Behind every graduate is a unique journey. This week, in celebration of World Hydrography Day (21 June), we’re proud to share the stories of our alumni. From the first spark of interest to unexpected moments at sea, our alumni share what hydrography means to them.
Head of Hydrographic & Maritime Safety Department, Icelandic Coast Guard
What first drew you to the field of hydrography?
I was born and raised in a fishing village in Iceland and therefore I have a strong connection to the sea. I am a ship's captain and have spent most of my time in the sector of maritime safety,
sea rescue, and maritime law enforcement, most of the time with the Icelandic Coast Guard. Therefore I have always worked a lot with nautical charts and bathymetric information. During my work
with the Icelandic Coast Guard, I was given the opportunity to move into this interesting field of hydrographic surveying and nautical charting.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve encountered at sea (or underwater)?
Since Iceland is relatively young geologically, and was formed due to volcanic activity, there are often quite interesting and unexpected geological formations that we discover during multi-beam
surveys. However, in my work as a hydrographic surveyor, it is probably the unexpected discoveries of shipwrecks that are the most interesting. One of the most striking example is the wreck of a
British tug from the WWII we discovered during multibeam survey in Faxaflói bay on the west coast of Iceland in 2018. This tug, named EMPIRE WOLD was was stationed in Reykjavík as a standby tug
to assist the Allied naval vessels and merchant vessels during the WWII. The tug was lost in November 1944 when it was sent to assist a tanker that had been torpedoed by a German submarine, but
the tanker later sank. However, the tug never reached the tanker and no one knew its fate and there was speculation that the tug had also been attacked by a submarine.
We did not expect a wreck at this particular location we were surveying, but due to the size and shape of the wreck, we immediately suspected that it was the lost tug, even though most people
thought it had been lost much further away.
The Icelandic Coast Guard‘s hydrographic surveyors and EOD team members investigated the wreck with data from a multibeam echosounder, AUV Side Scan Sonar and finally with an ROV, and we were
able to confirm that the wreck was the tug in question, EMPIRE WOLD.
There was no indication that the tug had been attacked by a submarine and it is therefore likely that something else caused it to sink, perhaps weather and sea state related, but the cause will
though remain unknown.
With this discovery of the wreck, it was possible to inform the descendants and relatives of the tug's crew about the fate of the tug, and thus close a case that had always been very misterious.
And for the descendants it was a relief to finally find the final rest place of the crew of EMPIRE WOLD.
How do you apply what you learned during the training in your current role?
I had worked as a hydrographic surveyor for several years before attending a course at Skilltrade in 2015 and had therefore gained some experience. Although I knew I was somewhat familiar with
the practical use of the survey equipment I needed to add theoretical understanding and technical knowledge of the functioning of the survey equipment.
I believe that with a deeper theoretical and technical understanding and knowledge I approach my work in a different way after the course, whether in project planning, surveying or basic training
of new surveyors within the Icelandic Coast Guard.
Which technological innovation excites you the most right now?
There are many exciting technological innovations in the field of hydrography. However, we at the Hydrographic and Maritime Safety Department of the Icelandic Coast Guard are receiving an AUV in
the coming weeks that will be of use to us to a certain extent in our hydrographic work, but not least in the analysis of subjects that we discover on the seabed. Therefore, my current interest,
as the Head of the Hydrographic and Maritime Safety Department, is to a certain extent in this new equipment and its implementation.
What advice would you give to the next generation of hydrographers?
Hydrography and the ocean-related field of work is very interesting and it is growing. The future lies in a detailed exploration of the ocean with equipment that is constantly developing,
equipment that will be used for a variety of data collection, whether for nautical charting, scientific and research work, construction or in security and defense matters. Those who are otherwise
interested in exploring the ocean and the seabed should therefore be able to find a suitable career field, whether it concerns technical or academic aspects.