Hydrographic training collaborations between Australia, South Korea and Vietnam are helping build regional skills and connections.
By Takhou Law
Hydrography and cartography play crucial roles in international diplomacy and capacity building, fostering collaboration among nations by improving maritime capabilities and strengthening relations.
Both the Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA) and the Australian Government have recently showcased exemplary initiatives in this domain, promoting technical skills and international partnerships.
KHOA’s global training
KHOA, as part of its commitment to the International Hydrographic Organisation‘s (IHO) Capacity Building initiative, alternates annually between delivering the S-5B Hydrographic Surveyor Program and the S-8B Marine Geospatial Information Program. These programs are hosted in Busan, Korea, are delivered for KHOA by IIC Academy and are offered free of charge to participants from around the world.
This year’s S-5B Hydrographic Surveyor Program included students from Croatia, Georgia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Suriname, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, the Philippines and Thailand.
The program aims to develop the students’ technical expertise in hydrography, preparing them to lead projects in their home countries and share their knowledge. The Program combines on-site theoretical and practical instruction and culminates in a month-long Comprehensive Final Field Project where students apply their learning to conduct and deliver a hydrographic survey.
One of the attendees was Isuru Weerasinghe, a specialist in the Sri Lankan Navy Hydrographic Service.
“I have enjoyed the program a lot,” he said. “From the education perspective, in my case this is the first time learning about hydrography as I have had no experience prior to this. However, on this course I have learned in the classroom, and I have gained experience at sea and doing practicals in the field and on the equipment.”
“This has been a great opportunity for me, and I would encourage all others to apply to do this Program,” he added. “I would also very much like to thank IIC and KHOA for this opportunity.”
Another attendee was Henrice Jed Lopez from the National Mapping and Resourcing Permission Authority of the Philippines.
“The KHOA Cat B Program gives a unique opportunity to delve into the field of hydrography and I am very drawn to the hands-on training and the opportunity to learn from experienced hydrographers,” he said.
“For me, the practical aspects and best practices involving the hydrographic surveying techniques impressed me most during this program. These provided a real-world context to the theoretical aspects and knowledge we had learned in the classroom; and we were doing it in the real world in the actual hydrographic environment.”
“This Program is very valuable in my professional development and in my career in hydrography,” he added. “It has equipped me to pursue a better understanding in surveying and mapping.”
Of particular interest for this Program, a documentary was filmed to raise awareness of the program within Korea and for use by KHOA and IHO in attracting new students to future courses.
Australia-Vietnam S-8B program
In Vietnam, the Australian Government sponsored and facilitated the IBSC-recognised S-8B Nautical Cartographer Program, delivered by the IIC Academy. This program, held in Hai Phong, Vietnam, aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance Vietnam’s hydrographic and cartographic capabilities. Twelve Vietnamese students successfully completed the program, which included in-depth training over six months.
A formal graduation ceremony was conducted on 25 October 2024, which was attended by high-ranking officials, including Rear Admiral Tran Ngoc Quyet of Vietnam, Deputy Head of Mission, Renee Deschamps, from Australia, and IIC Technologies Managing Director Australasia, David Crossman.
The event highlighted the program’s diplomatic significance, celebrating its role in capacity building and reinforcing the cooperative efforts between the two nations. During the speeches it was announced that the Australian Government would fund a second S-8B program in Vietnam 2025, reflecting its long-term commitment to Vietnam’s hydrographic development.
A tool for global diplomacy
These programs exemplify the use of hydrographic training as a tool for diplomacy, addressing global challenges such as environmental change, maritime safety and capacity building. Both Korea and Australia have demonstrated how investing in hydrography and cartography can provide tangible benefits to recipient nations while fostering international goodwill and collaboration. These initiatives highlight the enduring relevance of hydrography in modern diplomacy and nation-building efforts.
Takhou Law is Operations Manager Australasia with IIC Technologies.
