Hydrographic surveyor
Job description
A hydrographic surveyor specialises in precise positioning, data acquisition and processing in marine environments.
The role involves measuring and mapping the world's underwater surfaces and studying the morphology (construction) of the seabed. The information is used in:
- the production of charts and related information for navigation;
- dredging;
- locating offshore resources (oil, gas, aggregates);
- planning dock installations.
Hydrographic surveyors are expected to work in a wide range of differing situations and applications: from inland waters and rivers, to ports and oceans. The work may be onshore or offshore, depending on your area of specialism.
The role also demands an understanding of and consideration for environmental issues.
Typical work activities
Typical activities include:
- using specialised technical software, global and some terrestrial positioning systems, sonars and echo sounders to provide data for the production of nautical charts and maps;
- using remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles to acquire data in deep oceans;
- using specialised technical software and geographical information systems (GIS) to manage the integration, processing and presentation of data to clients;
- dealing with clients, internally and externally, to provide tenders and results in appropriate formats;
- managing projects, both onshore and offshore, as vessel-based managers;
- producing reports;
- providing accurate and reliable information for other disciplines, such as: navigation; oil, gas and mineral resource exploration; dredging; coastal works; seabed telephone cables; environmental monitoring; aquaculture; marine wind farm development; oceanographic research; and bridge construction;
- working in a wide range of differing situations and applications: seabed mining; oil and gas exploration; the construction of ports; the provision of navigational charts; and the positioning of navigational aids;
- sourcing information on seabed type, water movements and waves;
- provision of data for oceanographic studies;
- for those working onshore, responding to technical queries from onshore engineering teams and problem-solving for colleagues working offshore;
- reviewing company procedures and software projects, and providing feedback on courses and in-house training;
- working as part of a team of technical specialists.
Salary and conditions
- Salaries can vary greatly depending on the sector, type of employer, location and experience. For example, salaries are likely to be higher with oil and gas/dredging companies than with environmental research companies.
- Typical starting salaries: £18,000 - £25,000 plus an allowance of £70 - £110 a day for each day spent offshore. In a full year, you will spend between 130 and 180 days at sea, earning an additional £10,000 - £17,000.
- The base salary for a party chief is around £40,000 with £100 to £170 per day for every day offshore, which is usually around 150 days per year, so earning potential can reach £70,000. An experienced freelance could earn up to £400 a day.
- As well as an offshore allowance, surveyors may also receive a hardship allowance (depending on the living conditions/dangers involved in sleeping onshore in certain circumstances). Allowances can boost annual salaries significantly.
- Most companies pay all travel costs to and from project areas.
- Working hours typically include regular unsocial hours and may be determined by weather, tides and daylight. Work includes shifts.
- Work is largely offshore. For company personnel, offshore work tends to be continuous from April to October with only slight slackening in the winter months due to the weather conditions.
- Onshore work generally follows a nine-to-five day, though hours may be longer if particular problems arise. For senior staff, weekend duty, which involves being on-call to handle any offshore problems, usually falls one weekend in every five. (See Oil and Gas 4U
for information on living conditions offshore.)
- Opportunities for self-employment/freelance work are good, but depend on levels of commercial activity and your personal contacts. Contract surveyors would normally be expected to have five years' experience or more.
- Although the profession has traditionally been male-dominated, the male/female ratio is now 60:40.
- The working and living environment may be in cramped and uncomfortable surroundings.
- Jobs are available worldwide at coastal and offshore sites. The work may involve international activity, onshore and port work. Staff are generally encouraged to live within commuting distance of the main office, although this is not essential as you will be flown to the port where you will join the ship.
- The role involves living away from home for extended periods, sometimes at short notice, which can be disruptive to your personal life. Long periods away from home are interspersed with short breaks onshore, spent either at home or at shore locations for reporting, training and development.
- Overseas work is common: oil and gas exploration currently provide many opportunities in countries such as Norway, the Arabian Gulf, China, the Pacific Rim, Venezuela, Mexico, the United States, West Africa and Angola.
Entry requirements
Entrants to the profession usually have a degree in a surveying science. The following subjects may increase your chances:
- hydrographic surveying;
- ocean exploration;
- land surveying;
- marine sciences;
- geography/cartography;
- engineering/civil engineering;
- physical/mathematical/applied science;
- computer science/software engineering.
Entry is also possible via the Royal Navy (see Royal Navy Careers
), where hydrographic training is provided by the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic (HM) School.
Increasingly, entrants are studying for BSc and MSc degrees in hydrography or related subjects. Ability in mathematics and computing is essential.
A postgraduate qualification in hydrographic surveying, hydrography or geomatics may be useful and is often necessary for graduates from non-relevant subjects. Masters courses are offered by the University of Plymouth
and University College London
(taught jointly with the Port of London Authority
).
Relevant experience through a sandwich placement or vacation work is recommended. Nautical, surveying or computing experience is highly valued by employers. It is also possible to qualify as a land surveyor and then acquire the skills needed to move into hydrographic surveying by taking a postgraduate diploma or Masters degree in hydrography.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
- the ability to learn quickly;
- teamworking skills and the ability to work closely and get on with others in pressured situations;
- resourcefulness and resilience;
- the ability to adapt sensibly to changing circumstances;
- patience and a sense of humour;
- communication skills, cultural awareness and foreign language skills;
- conscientiousness and the ability to maintain concentration - carelessness or a lapse in concentration may have drastic consequences in terms of the overall quality or efficiency of a survey.
Knowledge of global positioning systems/navigation, geographic information systems, nautical studies and emergency procedures is useful. A driving licence is usually required.
Working over the summer or doing a placement will help you to get your foot in the door and may lead to full-time employment after graduation. Keep in touch with your academic department, since employers may approach your tutors directly. Attend employer presentations whilst at university and contact specialist recruitment consultancies regarding possible temporary and permanent vacancies.
Although recruitment is often through contacts with university departments and graduate fairs, speculative applications are worth considering. See The Hydrographic Society UK (THS UK)
list of members for contact details. Use your personal network of previous employers or contacts made through work experience or project work.
Joining a relevant professional body, such as The Hydrographic Society UK, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (ImarEST)
or the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES)
as a student member is useful for making contacts and networking and will be evidence of your interest in the sector.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training
Training in areas such as seamanship and instrument handling is usually carried out in-house and on the job. Trainees working offshore must usually undertake a basic offshore safety and emergency training course. This usually includes including fire fighting, helicopter underwater escape training, first aid and safety at sea. Those working offshore also need to undergo a medical examination, although requirements vary depending on the country.
For those who follow the naval entry route (see Royal Navy Careers
), training is available via the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic (HM) School.
Depending on their area of expertise, most hydrographic surveyors seek chartered or professional membership of one of the following professional bodies:
Contact individual bodies for details of how to attain professional or chartered membership.
Membership of The Hydrographic Society UK (THS UK)
is also useful for keeping up to date with industry news and developments.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is vital to career development and professional bodies provide advice on undertaking and recording CPD activities. They also offer a range of professional development and training courses and events.
Career development
The usual career path is to start as a graduate entrant at the level of trainee surveyor, engineer or geophysicist (depending on your area of specialism). After completing your training, you then become a surveyor (engineer or geophysicist). The next step is senior surveyor and then principal surveyor. Principal surveyors may be assigned a management role as party chief or project manager. An alternative is to move into specialist technical support and development.
There are generally only a small number of management roles available and some hydrographic surveyors will move into a related role focusing more on client liaison, health and safety, procedural matters, overseeing staff, time management and offshore management.
There are also some roles available as base and staff surveyors, providing onshore technical backup and training.
Having gained four or five years' experience working in a company, it is quite common for hydrographic surveyors to set up on their own as self-employed contract surveyors.
Most promotion in the industry takes place by moving from company to company, although mergers and consolidation have limited the opportunities for this. Prospects may depend on mobility and economic climate.
Employers and vacancy sources
Types of employers may be differentiated according to survey activity:
- National charting agencies concerned with the production of nautical charts. They are usually part of the Royal Navy
or civilian companies under contract to the navy.
- Port and harbour authorities. Most major ports and harbours have a self-contained survey department (which may consist of only one person). Others may rely on bringing in expertise from a contracting company.
- Contract survey companies who rely on winning contracts by competitive tendering to client companies. Some contract companies cover a wide range of expertise through their employees; others may limit themselves to a particular specialism, such as offshore geophysical work or onshore work associated with coastal engineering projects.
- Client survey companies that require survey work to be carried out and contract it to a contract survey company. They range from small port authorities and local government authorities to huge international oil companies and national government authorities.
- Equipment and software companies. Numerous service companies, including equipment development companies and software houses, employ hydrographic surveyors. Usually a minimum of four to five years' experience is required. There is a particular demand for software developers.
- Freelance surveyors and consultancies. Those with considerable experience and confidence in the field generally obtain work by networking or through specialised consultancies. Contract survey companies largely recruit via agencies.
Some hydrographic surveyors, mostly those who are self-employed, undertake contract work in England during the UK's summer months and then work in the southern hemisphere during the UK's winter months.
Sources of vacancies
Specialist recruitment agencies such as Goss Consultants Ltd
rarely handle first vacancies but may prove useful once experience has been gained.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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