Hydrographic Surveyor

Also known as:

Marine Surveyor
Surveyor, Hydrographic
Surveyor, Marine

Introduction

Hydrographic surveyors survey areas of water such as oceans, harbours and rivers. They use equipment such as sounding rods, echo sounders, satellite positioning systems and theodolites. The survey data may be used to draw marine charts, locate shipping routes or to help build coastal or offshore structures.

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Work Activities

Hydrographic surveyors use state-of-the-art technology to survey oceans, ports, harbours, inland waterways and rivers.

Using modern instruments including echo sounders and satellite positioning systems, as well as more traditional ones such as sounding rods and theodolites, they find out water depths and measure tides and currents.

They make offshore surveys to locate, identify and measure features which might interfere with shipping routes, such as rocks, sandbanks and sunken wrecks. They identify changes in shipping channels as a result of silting or erosion. They also identify suitable sites for laying cables or for building offshore structures such as oil rigs or tide and wind turbines for producing renewable energy. They use computer software packages to analyse the information they collect.

They make inshore surveys on rivers and canals to predict the environmental effects of building marinas or flood defences, to assess the effects of land reclamation or the progress of dredging to keep river channels open for boats.

(Hydrographic cartographers use the survey data to produce and improve marine plans, charts and navigation aids for commercial and leisure mariners.)

Hydrographic surveyors often work outdoors in cold, wet conditions. They usually spend periods at sea or on rigs.

There are strict safety regulations for working in or near a marine environment and hydrographic surveyors may need to wear protective clothing.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a hydrographic surveyor you should be good at maths and have an interest in science and technology. You should be practical, accurate and able to pay attention to detail. You will need to be good at problem-solving.

You should enjoy working in or near a marine environment. Navigation skills and experience of handling small marine craft are also useful.

You will need to gain a wide knowledge of marine construction and law.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Hydrographic surveyors earn in the range of £20,000 - £25,000 a year, rising to £30,000 - £41,000. Senior surveyors earn £39,000 - £50,000, and higher salaries are possible.

Most work around 35-40 hours from Monday to Friday. However, you may have early starts and late finishes and you may need to work some weekends.

Although hydrographic surveying is a comparatively small area of specialisation, there are opportunities in all areas of the UK and in other countries.

Employers include oil companies, renewable energy companies, construction and property companies, specialist surveying companies, banks, building societies and insurance companies.

Organisations such as the Ordnance Survey, Royal Navy Hydrographic Department, UK Military Survey and UK Hydrographic Office (part of the Ministry of Defence) also employ hydrographic surveyors.

Others work as independent consultants or in partnership with other specialists in professional practice.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Successful late entrants often have substantial relevant skills and abilities gained at technician level. A background in construction or marine or naval work may be useful.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree course, a college or university Access course could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

If you are a graduate without an accredited degree, you can take a one-year postgraduate conversion course in a suitable surveying subject. Preference may be given to those with a related degree subject such as geology, marine science, oceanography or geography.

• 16% of chartered surveyors are self-employed.
• 6% work part-time.
• 14% have flexible hours.
• 3% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy, waste management, conservation or countryside management.