Jamaica's hydrographic capabilities receive major boost

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica hosted a regional training workshop on basic electronic-navigational charting (ENC) and electronic navigational chart production, from September 6-17, at the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI).

According to Colin Young, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regional maritime adviser, the objective of the workshop was to provide an understanding of ENC and its associated standards, as well as to highlight the complete process in ENC production.

"The region suffers from a relatively limited state of hydrographic capabilities," noted Young. "However, the IMO convention that governs safety of life at sea demands the provision and maintenance of hydrographic services."

Young explained that safe navigation and protection of the environment are critical in an era in which ships are becoming larger with correspondingly deeper drafts, new trading patterns are emerging and ports and offshore terminals are being built and expanded, creating the need for new channels to access them.

Surveys necessary

Young noted that an estimate of more than 30 per cent of the world's crude oil passes through the Caribbean, which is home to more than 50 per cent of the world's cruise shipping. In addition, the region experiences a hurricane season from June to November each year. As such, contracting governments deem it more critical to undertake hydrographic surveys, arrange for the compilation and publication of the hydrographic data, as well as disseminate and keep current on all nautical information necessary for safe navigation. Maintaining an understanding and awareness of developments in the hydrographic and cartographic community is also paramount, said Young.

Training importance

Rear Admiral Peter Brady, director general of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, which represents the IMO in Jamaica, welcomed the participants from 13 countries, spanning the Caribbean and Latin America. He stressed the importance of the training activity and added, "Seafarers rely on the producers of navigational charts for accurate information regarding the nature of channels, the placement of navigational aids and accurate markings of shipping hazards, to safeguard navigation and protection of the marine environment from accidents at sea.

"As such, we welcome this course to augment the know-ledge of those in the region responsible for the production of these charts."

The workshop, which was conducted by Derek Aldridge, cartographic training officer, and Ken Blagdon, ENC training officer - both of the Hydrographic Office in the United Kingdom - was funded by the IMO under the support to Small Island Developing States and the Least Developed Countries, in conjunction with the International Hydrographic Organisation.