Ian Moncrieff News

The UK Hydrographic Office, under the Admiralty brand, has extended its global ECDIS training campaign, which offers qualified bridge officers around the world the opportunity to win generic ECDIS training, making a further 100 training places available. The additional sponsored training places are a result of the popularity of the campaign, which has now seen the initial 100 training places awarded to mariners worldwide. The next draws of this extended campaign will take place in December 2012 and March 2013, with 50 bridge officers being awarded each time. The need for ECDIS training remains a major issue for the maritime industry. According to the assessment by UKHO, at least 160,000 officers require ECDIS training; although some estimates1 place that figure as high as 200,000.

Dr Hideo Nishida of the Japan Hydrographic Association wins the UKHO’s annual Alexander Dalrymple Award for his outstanding contribution to hydrography. Dr Nishida has had a long and illustrious career with the Japan Coastguard, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Hydrographic & Oceanographic Department (JHOD). In particular, his work in reaction to natural disasters, during the tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan on 11 March 2011, was commended. The speedy and professional response of JHOD…

Admiralty brings free Digital Integration Workshop to CMA Shipping 2012 to help shipping companies plan for digital navigation. Admiralty announced today the next Digital Integration Workshop will be held at the Connecticut Maritime Association’s Shipping 2012 show in March. The Workshops, which are free to attend, help shipping managers effectively plan for the integration of digital technology into bridge operations to meet the requirements of the ECDIS Mandate. The Workshops will take place at Stamford Hilton Hotel on the 19th (at 14.00hrs)…

Dutch-Belgian-Trading GmbH (DBT) has acquired Hamburg based SevenCs GmbH and ChartWorld GmbH from Admiralty Holdings Limited (AHL), a wholly-controlled subsidiary of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). Mr. Jochen Rudolph, Managing Director of DBT, said: “DBT has exciting and ambitious plans to develop a completely new concept for integrated ECDIS and digital chart data services aimed at the SOLAS retrofit market. At the same time as announcing the acquisition  of ChartWorld and SevenCs, Mr. Rudolph also announced that DBT are currently recruiting new staff – especially in sales - and will shortly be opening new offices in Singapore and Cyprus to provide sales, service and support for the Asian and Mediterranean markets.

Gilles Bessero, the outgoing French Hydrographer has been honoured by the UK Hydrographic Office for his outstanding contribution to Hydrography by being named the recipient of the prestigious Alexander Dalrymple Award 2010. The announcement was made by Mike Robinson, CEO of UKHO, at a reception for World Hydrography Day held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Singapore on Wednesday, 30 June, 2010. In attendance was Rear Admiral Ian Moncrieff CBE, UK National Hydrographer. The award is a symbol of recognition for outstanding dedication and contribution to world hydrography and as such is an extremely prestigious award in this sector.

The Royal Navy’s leading Operational Commander visited the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Friday, March 27, to see the navigational services and charts that the organisation provides at first hand. The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET), Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE, is responsible for delivering the Fleet Operational Capability. This includes the operation, resourcing and training of the Royal Navy’s ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel including the Royal Marines.