The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have launched a new bursary training scheme in Marine Cartography and Data Assessment.

The training course, organised jointly by the UKHO and MPA over a five-week period from 18 April 2016 at the MPA Academy in Singapore, will train attendees on compiling and maintaining navigational charts.

Drawing from 10 nations, the course attendees can expect to learn the skills to create and maintain paper and digital charts utilising computer-aided cartography applications.

Tim Lowe, national hydrographer and deputy chief executive of the UKHO, commented: “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 Southeast Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Island Community who will undoubtedly benefit from this professional development opportunity.”

Parry Oei, director (port services)/chief hydrographer of MPA, said: “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 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).