::Bangladesh Navy:::..........Activities


HYDROGRAPHIC ACTIVITIES OF BANGLADESH NAVY

Background 1. Hydrography traces it’s beginning with the need to produce maps, which would meet the specific requirements of the mariner. The Hydrographic Department of Bangladesh Navy (BN) was established in 1982 and it has been growing steadily since then with the aim to ensure the safe use of sea by the seafarers. Beginning with the conventional method of surveying and charting the national waters, Bangladesh Navy stepped in to the digital era of surveying in 1996 with the assistance of France. Presently, Bangladesh Navy Hydrographic Department provides reliable and updated information for safety of navigation at sea in the form of nautical charts and publications in accordance with SOLAS regulations and IMO/IHO convention. Bangladesh received its 70th membership in the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) in the year 2001.

Objective 2. The objective of the Bangladesh Navy Hydrographic Department is to ensure availability of reliable and updated information of the marine environment in order to derive maximum benefits from Bay of Bengal. 3. To fulfill its objectives, Bangladesh Navy Hydrographic Department supports national infrastructure through its contribution to:

a. Safe use of the sea by all kinds of maritime vessel. b. Coastal Environmental management. c. Exploration and Exploitation of Marine Resources. d. Environmental protection. e. Maritime Boundary delineation. f. Marine Scientific Research. g. Pre & Post Dredging. h. Salvage Operation

Surveying and Charting 4. At present, Bangladesh Navy Hydrographic Department undertakes various types of surveys to fulfill the national requirement. Being the only national agency with the charting responsibility of our sea area, the Department under takes such task by the following ships/bases under it:

a. 02 survey ships to undertake coastal survey. b. 02 survey crafts for shallow water survey. c. 02 survey motorboats for shallow water survey. d. Directorate of Hydrography at Naval Headquarters for survey planning and co-ordination with various national and international agencies/organisations. e. BN Hydrographic and Oceanographic Center at Chittagong with the following tasks:

(1) Hydrographic survey and related data processing. (2) Examination and Review of various Data. (3) Data Base Management. (4) Nautical chart production. (5) Issue of Notices to Mariners.

f. BN Hydrographic School for the training the filed of Hydrography and Cartography.

5. Hydrographic survey activities are carried out with a wide range of equipment and systems fitted on board survey ships/crafts/boats. The major equipment used during hydrographic survey operation and cartographic purposes are:

a. DGPS Positioning System. b. Terrestrial Based Position Fixing System. c. Geodetic GPS/DGPS Receivers. d. Electro-optical Distance Measurement e. Electronic Theodolite. f. Leveling Machine. g. Deep & Shallow water echo sounders. h. Total Station. j. Digital Side Scan Sonar. k. Current meters. l. Sound Velocimeters. m. Marine Magnetometer. n. Digital Hydrographic Survey and Data Processing System. p. Digital Cartographic System. q. Various Sampling equipment. r. Oceanographic and Meteorological Instruments. s. Draughtmanship Instruments

Training in Hydrography 6. BN Hydrographic School is located at BNS ISSA KHAN, New Mooring, Chittagong. It was established in the year of 1983 after the foundation of BN Hydrographic Department. The school trains both Officers and Sailors of Hydrographic Department of Bangladesh Navy. The training syllabus is designed to meet the special needs of modern hydrographic survey technique. At present the school is equipped with modern training aids and capable to conduct all types of professional courses as per international standard. 7. The syllabi for the courses are constantly reviewed and modified to keep abreast with the Standards of the “IHO/FIG International Advisory Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors”, a working Group of the International Hydrographic Organisation, which is responsible for regulating/standardising Hydrographic training worldwide. Courses Conducted In The School are:

a. Officer's Courses
i) Basic Hydrographic Course 22 weeks ii) Ag S/Lt. (SD) (H) ‘Q’ Course 16 weeks

b. Sailor’s Courses
i) Survey Recorder-1st Class Course 27 weeks ii) Survey Recorder-2nd Class Course 27 weeks iii) Survey Recorder-3rd Class Course 27 weeks iv) Refresher Course for Sailors 10 weeks

c. Elementary Cartography 16 weeks The school is equipped with state of art Hydrographic and oceanographic equipment, which includes computers installed with powerful hydrographic survey software and other related equipments used in BN. For acquisition and processing of hydrographic survey data, the knowledge and technique now available are fully utilized during the conduct of any professional course. Few important facilities available at the school are:
i) Model and Demonstration Room. ii) Digital Survey & Processing System. iii) Modern Training Aids. iv) Computer Lab. v) Modern Hydrographic & Oceanographic Equipment. vi) Well-stocked Library. vii) Printed note/Handouts.

8. The School comprises highly qualified instructors with wide-ranging experience in Hydrographic Survey and Marine sciences. Exposure is also provided through visiting lecturers from other Naval and National Institutions. Lectures and practical fieldwork on Hydrographic surveys, data processing and related demonstrations are given to the participants in the classroom and in the field following the standards of IHO. The participants are exposed to various modern surveying instruments, survey methods and procedures for conducting survey operations. Research and study tours are locally arranged to various ships and organizations related on the subject. Facilities are also provided to the under trainees for ‘on the job training’ on board survey vessels for practical Surveys and compilation of data. 9. Excellent in-house Nautical Cartographic training are also provided by the Cartographic experts of BN Hydrographic and Oceanographic Centre, towards compilation and printing of Navigational Charts and publication both in the conventional and digital form.

Hydrographic Co-operation 10. Bangladesh Navy Hydrographic Department maintains co-operation with the following organization/agencies for Hydrographic & Oceanographic research, training, data exchange & environment management etc.

a. Co-operation with Domestic Agencies/Organisation
i) Survey of Bangladesh. ii) Space Research & Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO). iii) Geological Survey of Bangladesh. iv) Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). v) Bangladesh Meteorological Department. vi) Marine Science Department, Chittagong University. vii) Chittagong Port Authority. viii) Mongla Port Authority.

b. Co- operation with foreign Agencies/Countries. Bangladesh maintains contact with the following agencies regularly and with other agencies as and when required:
i) International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). ii) International Maritime Organisation (IMO). iii) North Indian Ocean Hydrographic Commission (NIOHC). iv) French Hydrographic Office/SHOM. v) UK Hydrographic Office.