2016

UKHO 02-16

UKHO and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Announce Marine Cartography and Data Assessment Training Scheme

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have announced a new bursary training scheme in Marine Cartography and Data Assessment. Organised jointly by the UKHO and MPA over a five-week period from 18th April 2016 at the MPA Academy in Singapore, the course will train attendees on compiling and maintaining navigational charts.

Drawn from ten nations, the course attendees will comprise employees of their national hydrographic offices, port authorities and/or related national agencies involved in the production and maintenance of navigational charts. The course will equip students with skills to create and maintain paper and digital charts utilising computer-aided cartography applications.

Rear Admiral Tim Lowe, National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive of the UKHO commented:

“The UKHO and MPA have a well-established relationship on hydrographic training and we are very proud of this bursary training scheme in partnership with MPA. Our support for this course reflects the UKHO’s deep commitment to raising the standards of hydrography, cartography and hydrography around the world.

“As a nation with a strong maritime history, the UK understands the need for up to date and accurate marine cartography to better ensure navigation safety and the economic security of nations that depend on maritime trade for business.

“The course will bring together employees from government hydrographic offices within South East Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Island Community who will undoubtedly benefit from this professional development opportunity.”

On the course, Dr Parry Oei, Director (Port Services)/Chief Hydrographer of MPA had this to say:

“The Port of Singapore is located along the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, one of the world’s busiest waterways. In order to keep pace with the demands of increasing maritime traffic over the decades, we firmly believe in proactively raising the standards of our profession. This has to be coupled with keeping abreast with technological changes, including those introduced by IMO’s e-Navigation initiative.

“We are delighted to be able to do our part to achieve this through our long-standing partnership with the UKHO. We hope that having the course here in Singapore would highlight the importance of a cartographers’ work in ensuring navigational safety and protection of the marine environment. Students would also experience first-hand the challenges of doing so in these busy waters.”

The UKHO, part of the UK Government, has a longstanding bilateral relationship with Singapore’s MPA. Both organisations work together in the field of hydrography in support of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Accurate nautical charts are an essential element of SOLAS, as they help to facilitate precise passage planning to help safeguard the lives of mariners at sea. Chart compilation and maintenance is a complex and time-consuming undertaking that requires practitioners, known as nautical cartographers, to undergo specialist training to equip them with the skills and knowledge to produce safe and useable products.

The UKHO is the UK’s agency providing hydrographic and geospatial data to mariners and maritime organisations across the world.

Supplying defence and the commercial shipping industry, we help ensure Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), protect the marine environment and support the efficiency of global trade.

Together with other national hydrographic offices and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), we work to set and raise global standards of hydrography, cartography and navigation.

Our market-leading portfolio of ADMIRALTY Maritime Products & Services is found on over 90% of the world’s ships trading internationally. Relied upon by mariners for over 200 years, our portfolio provides the most comprehensive range of SOLAS-compliant charts, publications and digital services to keep crews, cargo and ships safe.

As leaders in our field, our global reputation is based on the reliability of hydrographic and geospatial information sourced and compiled by experts.

The UKHO is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This allows us to operate as a self-funding organisation in the digital era and sustain our position in the long term.

Sarah Dobson

Corporate Communications Manager

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

UK Tel : +44 (0)1823 337900

Email: corporatecomms@ukho.gov.uk