Support for training institutions to conduct hydrographic surveys crucial – MOWCA SG

The Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has advocated for support to training institutions in the maritime sector to conduct hydrographic surveys.

That, he said, will enhance navigational safety for ships and promote sustainable marine environment in West and Central Africa.

Consequently, he proposed that the Regional Maritime University(RMU) in Accra and the Regional Maritime Academy of Sciences and Technologies of the Sea (ARSTM) in Abidjan must be supported for such exercise.

He was speaking at the recently held 18th conference of the East Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC) in Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco.

Mr Adalikwu said the two institutions have individual and combined capacities for hosting short seminars as they already did five years ago and for developing hydrography programmes as part of their training for marine engineers.

The MOWCA SG’s suggestion falls in line with the programme of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO)to establish training centres of excellence where the conditions were favourable.

Consequently, Dr John Nyberg, Director at IHO together with senior Officials of EAtHC agreed to visit the RMU and ARSTM, to consider the development of a hydrography programme at the Engineer level.

Dr Adalikwu identified the suitability of their premises, availability of qualified lecturers with the relevant profile and experience, possibility of partnering with international universities that had such programmes and existence of an hydrography agency as part of the public Administration or a Technical Department of the Port Authorities in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire .

It was also agreed that IHO would be invited to the 19th session of the MOWCA General Assembly, scheduled for the last quarter of 2025 to address Ministers on the benefits of promoting hydrography as part of their overall maritime programmes

The EAtHC is one of the 15 Hydrographic Commissions established by IHO worldwide to coordinate hydrography and cartography activities for safety of navigation and environmental protection.

It covers the coastal area from France down to Angola, and therefore includes the coastline of MOWCA’s member States.