IFHS Hydro2015 Program Finalized

Full program details have been finalized for the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies' 23rd Hydro conference at Cape Town's International Convention Centre from 23-25 November.

With development of sustainable hydrography in Africa and elsewhere as one of its main themes, the three-day combined conference and exhibition is organized by The Hydrographic Society of South Africa, one of the Federation's eight member organizations. It opens with a keynote address on issues affecting 54 African states by Robert Van De Poll, Fugro's Head of Global Law of the Sea activities. Subsequent plenary session presentations include a review of the current status and aspirations of hydrography in Southern Africa by Capt Abri Kampfer, Hydrographer of the South African Navy, followed by an official Fugro account of its continuing search for the ill-fated MH 370 aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean under the auspices of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Main conference proceedings will address a comprehensive range of topics with over 30 presentations on subjects extending from regional African case studies and applications to wider global issues affecting data management, chart production, maritime boundaries, new technology, equipment and positioning for surface and sub-surface operations. Comprising 11 technical sessions, the program also features a presentation on the performance of Sonardyne USBL by this year's IFHS Student Award winner, Neeltje van der Laan of the Netherlands.

The corresponding exhibition of equipment and services involving 32 leading companies and organizations is supported by a number of practical workshops as well nearby boat-based demonstrations staged by, among others, Cape Peninsular University of Technology (CPUT), Kongsberg Maritime and Marine Data Consultants. Other key events include an official stakeholder seminar convened by the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of Competence IBSC forum for discussion of training, education and capacity-building issues, which is expected to attract sizeable networking audiences.

Further details on Hydro2015, which is variously sponsored by QPS, Caris, Teledyne RESON and Teledyne Odom, Fugro and Marine Data Consultants, are at www.hydro2015.org.