|
| |
Navy man for Monaco post
By Keeli Cambourne
Volume 50, No. 12, July 12, 2007 |
| |
|
Captain Robert Ward is the envy of not just his staff at the RAN’s hydrographic headquarters in Wollongong, but probably a lot of other people as well.
In September CAPT Ward will be taking up residence in the enclave of the world’s most affluent citizens in Monaco as one of three directors of the International Hydrographic Organisation.
His appointment comes after his team in Wollongong received international recognition for the work it does in nautical charting and hydrographic surveys.
In June the staff in Wollongong was rewarded with three international prizes at the 17th Hydrographic Conference in Monaco.
Prince Albert II of Monaco was on hand at an official ceremony to see the RAN receive first place in the International Cartographic Association chart display prize and third place in the International Hydrographic Organisation chart exhibition prize.
“It’s a feather in the cap for Australia,” CAPT Ward said.
“And it is underpinned by the high reputation and high regard the world has for the work we do.”
The hydrographic headquarters in Wollongong is one of the world’s most high-tech and CAPT Ward said his team had embraced new technology and had at its fingertips state-of-the-art equipment such as a sophisticated data base and production system, ships with multi-beam echo sounders and laser airborne depth sounders, which he said was largely an Australian initiative.
“From Wollongong we are providing nautical charts for one-eighth of the world’s water surface or about 13.5 million square miles,” CAPT Ward said.
Information comes to the headquarters from RAN ships with contributions also made from port and harbour authorities as well as mineral exploration companies and seafarers.
“Any mariner who is sailing a ship around Australian seas and oceans will be using a chart or information based on what we do in Wollongong.”
The Wollongong headquarters employs 110 defence civilians and 25 uniform personnel all engaged in hydrographic tasks. |
| |
|
