Hydrography — a
gainful career Hydrography is the science of measurement of sea, lakes, rivers alongwith description of nature of their beds including indicating them graphically on charts.Thus hydrography is in fact practice of marine survey. Hydrography is different from oceanography. While hydrography deals basically with depth of sea at various places, oceanography deals with nature of sea life, fishes and plants etc found in oceans. The Indian Navy itself undertakes training and employment of survey sailors and officers. A shore establishment in Goa and specified naval ships are provided with special survey boats and facilities for preliminary chart work on board itself. The rough charts prepared by hydrographic surveyors on board are taken to cooler places for preparation of final charts indicating detailed data regarding depth, nature of bed and principal land marks, lighthouses and beacons etc. These charts are produced also on commercial scale and made available to sea farers/captains of vessels or their agents on payment as on required basis. These approved and authorised charts are available in all major ports of the world. The Naval Hydrographic department (IN HD) with its apex headquarters at Dehra Dun has a chart depot each at Mumbai and Vishakhpatnam. The department is recognised by the International Hydrograpic Organisation at Monaco. It produces navigational chart and publications meeting the stringent standard and international specifications of the IMO. The survey ships also use most modern airborne laser hydrographic system and mobile survey cardoons in accurately surveying the vast 7516 km of Indian coast line. After training in the national hydrographic school at Goa, sailors and officers are drafted to any of seven Indian navy survey ships like Jumna, Sutlej and Darshak etc. The special survey boats attached to these ships can remain away for survey work for more than eight hours per day and are fitted out appropriately. The chief hydrographer navy holds the flag rank of rear admiral. The rules of entry, pay and allowances are similar to those applicable to sailors and officers of Indian Navy expect that those hydrographers serving in survey ships are entitled for a special monthly survey allowance. Sailors and officers with hydrographic experience in marine survey ships have better employment demand in shipping after their retirement because of their experience in navigational and chart work. For further details regarding entry for a hydrographic career in Indian Navy as a seamen’s or an officer the following can be contacted:
A hydrographer may join the profession as an officer or a seamen. for entry as an officer sub Lieutenant options for permanent service commission or short service commission are open. For permanent service commission through the Naval Academy Goa the minimum basic qualification is B.Sc. with physics and maths and age 19-22 years. For short service commission in hydro cadre age limit is between 19`BD to 25 years qualification, and qualification is B.Sc. in first division or M.Sc. in II division or bachelor of engineering. The basic pay Rs 8250 for a Sub Lieutenant and highest naval rank in the Indian Navy draws basic pay or Rs 50,000 p.m. A hydrographer officer has opportunities in promotion as any other officer in executive branch of the Indian Navy. Beside he enjoys the benefit of dearness allowance, rank pay, qualification pay, survey, allowances city compensatory allowance, military canteen facilities concessional life insurance policy, leave travel concession for family, free medical care for self and family, free rations, 60 days paid leave annually, 20 days paid casual leave per year, concessional residential accommodation and concessional loan for purchase of personal computer etc. One can join as seaman hydrographer i the marine survey branch also. But pay, allowances etc. are less than the officer cadre while free rations, medical care, travel facilities, leave etc are similar, further information can be obtained from the two addresses indicated above.
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